Category Archives: Trance

EMOTIONAL Kerry Katona broke down in tears telling fans that she couldn't stop shaking.

The singer, 42, explained that had a powerful form of hypnotherapy saying: "I feel like I've just been rebooted, like I've just been reborn."

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She added: "I've got in touch with little Kerry, who's been through s***."

Kerry said she's been left "triggered" after writing her blockbuster book, which comes out next month, and contacted therapist Marcus Matthews.

The tearful star explained: "I have been struggling with my mental health and anxiety and fear.

"I've been the doctors, had my medication up. I've really, really been struggling. Then I met this guy. I can't stop crying. This is Marcus Matthews, please go and follow him.

"He's just done the most amazing thing on me. You guided me through this and I cannot give this man enough praise for what he'd just done to me.

"I feel like I've just been rebooted, like I've just been reborn. It's like I've had an awakening, like a higher power.

"I've got in touch with little Kerry, who's been through s***. I've reached out to her and I've looked after her.

"Honest to god this guy is amazing. It was so powerful."

Marcus explained: "What we've done is we've used a very powerful technique of hypnotheraphy to find the root cause of why Kerry's been feeling the way she's been feeling.

"We've released this massive feeling so I think we can say you connected with the universe, didn't you?"

She replied: "Massively. I heard two voices. I am a massive believer in all this and you all know I am. I'm still shaking, this was so powerful.

"I'm a massive advocate for mental health. If you need any kind of therapy this f***ing man - sorry for swearing - please get in touch with this man.

"I can't even explain properly what's happened. It was very emotional."

Kerry was quickly contacted by followers and friends, including Danielle Brown, who wrote: "Got me in tears, I am so happy for you Kerry x."

What is hypnotherapy?

MOST of us learned everything we know about hypnosis from TV shows, where people put under a spell.

So its no surprise that theres a healthy amount of scepticism about it.

But hypnotherapy is recognised as a talking therapy by the British Psychological Society, and is considered a useful treatment for issues including anxiety, addiction and even IBS.

The idea of hypnotherapy is to induce a mild trance meaning a relaxed state, a bit like when we allow our minds to wander or switch to autopilot and then introduce suggestions for how wed like to feel or behave or explore the sub-conscious.

Up to 90% of our behaviour is governed by the unconscious, according to experts.

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Kerry Katona breaks down in tears and left shaking as she opens up on mental health battle after... - The Sun

09 Sep 2022 | 05:26am IST

Joseph Lewis DSilva

Many village voices that are not jealous and those that do not pull others down, but want to bring out the best in fellow Goan citizens have these things to say.

Life is a journey amidst all sorts of people and whether by choice or circumstances, we have to live amidst people filled with greed, envy, power, position, prestige; and society, consciously or unconsciously, controls our minds, shapes our hearts, our actions when we mix with each other and struggle for all the things that man has set up as being extremely important in life.

The general public needs friendly companionship, good relationship and therefore associates and mix with each other; listening to rib ticking jokes; enjoying doing things in turns, spending time collectively in celebrations at birthday parties, festivals and thus derive the mental pleasure called happiness. Parties are loaded with food and the heart of socialisation atmosphere is always linked with the bottle. But such feelings of happiness are fleeting; and the fine weather friends who participate in parties are not worth much. Some socialise children with a small circle of family members or friends and mingle them to fit for life in companionship with others. Some have no time to join party circles either because they are working with some personal work; and their children have no time to join any get-together because of studies. But that does not mean they are unsocial. One should not arrive at such wrong conclusion and hurt the feelings of others. We are social beings as well as individuals.

But the effect of party fun, snowballs into habit and kills positive spark in later life. Habits that are formed by constant repeated actions illustrate our character. Children are always the biggest victims of excessive parties. Killers, looters, thieves, robbers, and attackers coax our innocent children who easily get persuaded by them and so many turn into alcoholics. Village voices say that continuous parties form like a training centre to be drunkards. Just as seminaries are to train men to be priest, the Indian Police service training is to be good police men; basic flying training school to be good future flying groups. But we should never put children in repeated party environment where drinks are the main thing that dominates along with food.

Agreed not all the participants in such local parties turn out to be alcoholics but as our surrounding atmosphere on seashores is to smooth the progress of tourism, where we have rave parties, trance music through the night. Every action, as Newton, discovered, has an equal and opposite reaction is true in both the physical domain as well as life in general. Over-drinking today may result in habit tomorrow, which is brought on by harmful lifestyles that reveal in years later.

Goans are responsible masters of their own destiny to decide their own fortunes, their future and the future of the coming generation. Those who do not listen to reason but stubbornly go their own way against friendly guidance then they are on the road to misfortune. Life for them turns sour; if they do not do good things that are within their power and future generation arrive at rave parties and trance music.

More here:

Herald: THEY ARRIVE AT RAVE PARTIES - Herald Goa

Smeagol Gollums prisoners story

He was indeed once a fisherman. As his brother Deagol falls into the lake being dragged by the baited fish, his hands fall on a shiny ring in the sand on the bottom of the water. He carries it in his hands. Smeagol stands behind him and is at once taken by its beauty. He asks Deagol to give the ring to him.

When he doesnt, Smeagol murders him. Smeagol holds it in his hands and we see how he turned into Gollum over the years. Smeagol was abandoned by the community for murdering his brother and he wasted away in the darkness of dungeons to become this gangrel beast.

Frodo is unable to sleep anymore. Smeagol takes them further. Sam rations the food for the journey back home, as Frodo sees that possibility grow unlikely by the minute. Gandalf and the others reach Isengard, where Treebeard has taken over.

Saruman is locked inside the tower, now with no powers. Pippin spots his Palantir that Gandalf quickly takes under his cloak. Theoden and the people of Rohan return to their homes. They drink and feast in the honor of the fallen. Eowyn takes interest in Aragorn. She courts him as a probable groom. Gollum rallies Smeagol to kill the Hobbits. They talk about she who is always hungry and will eat the Hobbits when they go through the tunnel.

Sam wakes up in the middle of Gollums blabbering. He jumps on him but Frodo stops him. He still needs Gollum as a guide. Sam reluctantly agrees but is wary of Smeagols next move. At night, Pippin takes away Sarumans Palantir and looks into it. The Eye growls at him and torments him in Black Speech. He is paralyzed under his spell.

Gandalf brings him back and asks him what he saw. A dead white tree in the courtyard with a city burning around it. Minas Tirith, Gandalf identifies. Thankfully, Pippin didnt tell Sauron anything about Frodo. Gandalf deduces Pippins glimpse into the Palantir as the enemys plan to attack the city of Minas Tirith. But hes wary about the strength of the man.

As soon as Gondors call for help is lit, Rohan must ride to help. Theoden disagrees. If they didnt come to help them, why should they? Aragorn says hell go and warn Gondor. Gandalf says he must come through another way through the river, looking for black ships. Gandalf will carry the message to Gondor and take Pippin with him. The enemy will now be looking for him as he thinks he has the ring.

As Arwen is being taken away to board the ship, she has a vision of Aragorn with their son, wearing her Evenstar. She turns around and rides into Rivendell. She rushes to Elrond and asks what he saw. Death for Arwen and life for her son. She begs her father to re-forge the sword that took the ring out of Saurons hand. Elrond sees the life of Eldar leaving Arwen in his foresight. He mends the sword as promised. Gandalf arrives at Minas Tirith, the city of kings. Pippin sees the white tree, which Gandalf explains as the Kings tree. Gondor has no king but a steward, Lord Denethor, Boromirs father. Gandalf warns him not to say anything to the lord and let him do the talking.

