(14-oz.) can small red beans or dark red kidney beans, drained, rinsed
11/2c.
low-sodium beef broth or water
1c.
store-bought or homemade BBQ sauce
1/2c.
ketchup
1/4c.
apple cider vinegar
2Tbsp.
Dijon or spicy brown mustard
2Tbsp.
molasses
1Tbsp.
hot sauce
How to:
In a cold large Dutch oven or heavy pot, cook bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 9 to 11 minutes. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, roasted peppers, and jalapeños and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
Push the onion mixture to one side of the pot. Add ground beef and taco seasoning to the other side of the pot; season with salt. Break up beef with a wooden spoon and cook, stirring occasionally, until no longer pink, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir to combine with onion mixture.
Add pinto beans, black beans, red beans, broth, BBQ sauce, ketchup, vinegar, mustard, molasses, and hot sauce. Stir to combine, cover, and cook for 15 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors have melded and the sauce is thickened, about 15 minutes more; season with more taco seasoning and salt if needed.
TORTURE SQUAD, one of the most renowned bands in Brazilian metal, released the long-awaited new album, titled ‘Devilish’. Continuing with the promotion of the album, they released a new version of the track "Warrior".
The single and music video feature the participation of Leather Leone, an iconic American vocalist, who brought the energy of 80s metal to the song. "Warrior" is a tribute to Rickson Gracie, the resilient Jiu Jitsu fighter, considered one of the sport's greatest legends.
Mayara Puertas comments on the launch:
' 'Warrior is a song for all the warriors arround the world , inspired by the philosophies of life of fhe brazilian Jiu Jitsu master Rickson Gracie. This new version brings Leather Leone as our very special guest, mixing Heavy and Thrash Metal singing by two female metal singers from different generations, as a symbol of fight and resistence”.
In their second album with the new lineup, Mayara Puertas (Voice), Rene Simionato (Guitar), Castor (Bass) and Amilcar Christófaro (Drums) maturely transcend the sound of extreme metal, incorporating progressive metal, influences from Brazilian music and symphonic elements. “Devilish” promises to shake up the Brazilian metal scene and give it new international visibility.
'Devilis' is available on digital platforms and in physical version.
TORTURE SQUAD is seen by extreme music fans as one of the most visceral and powerful metal bands in action today.
With almost three decades of experience, with excellent live performances including at the most important metal festivals in the world, the Brazilian group gathered legions of fans playing throughout the country, Latin America and Europe.
In 2019, while preparing the new album, Torture Squad arrived at one of the biggest music festivals in the world, the Brazilian Rock in Rio, where they performed for an audience of 120,000 people. In a cast full of metal legends like Anthrax, Slayer, Sepultura, Scorpions and Iron Maiden, the show was epic alongside Chuck Billy (Testament) and the Brazilians of Claustrofobia on the Sunset stage, with the set covering songs from their entire career TS and Testament Classics.
After Rock in Rio, came the long-awaited tour of Central America, passing through Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala. The highlight was the show at Mexico Metal Fest which Torture Squad was one of the headliners.
In 2020 they released a new single and video called “O Doutrinador”, inspired by a Brazilian comic book character that also became a movie and TV series. The English version of the single and video called “The Awakener” is also available.
In 2021 the band celebrated twenty years since the release of their third album “The Unholy Spell” (2001) playing the entire album in Lives and live shows.
In 2022, the band performed at “La Iglesia” in São Paulo, giving rise to the live album “Torture at La Iglesia En Vivo”, and also the single “The Fallen Ones” with exclusive debut in the American magazine Decibel Magazine. Ending the year doing a show alongside one of the thrash metal legends in the world “Exodus” at the Carioca Club, in São Paulo.
Genre: Thrash/Death Metal
Label: Time To Kill Records
Tracklist:
01 Hell is Coming 02 Flukeman 03 Buried Alive 04 Warrior 05 Sanctuary 06 Uatumã 07 Thoth 08 Mabus 09 Find My Way 10 Gaia 11 Farewell To Mankind 12 The Last Journey
MYRMANN, the enigmatic Icelandic artist known for his boundary-pushing music and captivating storytelling, unveils his latest solo album titled 'Seven Forbidden Books of Spells'. Inspired by the esoteric realms of summoning demons, witchcraft, dark alchemy, spirits, ceremonial magic, purity, and spells, this album ventures into the depths of the unknown with a fusion of narrative-heavy music and occult themes.
