21/04/2025

MONDAY | APR 21, 2025

25

LYFE

Oscars to add new award for stunts A NEW Oscar for stunts will be handed out when Hollywood’s glitziest party celebrates its 100th birthday, awards officials said. winner will be unveiled in two years’ time. The announcement marks the culmination of a growing campaign for a “best stunts” category at the Oscars, with supporters arguing that the input of the unsung performers who risk life and limb equals that of the sound mixers, makeup artists and visual effects gurus who are already honoured. o Films released in 2027 will be eligible for nominations

The Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said films released in 2027 will be eligible for an Oscar for Achievement in Stunt Design. “Since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking. We are proud to honour the innovative work of these technical and creative artists, and we congratulate them for their commitment and dedication in reaching this momentous occasion,” Academy CEO Bill Kramer and Academy president Janet Yang said in a statement. Rules on eligibility and who will vote for the

Stunt work is already honoured at some prestigious movie and TV ceremonies, such as the Screen Actors Guild Awards where Fall Guy took home the 2024 prize. The Academy has been expanding the Oscars to create more categories that reflect how complex filmmaking has become. Last year, a new Oscar was established for casting, which will be awarded for the first time next year. – AFP

Those who perform dangerous stunts on film will finally get their due at the Oscars. – PEXELSPIC

Will nu-metal comeback lift Machine Head?

Ű BY R. BALA

territory. Machine Head may be nu-metal but was one of its heaviest practitioners and longtime fans may not take too kindly to the cotton candy chorus. Unbound is more like the Machine Head that fans love and adore. The start-stop rhythms are delivered with a sledgehammer intensity that holds up to scrutiny and will definitely send fans into a moshing frenzy, be it in their living rooms or at a proper live show. The impact is immediate and will have listeners pressing the repeat button while adding it to their playlist. Will the new album sound like the former or will it be hard-hitting like Unbound ? Whichever direction Machine Head takes, there will be fans who love it and those who loathe it. But it will be interesting for sure. The metal world waits with bated breath.

American outfit soldiered on with fan interest dwindling. However, its fortunes took an upturn when Machine Head began focussing on a more thrash-oriented sound on Bloodstone & Diamonds in 2014. That has been the template followed on Catharsis (2018) and Of Kingdom & Crown (2022). A new album Unatoned is slated to drop this Friday and the band has teased its release with a couple of sampler singles. First up is Bonescraper , which features the bouncing, staccato beats that defined the band’s early years. It seems that founding (and sole remaining original) member Rob Flynn has made a decision to take Machine Head back to its roots. Replete with cod-rapped lyrics, there is even a sing-a-long chorus that veers dangerously close to Linkin Park

WHISPER it, but that much maligned sub-genre that is nu-metal is making a comeback. The oft-ridiculed brand of music has suffered greatly since bands such as Limp Bizkit, Korn and Coal Chamber were multi-platinum stars. But with the recent much-hyped return of Linkin Park, nu-metal seems to have been given a new lease of life. Coupled with acts such as Bloodywood breathing new life into the scene, it seems that nu-metal is not dead but was just laying motionless for awhile. One of the sub-genre’s most hard hitting bands is Machine Head, which landed with an almighty thud when its debut single Davidian was released back in 1994. While nu-metal lost its lustre, the

K-pop queen Kwon Eunbi charms with Hello Stranger Kwon shows off her goddess-like figure in a stunning red dress in the music video.

K -POP singer Kwon Eunbi returns with a new digital single Hello Stranger , which showcases her natural charm and captivating allure. Hello Stranger invites fans into Kwon’s secret world with a soft whisper, just like meeting a new stranger in a lonely city. The single is marked by a signature Afro-pop sound, beginning with guitar arpeggios that leave a strong first impression alongside the dreamy vocals in the introduction and building into fast-racing energy and explosive rhythm alongside Kwon’s powerful vocals. Kwon also released the music video for Hello Stranger on her official YouTube channel.

In the video, she shows off her goddess-like figure in a stunning red dress and dazzles viewers with her dancing with fluttering and attention-grabbing ribbons, overwhelming the eyes and ears. For this latest comeback, Kwon also shares four new looks showcasing her sexy and provocative charisma, announcing a concept transformation that is a 180-degree switch from the warm emotions of her previous work. With her mysterious and dreamy aura, she has further fuelled the anticipation of fans around the world, raising their expectations for the kind of music and performances that she will deliver as a “global queen”.

Machine Head’s latest album is due to be released this Friday. – PIC FROM FACEBOOK @MACHINEHEAD