Gandalf greets him but Denethor already knows of Boromirs death. Pippin steps forward to explain to him that Boromir died saving his kinsmen. Gandalf pushes him aside and asks Denethor to light the beacons and call for help. He must ready the armies and prepare the defense of the city. Denethor denounces Gandalfs plan and sees it as connivance to dethrone him and install Aragorn on the throne.

Gandalf fears the worst fight as he and Pippin look out the city over the grounds where the battle for the earth will be fought. Mordors call to arms has been heralded by even men mercenaries from the coast and legions of Haradrim from the south. At Gondor, the hammer store will fall the hardest.

After Osgiliath, Gondor is next. Gandalf tells Pippin of the witch -king of Angmar, the one who stabbed Frodo in Weathertop. He will lead Saurons armies and no living man can kill him.

Gollum, Sam, and Frodo reach the Dead City, where Saurons armies prepare for battle. Gollum shepherds them to the stairs that will lead them to Mordor. The witch-king emerges and the gates open, making way for his army. Frodos ascent begins up the stairs. Pippin is given the task of lighting the beacon by Gandalf.

Others respond as hope is kindled. The Orcs sail silently to the shores of Osgiliath. Theyre met by a brave resistance of men but eventually they overpower them. Leftover riders ride to Minas Tirith as the Nazguls pick them out in the open. Gandalf saves the day with his white light and brings a handful back. Aragorn rushes to tell Theoden that the beacons are lit.

The King declares that Rohan will answer and readies his men. He asks his lieutenants to ask for further reinforcements. Eowyn plans on joining the fight and taking to the battleground in secrecy. Gandalf meets Faramir who tells them theyre taking the road to Morgul Vale. Gandalf is concerned and seeks more details from Faramir.

Smeagol, Sam, and Frodo reach the top. Smeagol poisons Frodo against Sam that he intends to take the ring for himself. The witch-king stands atop Osgiliath and says he will handle the wizard while ordering legions of orcs to assemble and attack. Denethor is delirious and orders Faramir and his men to take Osgiliath again. It is an act of envy as he says he wished Faramir died instead of Boromir.

Gollum encourages more in-fighting as he throws away the last remaining bread and blames it on Sam. The tensions run high and the creatures plan is succeeding. Frodo is convinced Sam wants the ring for himself and parts ways with him.

He goes on with Gollum as Sam cries for his friend. Faramir and his men follow Denethors suicide mission to retake Osgiliath. Everyone knows how it will end but yet they march on. The aims of orcs arrows are locked and in moments, Faramir and his men are killed.

Not enough men have answered Theodens call. Mordors lines will not be broken by a mere six thousand. Legolas explains the legend of Dimholt, the door under the mountain, to Gimli. No one who has gone in has ever returned. Aragorn draws closer to the road to Dimholt as Gimli brings him out of his trance.

Aragorn is woken by a soldier who summons him to the kings tent. Lord Elrond visits him and informs him about Arwen, who is dying. Elrond foresees their defeat. He tells them of another fleet of Corsair ships that will attack from another front. A defeat is certain unless Aragorn is able to conjure the men who dwell in the mountain. Elrond gives Aragorn the sword of Elendil he re-forged. He says the cursed men will answer to the king of Gondor.

Aragorns destiny calls out for him. He must seek his true identity and march on to Dimholt. Aragorn prepares his horse and dismisses Eowyns love for him. Legolas and Gimli accompany Aragorn to Dimholt. Men see Aragorns departure as the loss of hope. Theoden reassures them that they will still battle with a full heart.

Legolas explains the legend behind these men. They were cursed as they broke their promise to the last king of Gondor to come to their aid in battle. Isildur cursed them never to rest and remain in the darkness of the mountain. At the mouth of the entrance, Aragorn enters, Legolas follows, and Gimli is forced in to keep the name of dwarves. Theoden and his men leave for battle.

Aragorn deals with the dead and asks them to fight for him. If they do, he will free them of the curse. Saurons army assembled in front of the white city. They envelop almost the entire field. Denethor loses all hope and is even more disillusioned as he sees Faramirs dead body. Gandalf knocks Denethor unconscious and takes over. He asks the men to stand their ground and keep fighting. Joining the forces on the ground are Nazguls from the skies.

Smeagol leads Frodo to the tunnel, where he begins to doubt if its the correct way. Smeagol pushes him to go in as it is the only way. Frodo takes the bait and goes in.

He leads Frodo right into the path of a giant spider. Frodo uses the light of Earendil (given to him by Galadriel in the first movie) to hold off the spider, who is blinded by it. Sam, who had started to turn back, discovers the bread in the rocks below and goes back toward the tunnel to help Frodo. Frodo unwittingly walks into the spiders web, unable to get out.

Smeagol mocks him from the sidelines but Frodo keeps fighting away and escapes, barely. Outside, Smeagol attacks Frodo asking for the Ring. Frodo says he is going to destroy the ring as Smeagol falls down a pit trying to get his precious back.

Frodo marches on, alone, apologizing to Sam under his breath, realizing the big mistake he made. Galadriels spirit awakens him from slumber and asks him to keep going. At Tirith, the fight rages on. The orcs manage to break down the gate and enter the city.

Unbeknownst to Frodo, the spider sneaks up on him and strikes him with its sting. She then starts wrapping up in her web but Samwise arrives with the sword and Earendil. He valiantly fights the spider and emerges victorious. Frodo is stunned by the poison and lies still in Sams arms. The sword turns blue as Sam sees orcs arriving. He hides as the Orcs take Frodo to the tower, not knowing he is the one with the Ring. Samwise follows the orcs into the tower.

Denethor prepares for Faramirs funeral when Pippin reveals that he is not dead. But he is ousted from the ceremony. At Tirith, the Orcs have overwhelmed the citys defenses. As all hope is lost, the horn of the hammerhead rings from the east. It is Rohan, who has arrived in swell numbers to fight the enemy. They bleed into the fields, running through the enemy led by Theoden.

They overrun the orcs as Pippin leads Gandalf to Faramir. Pippin climbs into the pire and saves Faramir, as he is burned alive, and jumps from the top to his death. Just as Theodens army has taken the upper hand, the mammoth Oliphaunts arrive with the Haradrim riding on their backs.

It is a tough battle but they soldier on. Eowyn shows great courage as Theodens men successfully wade off the mammoth creatures. Theoden rallies his men behind him but the Nazgul knocks him down. He asks the fell beast to feast on Theodens flesh, as Eowyn jumps in front of him valiantly. She even severs the beasts head and then fights the witch-king.

The orcs think the pirate reinforcements have arrived but instead, it is Aragorn with the cursed army. Pippin and Eowyn work together to kill the witch-king. The cursed army defeats the remaining orcs as the unlikeliest of victories awaits the men. Theoden lies on the ground, proud of Eowyn. He asks her to let him go and thanks her for saving him. He breathes his last in her arms. Aragorn releases the cursed men, as promised. The fight at Tirith is over.

The action shifts to Saurons tower, where Frodo wakes up. But he cannot find the ring. Sam follows secretively and retrieves Frodo from under the orc guard. Frodo is desolate but Sam reveals he has it. For a moment, the ring takes over Sam, but the brave Hobbit gets his bearings and hands over the ring.