With 'Seven Forbidden Books of Spells' MYRMANN embarks on a conceptual journey akin to a literary odyssey, structured like a book with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Each track serves as a chapter in a tale of ancient secrets and forbidden knowledge, drawing listeners into a world shrouded in mystery and intrigue.
"My goal is always to make something real, something that comes from my feelings and vision," MYRMANN explains. "To me, it's just narrative-heavy music, drawing from my background in blues, hard rock, Heavy metal, and metal. For this project, I've chosen to imbue the vocals with an evil quality, sometimes burying them in the mix to create an echo from the past."
Delving deeper into his artistic ethos, MYRMANN reveals, "I would not call myself an atheist really, I consider myself more of a pagan. I believe in the spirit world, perhaps on my own terms. Hiding behind religion and using symbolism as a tool for human ego rather than seeking greater understanding is just wrong to me. I am a storyteller, and I truly enjoyed bringing this album to life, even knowing that some may not appreciate my controversial or spiritual alchemy thinking."
As a one-man act, MYRMANN demonstrates his musical prowess by playing all instruments and providing all vocals on the album, with sampled drums completing the sonic landscape. Additionally,'Seven Forbidden Books of Spells' is meticulously mixed and mastered by MYRMANN himself, ensuring every aspect of the album reflects his singular vision and artistic integrity. The album promises to be a journey into the shadows, inviting listeners to embrace the darkness and discover the hidden truths that lie within.
In a medium pot over medium heat, cook strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice, smashing with a wooden spoon, until strawberries are broken down, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a medium bowl. Let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until ready to use.
Make Ahead: Strawberry sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.
SEMIFREDDO & ASSEMBLY
In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat cream on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Transfer to a medium bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
Into a medium pot, pour enough water to come about one-third up the sides and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. In a medium heatproof bowl, combine eggs and sugar. Place bowl over pot, making sure water doesn’t touch bowl. Cook, whisking constantly, until smooth and an instant-read thermometer registers 165°, about 5 minutes. Transfer mixture to bowl of stand mixer.
Beat on medium speed with whisk attachment until lightened in color and holds its shape for a few seconds before melting into itself, and sides of bowl are no longer warm to the touch, 5 to 10 minutes.
Reserve 1/4 cup strawberry sauce for topping; refrigerate until ready to use. Gently fold remaining strawberry sauce into reserved whipped cream.
Add about one-quarter of whipped cream mixture to egg mixture and gently fold to combine. Fold in remaining whipped cream until just combined.
Line a 9" x 5" loaf pan with plastic wrap, leaving a large overhang on all sides. Pour mixture into prepared pan and smooth top. Fold plastic wrap overhang over to cover top completely. Freeze until solid, at least 6 hours or up to 1 week.
When ready to serve, unwrap top of semifreddo. Flip upside down onto a platter and remove loaf pan and plastic wrap.
Top with reserved strawberry sauce and serve immediately.
German death/thrash metal band Susurro have released their new single "Brocken Dream`s". The release was recorded at AMSS-UG Studios and mixed and mastered by Andy Lux.
Band founder Jack Skaner describes the song as follows: Injustice in society is increasing again. Whoever has power and governs the media also governs the judiciary. Justice is no longer spoken for. It is lived politically only according to ideological justice.
Susurro was formed in 2019 in Allmersbach, Germany by Jack Skaner (vocals/guitar). Soon after, Mr. Six-Ell (bass) and Winzent Walace (guitars/keyboards) joined the band and the line-up was complete. The band's debut album, Erratic, was released in January 2022.
MICHAEL ALAN - RELEASES ROAD TO GLORY FROM CALLING DEBUT ALBUM
Following it's dark atmospheric and eastern flavoured introduction, Road To Glory, the new single from Leeds (UK) Michael Alan, soon transcends into a euphoric journey of soulful guitar-driven melodic rock. With its underlying theme of striving to achieve your dreams despite adversity, the track flows with Michael's focus on enchanting melody lines whilst still opening the door for moments of intricate lead guitar attacks.
