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Bloodline Champions is a free-to-play Arena-based PVP game that will seem similar to fans of League of Legends and Defense of The Ancients. What sets this game apart from other games of this genre is the use of WASD keys and a lack of minions. The game makes it easy for a player to choose their play style by separating the different characters into four types: melee, range, tanking, and healers.

The game is a great starter into the Arena genre, since the use of WASD makes it harder for experienced players to trash talk new ones without losing mobility—a problem many Arena-based games have trouble stifling.

Like most Arena-based games, Bloodline Champions features levels and a ranking system, but levels are only meant to show how much a person plays. Even as a level one, rank one newbie I was still able to hold my own and even win against people several levels above me.

The visual look as well as the feel the game has a very tribal tone, occasionally taking inspiration from ancient eastern backgrounds. Spells and abilities all look great and the engine seems to run the chaos of 5v5 without bogging you down. The game is also good at handling people who suffer from a lag, allowing gamers to continue to play on an even field.

Although the game is still in closed beta and a beta key is required to play, it looks like Bloodline Champions will be able to hold its own against other already established Arena-based games.

With White Lung's debut, It's The Evil, it's easy to praise it to the heavens upon first listen.  In fact, it's easy to fall in love after the first song, "Viva La Rat" if you're an outsider (like me) looking for something new and fast to punch you in the face. 

The whole record is one fast, relentless jet stream of spitting venom; never once stopping to breathe in, never once stopping to look around.  Even you, the listener, will need to catch your flying thoughts after the first listen.  But I urge you to let it swirl around for a bit and then go back to it for another round before you make your decision on how much you like it.

These are two minute hit it & quit it punk songs speeding through your neighbourhood without regard as to whether or not you follow.  What sets them apart from standard punk fare is the sense of melody painted on the top layer, courtesy of the vocals and guitar. 

It should be said that the guitar hooks on each track are creative, varied and full of screeching treble ensuring they punch through the rapid-fire drum and bass.  The vocals here are all northwest riot fare from our sisters in decades past like L7 & Bikini Kill to more recent Van City offerings like You Say Party! We Say Die!  The operative adjective here (besides "fast") would be dirty, which this band has in full force.  The drums and bass are here to keep that pace up at all times, but nothing much beyond that. 

So much punk rock is kept at more regional levels and is loved fiercely in tight circles by die hard fans, but occasionally a band will make enough of a bang that the ripples are picked up by mainstream outlets.  White Lung appear to be splashing in the pool enough to be noticed and acclaimed outside of their comfort zone.  By not sacrificing either speed or melody in their attack, they have provided a notable debut with It's The Evil. 

The problem with the record is that it's a collection of standout songs that all resonate with the same formula.  Listen to any three songs at random and try to name them without looking first.  Reordering the track list in any way does not impact the overall feel of the record, which makes it feel more like a collection of their strongest songs and not a work in and of itself.  The fact that the whole experience is only 25 minutes long plays to the strength of the presentation.  White Lung strikes you quickly, grabs you by the neck and rams your head into the speaker.  They're gone before you recover and you wonder if you'll hear from them again, kind of like a one night stand.  Of course, you don't need to hear back from them because the experience in and of itself was memorable...kind of like a one night stand. 

Now that you have my attention, with It's The Evil, what will you do with it?

- Catch Denis every Thursday on Dirty Work from 8-10pm.

UFC 124 Preview: John Makdessi from Erica F. on Vimeo.

It’s expected to be a record-breaking night when the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Montreal Saturday for UFC 124. Over twenty three  thousand fans will be in attendance at the Bell Centre. The mark would shatter the UFC’s previous record of just over twenty one thousand, set in Montreal back in 2009. 

The main event will see Montreal-native Georges St-Pierre defend his welterweight title against Josh Koscheck. The fight has a clear good guy versus bad guy dynamic. St-Pierre is one of the most popular and respected fighters in the sport while Koscheck is considered one of the bad boys of the promotion. After winning a shot at a title at the Montreal show in May, Koscheck trash talked the Habs and said he’d take St-Pierre’s title. 

The card will also feature plenty of home grown talent. Seven Canadians are expected to fight, including Montreal-resident and St-Pierre training partner John Makdessi. The twenty-five year old will put his seven and oh record on the line when he takes on Pat  “Awesomely Awesome” Audinwood to open the show.

Story & reporting by: Michael Moore

 Camera & editing by: Erica Fisher

Films Seville, Promo Avenue and CJLO are giving away two Twilight Saga DVD giftpacks. Tune in to CJLO for your chance to win. Contest ends Dec 17th. It's a great way to check off that vampire lover on your gift list or to give yourself an early gift this holiday season. So whether you're for Team Vampire or Team Werewolf or just have a thing for Bella, listen for your chance to have your name entered into the draw.

One entry per name.