They wear orc guard to go through the final leg of hurdles towards Mordor: the Plains of Gorgoroth. The Eye is keeping a stern vigil but the brave hobbits march on. Gandalf and the council decide to create a diversion for Frodo to get through.

To give him the best chance perhaps even to themselves they risk their own lives. Saurons remaining army marches to the gates of Mordor to meet the incoming enemy. The Hobbits are almost there. Aragorn, with the remaining army of men, stands at the gates, prepared for battle. The council goes near the door to see where the army is. They call out to the army and the gates creak open. Frodos last steps into Mordor are shaky, as the Eye spots him on the rocks. But loses him and focuses firmly on the gate, just as the council planned.

The men are outnumbered; Frodo is the only chance of survival. Theyre engulfed by Saurons humungous army. Sam pushes Frodo on by describing the Shire in spring. When Frodo doesnt respond, Sam carries Frodo to the final few steps. Aragorn advances to fight for Frodo, as the men join him. Sam reaches the doorway, but Smeagol attacks them all of a sudden and a fight ensues between them. Frodo runs for the doorway.

The battle continues at the gates. Frodo is nearly there. He stands on the edge of the bridge that leads into the raging fire of Mordor. He stands with the ring in his hands. But he pauses. He cant throw it in the fire. The Ring whispers to him and shines in his eyes.

The Ring is mine, he says, pressing it close to his heart and wearing it, disappearing. Smeagol knocks Sam unconscious and jumps on Frodo. He bites his finger and retrieves the ring, completely overwhelmed by it. He dances around in joy. Frodo gets up and Gollum falls into the fire with the Ring. Frodo hangs on the rocks below as Sam tries to help him up. He does, and the ring that settled on the lava melts into the fire. It is destroyed. And as it does, the Eye explodes. Saurons army vanquishes and falls into the pit in the ground. The bottomless pit swallows them whole.

The evil is defeated as the tower crumbles down. Mount doom explodes as well, as everything in Mordors vicinity starts to go down. Sam and Frodo make it. They rejoice seeing the enemy being defeated but are stranded on a rock as molten lava spreads around them. Frodo and Sam daydream of the Shire and everything wonderful about the place they call home. And just as all hope is lost, Gandalfs eagles rescue them.

Frodo wakes up days after his heroic acts of singular importance to find Gandalf sitting at his bedside. Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Legolas, and Aragorn walk into to see their hero healthy and well. Samwise arrives at the last and his eyes meet that of Frodo. They nod in contentment and admiration for what they endured together.

At Minas Tirith, Aragorn takes oath as the new King of Gondor. All bow down to him and he delivers a rousing speech. Lord Elrond gives Arwens hand to the King. They are to be wedded and Arwens vision will come true. Aragorn sees the Hobbits, who bow to him. But Aragorn interrupts them and says, My friends you bow to no one, and everyone bows to thank them for their heroics.

Frodo narrates the tale afterward. Thirteen months from that day, he writes that the Fellowship ended with the Ring destroyed. The Hobbits returned to Bag End and Sam finally marries Rosie Cotteon. Frodo has completed the unwritten chapters in his uncle Bilbos book, with a space left for a few more. The Hobbits leave to big goodbye to Bilbo and Gandalf, who will go with the Elves to the West into Valinor.

Galadriel announces that the time has come for the Dominion of Men and that the time of the three Rings is over. Bilbo goes straight ahead onto the ship. Gandalf says his goodbyes. His work here is finished and now he must go back.

All of the Hobbits, except Frodo, weep to see the great Wizard depart. But he pauses and turns, saying, It is time Frodo. All the Hobbits turn to him in shock. And Frodo explains that he is leaving with Gandalf as the Shire has been saved. He hands over the Red Book of Westmarch to Sam, encouraging him to write his own chapters. Sam comes back to the Shire, ready to begin a new life with his wife and kids.

The End

Thanks for reading our story recap for Return of the King. What do you think of Lord of the Rings story? Have we missed any crucial details in this recap? Do let us know in the comments below!

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Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003) Story Recap - TheReviewGeek

After releasing the teaser of Vikram Vedha last month, the makers have finally unveiled its trailer today (September 9) after a long wait.

Featuring Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan in the titular roles, the Hindi remake of 2017 Tamil film of the same name is directed by Pushkar and Gayatri who also helmed the original.

The movie is eagerly anticipated as Hrithik is returning to the silver screen three years after the record-breaking success of War in 2019.

Taking to social media, the superstar shared the trailer with fans and wrote, What you choose, defines YOU! #VikramVedhaTrailer out now. #VikramVedha releases worldwide in cinemas on 30th September 2022.

As shown in the trailer, Vikram Vedha is inspired by the ancient folk tale of Vikram-Betaal with a face-off between Hrithik and Saif. While Saif plays a police officer named Vikram, Hrithik is seen as the gangster Vedha. It underlines 'Between Good & Evil, what you choose, defines you'.

The film also stars Radhika Apte, Rohit Saraf, and Satyadeep Mishra in important roles. Overall, the trailer looks promising and fans are loving Hrithik and Saif in it.

Heres the YouTube link:

As soon as the trailer was dropped, #VikramVedhaTrailer started trending on Twitter with the majority of social media users appreciating the whole vibe of the action thriller.

Reacting to it, a Twitter user wrote, Guuuyyyysssss... I'm In Trance!!! Can't Wait For You All To Witness #VikramVedhaTrailer Its Astounding! Captivating! Mind Is Completely Blown... @iHrithik I Think I Need New Adjectives To Describe Even 10% Of What You Have Done As #Vedha! IMPECCABLE! INVINCIBLE! #HR25"

Another user tweeted, This is much bigger than expected.. Pure seetimar mass action feast.. @iHrithik #VikramVedhaTrailer

A third post read, FIRE (fire emojis) Blockbuster written all over it! Just loved the swag, brutality & comic timing of Hrithik.

Here are the reactions:

For the unversed, R Madhavan and Vijay Sethupathi played the lead roles in the original Vikram Vedha and itll be interesting to see if the Hindi remake will do justice to it or not.

The film is slated to release on September 30.

Follow this link:

Mind Is Completely Blown People React As Trailer Of Hrithik-Saifs Vikram Vedha Is Out - MensXP.com

Paul Van Dyk, the living legend of trance music

When you're producing 138bpm trance, the sample selection and sound palette are much different than when you're producing other genres. You need tight and powerful kick drums, fast-paced drum loops, and FX hits that are larger than life.

Love Producing House Music? Snag these 4k+ Free Samples

That is precisely what you are about to get in this ultimate collection of free trance samples. We've used every sample on this list in one of our professionally-produced records and can swear by their effectiveness. So this collection will have something for you whether you're making progressive trance, Psytrance, uplifting trance, or any other trance music subgenres.

So let's dive in...

Let's explore the world of trance which was born in the 1990s and has been a popular genre in clubs. Tap into the same synth sounds that are used in hip-hop are also being used in Calvin Harris's number 1 hit, I'm Not Alone, and other top hits that defined an entire generation of trance music.

Snag These Samples Here

A range of free vocal samples from Zefora's Ethereal Voices library. This free female vocal sample pack contains a selection of musical loops hand-picked from the full sample library.