Akin to sonic explorers such as Steve Vai, Joe Satriani and Gary Moore, Road To Glory showcases just on side of a seasoned musician who delves deep into a range of eclectic genres and influences on his recently released all-instrumental album Calling.
(40 g.) unsweetened cocoa powder (preferably Dutch process)
1tsp.
baking powder
1tsp.
kosher salt
1/2tsp.
baking soda
1c.
(210 g.) light brown sugar
1/4c.
vegetable oil
4Tbsp.
unsalted butter, softened
1
large egg
1tsp.
pure vanilla extract
3/4c.
milk
1/4c.
warm water
FILLING
11/2c.
(172 g.) confectioners' sugar
3/4c.
(1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
7oz.
Marshmallow Fluff
1tsp.
pure vanilla extract
How to:
CAKES
Step 1Preheat oven to 350°. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment and grease with cooking spray.
Step 2In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat brown sugar, oil, and butter until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla and beat until combined. Add dry ingredients and beat on medium-low speed until only a few dry streaks remain. Add milk and warm water and beat until just combined.
Step 3Using a medium scoop (about 3 tablespoons), scoop batter onto prepared sheets, spacing 3" apart.
Step 4Bake pies until edges are firm and centers are just slightly soft, 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool.
FROSTING
In a large bowl, using a handheld mixer on medium-high speed, beat confectioners’ sugar and butter until smooth. Add Fluff and vanilla and beat until well combined.
Flip half of discs over. Using a medium scoop, scoop frosting onto center of flipped discs. Top with a second disc and gently press down until frosting is almost to the edge.
German Shoegaze/Psychedelic Rock Act Screaming Bones Release 3 Full Length Albums and 2 new music videos. The albums have been developed throughout the year of 2023and have now been released on all the major streaming services as well as Screaming Bones’ Bandcamp site: https://screamingbones. bandcamp.com/music
Screaming Bones’ music exists to take your head onto a sonic journey into the unknown. The sound is unique and sometimes clashes with your worn-out and beloved listening patterns. But as you take your time and follow the sounds, these gems of wonderful music will unfold in your ears and in your mind, revealing their timeless beauty.
‚All Beauty Is Pain‘, taken from the album ‚Screaming Bones‘. This track rests on oscillating soundscape and is filled by a fat double-bass. The lead guitar sound is supported by a more subtle guitar in the background, which gives the song a very ethereal sound.
"After I recorded that track I was watching the images that came up on the inside of my closed eyes when listening to the music on headphones. I started to collect footage online and compiled it underneath an image of myself (the hardest part was to hold still for the duration of the song). ‚All Beauty Is Pain‘ was done during a period of instability and a phase of deep depression I had to go through in the last years. I managed to survive and put my inside into music and images. I am everything you see in that video. I am beauty, I am pain, I am despair, I am fear, I am rage, I am life, I am death, I am celebration, I am grief, I am water, I am fire, I am the Earth, the sun, the cosmos…..I am hope." - says Screaming Bones.
" This is a video to all parents. See how much damage you do in a child when you mistreat it? ‚Song for my inner demons‘ from the album ‚Tales From The Outer Rings‘ is a very personal piece of art. Thanks to Midjourney and Runwayml I can create pictures for the shit that is going on inside me. Thankfully in life I have found a way to cope with my past. I put it into music and images and then put it out into the world, hoping that I can help others. Despite all the shit that happened to me in my childhood, I have found a way to see humour, laugh where nobody else does (surely not me back in those days). It’s like the Joker said: I always thought my life was a tragedy. I was wrong, it’s a fucking comedy :)"
Swedish metal band Disruption announces new single "TORCHED" on march 8th. "TORCHED", the second single from our upcoming ep, is a dark and unforgiving suggestive soundscape that throws the listener between the despair of the desperate chorus to the fighting energy of the cutting riffs. Torched will leave its fiery brand in the hearts of those who engage it.
Disruption ravaged the local scene of a poor industrial region in southern Sweden, Blekinge, since back in 1999. Dominating the local metal-scene with their agressive merge of Swedish melodic Death-Metal and American influenced thash/numetal sound, paired with political lyrics aiming to put the search-lights on the injustices of the world and the darker aspects of human constructions of society.
Disruption where awarded best live act of the region as well as heavily influencing the extreme music scene in Blekinge. They recorded demos "Bitch on the cross" and "A soul full of hate" , as well as music/video package "Demolisher-pack" and releasing album "Face The Wall in 2004." After which the band morphed into alternative HC-outfit "Jack Daw" as they celebrated their first decade together.
The rebirth of Disruption in 2022 occured in an even darker world where humanity seem eager to self-destruct. As society implodes, Disruption is mindset to be here providing the soundtrack by which we all come to an end. The modern, upscaled version of the pianist performing as Titanic sank to its grave on the arctic seafloor. No high hopes for us to last, those final desperate breaths designated for angst-ridden poetry.
Low back pain is incredibly common and notoriously difficult to treat. A new study, however, finds that a simple, cost-effective, highly accessible intervention can make a real difference: walking.
A new paper published in The Lancet on June 19 found that people with low back pain who walked regularly were significantly less likely to experience pain that limited their activity. They also reported improved quality of life.
Participants who walked regularly were half as likely to need time off work or require medical treatment than people in the control group.
Low back pain is incredibly common
Healthline contacted Dr. Tash Pocovi, lead author of the study and a postdoctoral fellow at Macquarie University, Australia.
“Working in physiotherapy, it’s incredible to see just how prevalent low back pain is,” she said, “with reports that 620 million people globally reported experiencing low back pain in 2020.”
She explained that, while most scientists focus on treatment, fewer are focusing on prevention. This is important because “7 in 10 people who recover from an episode of low back pain will have a new episode in the next 12 months.”
“While it’s not considered a life-threatening disease, we can see the very serious impacts it can have on people’s lifestyle, ability to work, and overall quality of life,” Pocovi said.
For their study, the scientists recruited 701 people who had recently experienced an episode of low back pain.
Split into two groups, one acted as the control, and the other embarked on a personalized walking program with six education sessions with a physiotherapist over 6 months. The scientists followed up the participants for 1–3 years.
They found that those in the walking group experienced pain that limited their activity less often than those in the control group. Also, there was a longer gap before they had a recurrence: an average of 208 days compared with 112 days.
Pocovi told Healthline that she was not surprised that walking benefited these people because the intervention “helped get people moving, reduced their fear, and gave them strategies and confidence to self-manage their condition all of which we know are important.”
However, she was surprised “how much the intervention could impact people’s lives aside from improving their low back pain management.”
“While we were able to reduce the recurrence of low back pain requiring care-seeking by over 40%, we also had patients who reported improved sleep, mood, positive lifestyle changes, and improved management of other chronic health conditions,” she explained.
“It was very pleasing to see the positive, overall health implications of this intervention,” Pocovi said.
How people with back pain can benefit from walking
We asked Pocovi how much walking might benefit people who experience low back pain.
In their study, the walking plan was individualized based on factors including age, physical ability, preferences, and available time.
“We gave them a rough guide of gradually building up to 30 minutes, five times a week,” she told us. “After 3 months, most of the people who took part were walking 3 to 5 days each week for an average of 130 minutes per week.”
“We want to see the public walking more, even if this is done independently. However, if you are struggling to get started, you may consider contacting a health professional to help.”
Healthline spoke with Neel Anand, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon and director of the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center in Los Angeles, CA, who was not involved in the study. He added a note of caution:
“While walking is a great total-body cardiovascular exercise that can be especially helpful for people experiencing back pain episodes, be sure not to go too far or for too long if you’re in moderate to severe pain, and make sure that the walking surface is even, without too much uphill or downhill variation to start.”
Why is low back pain so common?
To help make sense of the high prevalence of low back pain, Healthline spoke with Thomas Pontinen, MD. Pontinen, who was not involved in the study, is a double board-certified anesthesiologist, interventional pain management specialist, and chronic pain expert.
Our evolutionary past, he explained, is one of the reasons. “Human beings evolved from animals with horizontal spines.” As we evolved to walk on two legs, “the spine had to adapt.”
“It is incredibly likely that a lifetime spent using a vertical spine, as we do, will eventually come with drawbacks since the spine has to support most of our weight and all the pressures of movement through life,” Pontinen said.
Other factors, Pontinen told us, include general wear and tear of the discs between the vertebrae with age, injuries, poor posture, a sedentary lifestyle, and obesity.