Snag These Samples Here

Get unique sounds for your trance productions; no obligations or hoop-jumping are required, just click the link and download the pack. This is a love letter to the trance music production communities across Reddit and does not fail to deliver. Check out these trance loops and many others through the link below.

Snag These Samples Here

Myloops has over 1GB of free Trance samples, WAV loops, and MIDI files. All of these sounds are 100% royalty-free, so you can use them in your productions. These sounds are compatible with every sequencer on the market: Ableton Live, FL Studio, Cubase, Logic Pro, Reaper, Studio One, Acid, and many more. Whether you're a professional sound designer or just starting, these high-quality sounds will be an excellent foundation for your next tracks.

Snag These Samples Here

What About Free Progressive House Drums is a freebie containing various loud and punchy drum samples. These sounds were crafted with precision and power, so your tracks can be as clear and loud as possible. Enjoy being inspired by some of the biggest progressive house tunes and producers!

Snag These Samples Here

HighLife Samples has another free sample pack available for download--Trance free samples. This free download contains two trance construction kits, comprising .wav loops and MIDI files. The content of this sample pack can be used royalty-free in your musical compositions.

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Snag These Samples Here

This first free pack of MyLoops' free trance loops Samples contains a large number of high quality. WAV format psytrance synths, basslines, FX, drum loops and one-shots. They are all designed to seamlessly fit into your next psy trance tune. If you're looking to give your psy trance productions more power, energy, and drive, this is the perfect tool.

Snag These Samples Here

There are 24 great free Trance samples: 6 loud kicks and 18 complex explosions for your EDM productions. This collection is perfect for trance, Psytrance, and goa trance productions! Even if you're not a trance producer, I'm sure you can use these sounds creatively! It's probably the most miniature free trance sample pack available, but it packs a punch!

Snag These Samples Here

Myloops has many free Trance samples, wave files, and trance MIDI files. All of these sounds are free to use in your productions. These sounds will work in any sequencer, such as Ableton Live, FL Studio, Cubase, Logic Pro, Reaper, Studio One, Acid, and many more. In addition to our trance sample packs, Myloops also offers several free Trance Templates.

Snag These Samples Here

Audiovat's latest free download is the Trance Vocal Sample Pack, containing one dry and wet vocal lead and the chop vocal loop. Wav format. Also included are drum loops, bass, information, and chord melodies. These are available to download without paying a dime, so dive into these free EDM samples now.

Snag These Samples Here

This free trance sample pack includes snag bass loops, drum loops, and high-quality construction kits. These samples are a bit faster than traditional trance music, but the energy and punch they will allow you to add to your productions is second to none. Download free trance samples now and start using them in your production ASAP!

Snag These Samples Here

Ancore Sounds' samples and sounds are exciting and relevant solutions for electronic music production. Download free demo versions of their products, presets, construction kits, midi, or sample packs to test their quality. Feel free to use them in any genre you produce; they are a powerful tool for music producers of all levels and genres.

They design our templates using the latest industry sound trends from top labels, so you can get an inside look at how these tracks are made and how they are structured.

Snag These Samples Here

Ancore Sounds offers exciting and relevant solutions for electronic music production. Download free demo versions of our products, presets, construction kits, midi, or sample packs to try them out. They are fantastic for finding inspiration in a blank template or to help fill out a rough idea and turn it into a professionally-produced track.

Snag These Samples Here

A range of free Trance samples from Transcendental State. This free Trance sample pack includes a selection of loops from the entire sample library. You can download these samples for free and use them freely in your productions. Royalty-free means DJs and producers can use them without risking a lawsuit!

Snag These Samples Here

Go here to see the original:

Free Trance Samples: Thousands Of Percussions, Loops, and FX Sounds For Your Uplifting Productions - Magnetic Magazine

Who wants to be hypnotized? What if you heard theres a new blues tune so brilliant it will put you into a trance?

Youve heard about trance music and blues music. But have you ever heard a mix of the two genres? Its a growing subgenre of the blues and trance music, and has a unique style all its own.

Trance blues is a relatively new phenomenon thats making waves because of a few big names that have been experimenting with musical styles for quite a while.

In this article, were going to discuss what makes it unique and some big names to watch out for in the emerging subgenre.

What is Trance Blues?

In learning the basics of blues, we know there are blues shuffles that have what you might call a trance-like rhythm, followed by a call and response. The rhythmic repetition is called a groove and may remind listeners of a trance-like effect.

But the actual blues trance genre refers to the combination of electronic music with traditional blues, including drum machines, loops, samples, and so on. Some trance blues music records even have altered classical blues songs remade with modern musical touches.

For example, take drumming. Traditional blues was once associated with Dixieland drum kits. Trance blues uses far more drumming and in some cases more rhythmic and experimental drum loops.

Influential Trance Blues Songs

Some of the most influential trance blues songs came out in the early 2000s, such as Tangle Eye by a band of the same name. Tangle Eye is a modern reimagining of a 1948 song Rosie by C. B. Cook and a prison work gang from Mississippi.

Otis Taylor was also credited as a trace blues pioneer, combining distinctive blues tunes with Appalachian country music and even psychedelic rock. Taylor started exploring trance blues in 2001 and later did entire albums like White African. As this piece from NPR reports.

Otis Taylor once explained, trance-blues makes use of electronic repetition, in a way that kind of hypnotizes people. They lose a sense of time when Im playing live sometimes.

While most blues music has three-chord blues progression, trance blues loves repetitive chords used skillfully.

Trance Blues Hits Today

What really makes trance blues different from the trance genre (which we wrote about here in 2020) is a distinctive love of blues music, not to mention an admiration for blues culture, and the Delta Blues birthplace.

Otis Taylor may be one of the most commonly associated artists with trance blues, but the genre is taking off and going in many different directions. There is even a Trance Blues Festival touring in 2022.

While Otis Taylor is definitely the star attraction, you can also look for other visiting artists like Alvin Youngblood Hart, Cassie Taylor, Brian Juan, Beth Rosbach and Guy Davis.

The popularity of trance blues is a niche for now but its growing consistently, thanks to all the great songs coming out of the Mississippi Delta and beyond.

Mississippi Delta Blues

Speaking of the Mississippi Delta, its hard to deny that its the birthplace of the Blues, at least when it comes to American Blues. The evolution of Blues, from 19th century work chants and field hollers to a remarkable mix of multiple musical genres and instruments, is all a fascinating read.

You can read about the history of Mississippi Delta Blues music on VisitMississippi.com.

Trance blues is a growing tide, especially as many new artists reflect upon the social issues that made blues music so powerful a century ago. Today, artists continue to talk about social injustice through lyrics and music one of the most powerful ways to make an impact.

Give trance blues a listen and hear something amazingly familiar thats also completely new.

Read more from the original source:

The Growing Tide Of Trance Blues - An Emerging Genre - Music Essentials

First things first. Start the day off with the aarppo irro chant. Let there be some josh in the air! And then, here goes the to-do list...

Flower playIts impossible to imagine an Onam without pookkalam or the vibrant flower carpets laid to welcome our dear Maveli. Most of us have appreciated the beautiful patterns, but how many have taken the effort to experiment with one?

Pookkalam-laying starts with Atham, when a single-layer Athappoo is laid. As each day passes, more layers are added, and the pookkalam keeps getting bigger. Do try a whacky Thiruvonam pookkalam today.

Pookalam used to be an intense festive affair at most households, recalls historian M G Sasibhooshan. Children would excitedly go out in search of flowers in the early hours. Arali, chembarathi, thumba, and mukkutti were a must. The flowers used have medicinal properties, and the pookkalam was a reminder that flowers are an integral part of human life.

Central figureOn Thriuvonam, the presence of Thrikkakara Appan or Onathappan is important. Nowadays, cone-shaped earthen idols are available in the market. But there were times when these idols were made at home.

Appan here could be viewed as Lord Vamana or King Mahabali, based on ones belief and choice. I remember my mother making these structures. We used to get mud from paddy fields. It is dried under the sun, and kneaded using a little water, says Changampuzha Samskarika Kendra president P Prakash.

To get the red tone, brick powder is added. Once the dough is ready, we mould it into pyramid-like idol. One can use ready-made clay, too.

As per tradition, Thrikkakara Appan is kept outside homes on Thiruvonam. In some places, a day after Thiruvonam, a ritual is practiced to bid farewell to Maveli.

Geometrical patterns are made using rice flour, and the Thrikkakara Appan is placed at the centre, says Kathakali singer Deepa Palanad. From the pookkalam to the gate, thumba flowers would be spread.

Prakash adds that, in some places, the idol is placed at the gate. Ahead of Thiruvonam, pieces of the whole thumba plant including its stem, leaves, and buds are kept ready. This is spread all the way to the gate as part of bidding farewell to Maveli, he explains.

This Onam, try getting some mud on your hands.

Dance awayWearing Onakkodi received from the elderly of the house, groups of girls or women dance around the nilavilakku (lamp). The dance form is accompanied by songs on Lord Shiva and Parvati, called Thriuvathira paattu. Not all can master the graceful moves, agreed, but do try watching a performance and appreciate its intricacies.

Macho moves Men, too, have their share of dance fun during Onam. Onakkali is popular in Thrissur district. A team of mundu-clad men sometimes up to 70 members dances in circles. The peppy songs are mostly adapted from the Ramayana, says Vinoj Nadana, a farmer who manages the Nadana dance troupe in Thrissur. The steps would differ with the mood and rhythm of the songs.

Time to gang up, guys!

Action thrillerOnathallu is a well-known traditional game. Also called kayyamkali, the game involves bare-handed fighting, and is pretty popular in the central Kerala and towards the north.There are rules, and the game is closely monitored by a referee, called chathikaar.

One should only slap and that, too, only on arms. You cant hit or kick, or strike other parts of the body. This is a fun game that is meant to showcase ones strength, and not to injure the opponent, explains Sasibhooshan.

Sounds too rough and tough? Try an Onam-special towel or pillow fight.

Belt it outThroughout the Onam season, recital of Onapattu is a common, pleasing activity. Earlier, groups would visit houses and sing. Onathappa kudavayara naale aanu thiruvonam, thiruvona kari enthanu chena tandum, cherupayarum... is a popular pick, says Prakash. Another one, of course, is poove poli poove.

From toddlers to grandparents, anyone can croon them in tune with the Onam spirit. Learn at least one song today.

Thumbi tranceThis is another fun game, which is popular in and around Thiruvananthapuram.

In the evening, a child would be made to sit on the floor and his/her face would be covered with a mundu, says Sasibhooshan.

People would surround the child and sing the song that goes thumbi enthe thullathe, poo poranjittano...? There would be loud aarpooo irro cheers, and slowly the child would appear to be in trance, also known as urachil. They would shake the head and sway. I dont think such games are played these days.

Ready for some traditional trance?

Have a ball!Onapanthu was once a celebrated game during the season. The ball is made with coconut husk wrapped in leather. Its smaller than football, and used to be made by cobblers, says Sasibhooshan, adding that it is made with coconut palm leaves, too, for kids.

Youngsters would get it done before Thiruvonam. At first, using hands the ball is passed to the opposite side, later legs and head can be used, and the opposite team has to defend the ball from crossing a line. It used to be serious sport. The winners would usually get a bunch of bananas, which is shared with the rival team.

Common, go grab that ball!

Declare warVadamvali or tug-of-war is a must in Onam celebrations. A senior colleague is recuperating from a nasty catch in his back, courtesy grand celebrations at our office. And he seems quite proud about it! Well, thats the Onam spirit.

Besides display of strength, the game is important showcasing unity is strength, says writer and media professional C Rahim. Earlier, this was one of the games that breached social socio-religious barriers. People, irrespective of caste and creed, came together. Its a simple, but effective, way to foster team spirit.

Dont have a rope? Tie up two bedspreads and get started!

Feast forthe antsThis ones nice and sweet. Onam is an egalitarian festival, and it is paramount to ensure everyone around one is sated and happy. That includes insects and ants, too. In fact, urumboottu or feast for ants is held on a serious note, especially in Onattukara region of Alappuzha . Sweet delights are kept outside houses for ants. It could be balls of rice powder mixed with sugar, or chunks of jaggery, says writer C Rahim. In some houses, especially traditional ones, a sweet rice flour paste is smeared on the walls or doors for lizards and cockroaches. The idea is that no living thing should be neglected during Onam. Thats some sweet food for thought, right?

Go here to read the rest:

Aarppo to Urumboottu - indulgexpress

To see Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe dance is to witness spirits in choreographic motion. Transfixing, his dance is a submission to ritual and technique and a balance between the two. While dance as theatrical performance is naturally a fleeting experience, a Mantsoe showcase leaves a transformative mark.

The legendary, award-winning dancer, choreographer and teacher is being honoured as the 2022 legacy artist for the 24th Jomba! Contemporary Dance Experience in Durban. The dance festival, hosted by the centre for creative arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), is returning to live programming after two years.

Themed the (im)possibility of home, the festival aims to explore a sense of belonging and how this persists and changes through time through dance offerings that negotiate heritage, culture and identity. Mantsoes story and 30-year dance career is intrinsic to this.

Dance for the France-based Mantsoe is rooted in the spirit world. Born in Soweto in 1971, and later moving to Vosloorus with his family, he comes from a rich lineage of ubungoma. He remembers the everyday ritual of waking up at 4am to beat the drum and greet the ancestors before the family went about their daily lives.

Participating in traditional rituals of song, dance and drumming that his grandmother, his mother and two of his aunts performed as izangoma inspired Mantsoes ethos for dance making. With permission from his family, he later transposed the ceremonial elements of connecting with ancestral spirits for the receipt of knowledge, joy, healing and direction as well as going into states of trance onto stage. Consulting his ancestors is something he does with each creation.

Speaking to Turkish broadcaster TRT World on the delicate approach and grounding process of merging the spiritual with his western training, Mantsoe says, Dance has taught me self-healing because when I dance, I feel completely healed by the process of what Im going through.

You have to be totally open, free and not congest yourself to one identity, which is just the body moving around a space. The body can divide itself into different dimensions. It can expand, yet I can stay grounded and know exactly where I have to go and when to stop. I dance, first and foremost, for my ancestors, he says.

Living through apartheids oppressive disruption of the 1980s, a teenage Mantsoe and his friend, respected dancer-choreographer, Gregory Maqoma, formed the dance group The Joy Dancers. Influenced by African American culture and infusing it with their traditional dance styles, they experimented and danced to escape and stay out of trouble. After seeing an audition notice in the Sowetan newspaper, both Mantsoe and Maqoma joined the Moving Into Dance (MID) company as part of the Schweppes scholarship programme.