How to reduce the risk of back pain
Healthline asked Dr. Joel S. Beckett, a board-certified neurological spine surgeon how individuals can reduce their risk of experiencing low back pain.
Beckett, who was not involved in the recent study, practices at DISC Sports & Spine Center in Marina del Rey, CA. He provided these tips:Maintain a healthy weight. Engage in regular physical activity that includes strengthening and stretching exercises to maintain good core strength. Practice good posture. Use proper techniques when lifting heavy objects. Avoid prolonged sitting.
In line with the results of the recent study, he told us that “standing and walking is the best activity for our back.”
Takeaway
According to a recent study, walking regularly can reduce the risk of lower back pain returning, improve quality of life, and reduce the need to visit healthcare specialists.
Taking regular walks also improved sleep and mood, and improved the management of other chronic health conditions.
However, as Anand told us, it’s important to wait for the “green light” from your doctor, but “contrary to what some might think, staying immobile or being on ‘bed rest’ after the acute phase of a back pain episode might do more harm than good.”
Guatemala City is one big urban sprawl yet most people give it a miss. However, it’s cultural hotspot boasting numerous museums and art galleries. The National Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, recently refurbished, houses the country’s largest collection of ancient Maya artefacts. The Museo Popol Vuh, another must-visit, displays pre-Hispanic figurines, incense burners, burial urns, and carved wooden masks. Antigua Guatemala
Antigua is a city frozen in time with its cobblestone streets and well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture. It was the capital of the Captaincy General of Guatemala from 1543 until 1773 when the Santa Marta earthquake destroyed much of the town. In 1776, the capital moved to a safer location where Guatemala City now stands.
The buildings left standing after the earthquake led to Antigua’s designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. It’s now a wonderful place to wander on foot, stopping at the many bars and restaurants, admiring the ruined churches. Visit the iconic Arco de Santa Catalina, explore the historic Casa Popenoe, and indulge in the local flavours at the Choco Museo.
Antigua’s vibrant Semana Santa (Holy Week) celebrations are a spectacle not to be missed, with elaborate religious processions and intricate alfombras (carpets) adorning the streets. Volcán de Pacaya Volcán de Pacaya, a prominent feature of Guatemala’s volcanic chain, is around 30km from Guatemala City. Eruptions were recorded in the early 16th century and these have continued over the years. Dormant for over 70 years, it began erupting vigorously again in 1961. This culminated in a massive eruption on May 27, 2010, when ash rained down on Guatemala City and closed the airport.
Now it’s quiet and the ascent of Pacaya is an exhilarating trek through diverse ecosystems, from dense forests to volcanic slopes blanketed with ash and volcanic rock. You can’t go to the top, for obvious safety reasons, but you get fairly close. The lava fields contain numerous fumaroles, hot vents where guides treat you to roasted marshmallows.
The ancient Mayan civilization, whose impressive ruins are scattered throughout Guatemala, deeply intertwines Guatemala’s history. The most famous is Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located just north of Flores. This magnificent city lay hidden beneath the thick vegetation for centuries, it's towering pyramids and intricate temples shrouded in mystery.
As you wander through the dense jungle toward the temples and plazas, the air has the sounds of howler monkeys and exotic birds. Suddenly, rising in front of you are majestic pyramids, towering monuments to the Maya’s construction skills. Climbing the steep steps of Temple IV, the tallest structure in Tikal, offers a breathtakingMayans’ panorama. The surrounding pyramids poke through the lush jungle canopy and give you an idea of the immense scale of the city.
The Great Plaza, with its vast expanse and towering pyramids, served as the epicentre of Tikal’s religious life. Here, priests and shamans once performed elaborate rituals to appease the gods and ensure the prosperity of their civilization. At its heart stands the Temple of the Grand Jaguar, its imposing facade adorned with intricate stucco masks and carvings.
On the opposite side of the plaza, Temple II, the Temple of the Masks, boasts a series of intricately carved masks depicting the sun god, a testament to the Maya’s reverence for the celestial powers that governed their world. The twin staircases, graceful and adorned with intricate glyphs and symbols, are a sight to behold.
But for the best experience, get here early morning just before dawn, when all is quiet. Take care climbing the stairs in the twilight as the dawn chorus begins. Be in position at the top to watch the sunrise – there’s something magical as the light slowly illuminates the Temple of the Grand Jaguar directly in front of you.