Mantsoe joined the company in 1991 and enrolled in the MID community dance teachers training course in 1992 under the mentorship of Sylvia Glasser and the teaching faculty. He was part of the first groups to perform Glassers historic San trance dancing work, Tranceformations, which gave birth to her Afrofusion dance.

Mantsoe created his iconic international award-winning solo Gula for his MID training course end-of-year graduation. Gula, inspired by the pigeons in his grandmothers Soweto back yard, and the subsequent group work Gula Matari, inspired by the 1970 Quincy Jones record of the same name, is now an Afrofusion classic. It won Mantsoe first prize and an international career at the inaugural Dance Encounters of Contemporary African Dance in Luanda, Angola in 1996.

Creating Gula was the beginning of a new chapter, Mantsoe reflects. The idea was to try and transform myself into a bird. What would happen if I did? We were still living through apartheid. Would I find peace, would I find freedom? I found it in how I express myself.

Gula Matari as an ensemble piece was symbolic of collective community which is what it felt like in the townships in those days. If we were going to protest, we were going to protest together. With it I wanted to try and bring Gula Matari the music into my body in conjunction with the bird. The complexity and simplicity of the music is transporting. I wanted to bring myself into a different world. To fly far away, says Mantsoe.

Gula and its imagery is in multiple ways symbolic to Mantsoes story representing personal and creative freedoms, as well as being the metaphor for the trajectory of his life. He was invited with MID to perform his work throughout Africa, Europe, Australia, Canada and Asia.

In his travels, he found essences of home and gained a deep affinity with the cultural ways of the aboriginal people of Australia and the Japanese, whose influences form part of his signature. Standout productions from his rich body of work include the 1995 Afro-Asian Hanano Blessing of the Earth as the first FNB Dance Umbrella Young Choreographers commissioned work and Men-Jaro as the 1996 Standard Bank young artist award winner for dance, among many others.

After performing and receiving awards in France, he moved there and created his French company Association Noa in 2005. He returns home regularly to see his family and perform and continues to collaborate and teach everywhere else his work takes him. Mantsoes geographical divergences, cultural and spiritual connections shape his ideas of home and belonging that resonate with audiences globally. They also give context to the politics of his dance and its activism.

Contemporary dance is neglected so much in South Africa. We are not taken seriously about how much change we bring into society. With my dance and through my cultural, spiritual and traditional modes, I try to tackle who we are as human beings globally, individually and as communities, he says.

The choice to leave South Africa was made through varying emotions. However, my aunt saw it in her visions that I was not going to stay here because I was not meant to be held in chains. Im a global citizen. I maintain two relationships between two homes, bridging the gap between the European mentality that embraces my work and the South African energy that speaks to who I am.

Mantsoe will be presenting his newest work, Koma at Jomba! With it he highlights the notion of sacrifice, especially looking at what young people go through when embarking on rites of passage. He zooms in on the psychological, spiritual and physical sides of initiation.

Jomba! will screen his short dance filmCut (part 1)made during lockdown and his two-year process (2021 and 2022) of working with Durbans Flatfoot Dance Company, as well as the long journey to makingCut (part 2), which will premiere at the festival.

Mantsoe will also present a masterclass. Central to his legacy is the idea of dance as a language of respect.

What is key for me is to have respect for every aspect of movement I bring into my work. Dance for me is about living the maximum possibility of the past and the present. When Im on stage, Im no longer Vincent Sekwati Koko Mantsoe, I represent something larger. I am the past, carrying my ancestors into the present and into the new generation. Understanding and respecting this knowledge is very important. Without tlhompho le botho ba hao (respect and your humanity), youre just a body, Mantsoe says.

Original post:

The healing dance of SAs choreographic shaman - Mail and Guardian

For some reason, the fall has become the favored time of year for jazz festivals both in this region and nationwide. As one colleague at WBGO said, September has replaced June, which used to be the most crowded month for jazz festivals. In some cases, events were shifted from earlier in the year because of the onset of the pandemic, with many of them deciding to stick with the fall season in the ensuing years. Regardless, heres a rundown of the jazz festivals happening during the fall across the country. (Listed in chronological order.)

Back in the Swing Jazz Festival (Old Lyme, CT)September 9-10Lineup: Joey Alexander Trio; Kenny Garrett & Sounds From the Ancestors; Katie Thiroux Trio featuring Melissa Aldana; Jonathan Barbers Vision Ahead Quintet; Sean Nelsons New London Big Band; others

Central Jersey Jazz Festival (Flemington, New Brunswick, Somerville and Metuchen, NJ)September 9-11 Lineup: Marion Cowings featuring AC Lincoln; Cyrus Chestnut; Bobby Sanabria & Ascension; Lezlie Harrison; Lucy Yeghiazaryan; others

Montclair Jazz Festival (Montclair, NJ)September 10Lineup: Christian McBride; Artemis; Monty Alexander; Matthew Whitaker; Danielle Ponder; Immanuel Wilkins; The Cookers; Ozmosys; others

JazzFest White Plains (White Plains, NY)September 14-18Lineup: Joey Alexander Trio; Buster Williams Quartet; Grace Kelly; Ragan Whiteside; Miki Hayama & Richie Goods; Albert Rivera Quintet; others

Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival (Pittsburgh, PA)September 16-18Lineup: Ron Carter Foursight; Stanley Clarke N 4ever; Incognito featuring Maysa Leak; Average White Band; Buster Williams & Something More; Vanisha Gould; Samara Joy; others

Atlantic City Jazz Festival (Atlantic City, NJ)September 17Lineup: Brian Culbertson; Jazmin Ghent; Althea Rene; Jeff Bradshaw; Najee

Morristown Jazz & Blues Festival (Morristown, NJ)September 17Lineup: Bria Skonberg; Frank Vignola; Veronica Lewis; Walter Trout Band; James Langtons New York All-Star Big Band

Monterey Jazz Festival (Monterey, CA)September 23-25Lineup: Ranky Tanky; Ravi Coltrane; Artemis; Gregory Porter; Christian Sands; Monterey Jazz Festival on Tour; Julian Lage; Brandee Younger; others

Exit Zero Jazz Festival (Cape May, NJ)September 29 October 2Lineup: Gregory Porter; Angelique Kidjo; Jose James; The Baylor Project; Christian Sands; Orrin Evans; Stacy Kent; Joshua Redman; others

BRIC Jazz Festival (Brooklyn, NY)October 20-22Lineup: Lizz Wright; Joel Ross; Freelance; Jose James; DOMI & JD Beck; Theon Cross; Matthew Whitaker; others

Angel City Jazz Festival (Los Angeles, CA)October 21-23Lineup: Luciana Souza & Vince Mendoza; Marquis Hill; John Escreets Seismic Shift; David Murray Trio; Jonathan Pinsons Boom Clap; Battle Trance; others

James Moody Jazz Festival (Newark, NJ)November 8-20Lineup: Maria Schneider; Christian McBride, Fantasia; Jazzmeia Horn; Dee Dee Bridgewater & Savion Glover; Yellowjackets; others

More:

Fall preview of jazz festivals in the area and beyond - wbgo.org

This article will give you a preview of the Healer Combat Styles proposed changes coming with SWTOR Update 7.1.1. Ive also got a detailed analysis of the changes how they will affect the combat styles, the healing in general; and I also shared some personal thoughts and suggestions for further changes that BioWare should implement.

Table of Contents:

Operatives / Scoundrels reign supreme. They are capable of doing gargantuan amounts of AoE healing by spamming Kolto Injection / Underworld Medicine on themselves to turn it into an AoE heal with the Kolto Burst / Medical Burst ability tree buff.

Mercenaries / Commandos and Sorcerers / Sages can still bring acceptable numbers, but youre not doing your group any favors by taking both of those instead of at least 1 Operative / Scoundrel right now.

Operatives / Scoundrels arent without their limitations. Theyre less flexible than Mercenaries / Commandos and especially Sorcerers / Sages because approximately half their GCDs have to be spent maintaining Kolto Probes / Slow-release Medpacs. If they unexpectedly have to burst heal someone up, they risk letting probes fall off of others, forcing them to spend extra GCDs reapplying them later.

They also dont have much survivability at all, especially in PvE content, even compared to other healers. That said, PvE survivability has been an issue for Operatives / Scoundrels in general for quite a while though and will only finally be fixed for DPS with 7.1.1.

Mercenaries / Commandos are well-rounded and theyre particularly good at offering frequent, reliable, potent burst healing thanks to Supercharged Gas / Supercharged Cell. However, Heat / Energy Cell management became harder and less forgiving with the launch of 7.0 because Vent Heat / Recharge Cells and Thermal Sensor Override / Reserve Powercell were combined into a single ability.

Their mobility is also very poorly suited to the new R-4 Anomaly operation where fast, extremely precise movement is preferred. On the other hand, Sorcerer / Sage mobility is incredible. They can travel as far as Mercenaries / Commandos with Force Speed, but while having complete control over where they end up and without having to spend multiple GCDs and while they cant make themselves immune to knockbacks, Phase Walk is almost always able to get the job done.

Sorcerer / Sage healers are truly the jack-of-all-trades, master-of-none. Their flexibility is unparalleled among the healer disciplines. They have multiple options for a given scenario and are rarely locked into doing a specific ability at a specific time like Operatives / Scoundrels are with refreshing probes and Mercenaries / Commandos are with Supercharged Gas / Supercharged Cell and somewhat with Kolto Shell / Trauma Probe.

Thanks to their Volt Rush / Telekinetic Blitz build, Sorcerers / Sages also have the easiest time off-DPSing by far and can consistently deal a comparatively high amount of damage while keeping HPS numbers up.

Their biggest, and in my opinion, appropriate drawback is that they arent as strong as other healers in any given category. They have less frequent access to consistent, reliable, potent burst next to Mercenaries / Commandos and considerably weaker AoE healing next to Operatives / Scoundrels.

Source:SWTOR Forums.

Operative / Scoundrel and Mercenary / Commando are getting the biggest changes with Operative / Scoundrel getting a nerf and Mercenary / Commando getting a considerable buff. Sorcerer / Sage is also getting buffed, but the effect is smaller.

Mercenary / Commando healers will be getting nearly a 2% HPS increase. The only heal that isnt buffed by the first change is Kolto Shot / Med Shot. At 22k HPS, this is a 440 HPS increase. Integrated Scanning / Integrated Probes will do the same, so were looking at nearly a 1k HPS increase just from that, and then the 5% increase to critical healing gets us another ~2.3% increase, so were gonna be sitting at about 23.5k HPS for 22k HPS of healing.

The 5% boost to Critical Scanning / Critical Probe will boost the average healing dealt by Healing Scan / Advanced Medical Probe by an additional 4.4%, or 8.8% total, including the buff to Warden / Potent Medicine. Its still gonna be tough to justify taking that over Integrated Scanning / Integrated Probes because its really only 3.8% more on a single one of your heals, even if it is your strongest.

The nerf to Kolto Burst / Medical Burst will bring the healing power of AoE Kolto Injection / Underworld Medicine back down to earth, such that its HPS will be comparable to Kolto Waves, and which one heals for more will depend on which tactical item is equipped and whether Kolto Injection / Underworld Medicine is instant or not.

BioWare clarified on the forums that each stack of the new Reactive Substance buff will heal for about as much as a tick from Kolto Waves. However, its still unclear if the 10% healing boost to Kolto Stim / Underworld Tactics only applies when Kolto Injection / Underworld Medicine is used on yourself like the additional TA / UH it currently generates or if it will be a flat bonus.

I think players are still going to have a hard time justifying taking either option over Kolto Burst / Medical Burst even after the nerf unless its just really not possible for players to stack up or AoE healing isnt needed. I think Kolto Burst / Medical Burst might need to come along with an Energy cost increase for Kolto Injection / Underworld Medicine as well

The change to Nano Mark / Kolto Mark should help to make the other options more viable outside of single-target healing situations.

A 6% boost to Corrupted Bastion / Resurging Power is insufficient. So long as Resurgence / Rejuvenate spreads to at least 1 person, its gonna come out ahead in terms of HPS, but Resurgence / Rejuvenate can spread to up to 4 people, so its basically never gonna get better.

If BioWare is serious about Corrupted Bastion / Resurging Power, they need to think way bigger, like having each stack increase the critical chance of that ability by 25% and making it stack up to 4 times instead of 3.

The other changes are similarly small as well. The 5% buff to Resurgence / Rejuvenate healing will mostly cancel out the buff to Corrupted Bastion / Resurging Power since it makes Resurgence / Rejuvenate spread stronger. Its better than nothing, but it kinda feels like a token buff next to the Mercenary / Commando buffs and power that Operatives / Scoundrels will still have.

Rocket Out / Propulsion Round is fine in PvP because its mostly just a getaway tool and going backward is typically not dangerous, but there are a ton of instances where going backward in PvE is lethal.

Yes, you can spin your toon around really fast to go in the direction you want, but it feels extremely clunky and is way more difficult to do than it should be. No other ability in the game requires such technical skill to use.

The best way to fix it would be to make it so Rocket Out / Propulsion Round sends you in the direction youre moving rather than always backward, and perhaps it could still move backward if youre not moving at all or are backing up when you activate it.

Powertechs / Vanguards have an extra 45% movement speed granted by Hydraulic Overrides / Hold the Line (75% total). It used to be part of a special utility, but now its baked into the base ability. Powertechs / Vanguards dont have to give up nearly as much to take Hydraulic Overrides / Hold the Line either, only also Electro Dart / Cryo Grenade and Shield Cannon (4% heal per Shoulder Cannon), which I think we can all agree is objectively worse than Responsive Safeguards / Echoing Deterrence.

Its time for Hydraulic Overrides / Hold the Line to be equally strong for all Mercenaries / Commandos and Powertechs / Vanguards by giving Mercenaries / Commandos the 75% Hydraulic Overrides / Hold the Line.

This would definitely take a lot less work to implement compared to adding directionality to Rocket Out / Propulsion Round and would probably be enough on its own to put the combat style on more even footing with regard to mobility.

Kolto Surge / Adrenal Surge (65% Kolto Overload / Andrenaline Rush) is so much more consistently useful in PvE because it actually lets the ability work reliably as a DCD because attacks that chew through 35% of your HP in a single hit are a whole lot more common than ones that can get through 65%.

It wouldnt make much of a difference in PvP because both buffs pretty similar in terms of overall power and Mercenaries / Commandos could use 1 more thing to help reliably mitigate big hits since Chaff Flare / Diversion is so inconsistent.

Electro Net is primarily a PvP ability. Yes, it provides a small DPS increase akin to an offensive cooldown, but its pretty pointless for healers to have access to a beefy DoT with a 2 min cooldown (especially if it messes). Responsive Safeguards / Echoing Deterrence is situational as well, but at least its useful to everyone.

It would be better for everyone to have access to Responsive Safeguards / Echoing Deterrence and have Electro Net be part of the level 68 choice instead. It would also make more sense since Mercenaries / Commandos really seem to have a toolbelt feel with their ability tree buffs and would be a more appropriate choice where they have to choose between CC and mobility.

This change would be less necessary if Kolto Surge / Adrenal Surge and Trauma Regulators / Trauma Stabilizers were swapped.

Supercharged Gas / Supercharged Cell is far too essential to Mercenaries / Commandos to give up in exchange for Supercharged Celerity, especially considering they dont have an ability like Frenzy / Valorous Call to auto grant 10 stacks of Supercharged Gas for free. Here are several ways to fix this issue:

Supercharged Celerity also doesnt sufficiently accelerate the speed at which abilities can be activated when going from the 1.4s GCD to the 1.3s GCD. In 10s at the 1.4s GCD, In 10s with the 1.4s GCD, you can activate 7.14 abilities; with the 1.3s GCD, you can activate 7.69 abilities. This is the only GCD threshold where 10% alacrity doesnt result in an additional ability activation over those 10s.

If it were to grant 20% alacrity instead, that would be enough to bring players down to the 1.2s GCD, where players could get that single extra ability in because they could do 8.33 abilities in those 10s.

Hydraulic Overrides doesnt make a whole lot of sense conceptually as an animation and the VFX have always looked pretty outdated. It would be so much cooler if the ability got rebranded to make use of the jetpack / rocket boots where activating Jet Speed / Gyroscopic Alignment Jets would grant you the movement speed and CC immunity by having the jets keep you stable and speed you up.

To be clear, the effects of Hydraulic Overrides would remain the same, just the animation / VFX and name would be different. Jet Speed would fit better if Mercenaries / Commandos got access to the 75% movement speed boost while Gyroscopic Alignment Jets fits better with the CC immunity aspect. Hydraulic Overrides could take over as the name of the ability tree buff and I think thats a more fitting name for the effect anyway.

Operative / Scoundrel DPS will be in a fine spot with 7.1.1 in terms of survivability thanks to the AoE DR being added to the Countermeasures / Surrender ability tree buffs. Its understandable that healers are not receiving that buff since BioWare does not seem to want to give AoE DR to healers, but Operatives / Scoundrels are still way too far behind the other healers in terms of (PvE) survivability.

To put this in perspective, I was talking to one of the Operative healer mains on my team about the Operative / Scoundrel healer balance, he brought up that he feels he has to take Tactical Overdrive / Hotstreak because it can reset the cooldown on Shield Probe / Defensive Screen and has used it exclusively to reset the cooldown on that ability.

Its so depressing to watch someone waste such an insanely powerful ability just to get one more use out of what is arguably the weakest DCD in the game. It gives off the same energy as Finn becoming drinking buddies with a Happabore on Jakku.

There are several unique ways to improve healer survivability without adding another ability or affected the balance of the DPS disciplines:

Healers could really use some DR on a DCD, but I couldnt come up with anything that felt unique without adding a new ability or affecting DPS balance. The only way I can see to get around this would be to split the Revitalizers / Surprise Comeback DCD given to Stim Boost / Pugnacity for Lethality / Ruffian where Medicine / Sawbones gets the DR component and Lethality / Ruffian gets the HoT. Lethality / Ruffian could theoretically tolerate that nerf with the upcoming addition of AoE DR.

Operative / Scoundrel healer will continue to be difficult to balance without making it overpowered until the functionality of Kolto Probe / Slow-release Medpac is changed.

I envision Kolto Probe / Slow-release Medpac acting as an IV drip and by applying Surgical Probe / Emergency Medpac or Kolto Infusion / Kolto Pack, youre squeezing the IV bag. Individual probes would be substantially weaker, but you could give them a stronger, immediate burst whenever its needed by spending a TA / UH.

By making Kolto Probe / Slow-release Medpac no longer stack, Operatives / Scoundrels become less dependent on maintaining probes on so many targets for healing because the overall output of Kolto Probe / Slow-release Medpac is reduced.

Operatives / Scoundrel healers would have a clearer option when burst is required by spamming Surgical Probe / Emergency Medpac to effectively direct the healing previously provided by the second stack of Kolto Probe / Slow-release Medpac Medpac to whichever player actually needed the healing.

Tactical Advantage / Upper Hand would become far more of a limiting factor to healing output compared to how many people have Kolto Probes / Slow-release Medpac. Operative / Scoundrel HPS would be lower than it is now when you have Kolto Probes / Slow-release Medpacs on more than 4-5 targets, so that amount needs to be viable which is why Medical Engineering / Medpac Mastery is returning to having a 15% chance.

Surgical Probe / Emergency Medpac would also likely need to heal for 50% more to compensate for the lower HPS from not needing Kolto Probes / Slow-release Medpacs on so many players. A 50% boost to Surgical Probe / Emergency Medpac would be equivalent to 50% of the healing dealt by one of these new 24s Kolto Probes / Slow-release Medpacs over its full duration.

The core rotation would involve maintaining Kolto Probe / Slow-release Medpac on the ~4 players you think will be taking the most damage, using Surgical Probe / Emergency Medpac spam and Kolto Infusion / Kolto Pack to burst people up, and then using your other heals on cooldown in between.

The ideal skill play would be to apply Kolto Probe / Slow-Release Medpac the GCD before the player takes a bit hit and begin casting Kolto Infusion / Kolto Pack that would land just after the damage followed by additional Surgical Probes / Emergency Medpacs as needed. Fundamentally, healing output would be more limited by TA / UH generation rather than GCDs in between refreshes as it is now.

Such significant changes would absolutely need to happen on the PTS. Im curious to hear from healers about if they would like this redesign or not. I know I would personally be way more inclined to play Operative / Scoundrel healer if it wasnt so rotational.

The additional rebalancing with the release of 7.0 put Sorcerer / Sage healers in a pretty good spot. They dont need nearly as many tweaks as the other 2 disciplines.

Polarized / Potent Resolve is laughably bad. I propose it be replaced with the following effect that I call Sustaining Innervation / Soothing Trance:

Healing an ally with Innervate / Healing Trance while they are affected by Static Barrier / Force Armor causes them to gain 1 stack of Sustaining Darkness / Soothing Protection rather than lose 1 stack. In addition, activating Polarity Shift / Mental Alacrity finishes the cooldown on Innervate / Healing Trance and while Polarity Shift / Mental Alacrity is active, Innervate / Healing Trance applies Static Barrier / Force Armor to the target if they can benefit from it and grants an additional stack of Sustaining Darkness / Soothing Protection per tick.

In order to make this work, the Sustaining Darkness / Soothing Protection discipline passive would also need to stack up to 20 times (technically only 18) and be granted at level 35 instead of 78.

Basically, each full channel of Innervate / Healing Trance would give 4 stacks of Sustaining Darkness / Soothing Protection while Polarity Shift / Mental Alacrity would allow for more significant burst healing that fits with the overall theme and builds upon the current terrible effect.

Sustained healing output would remain a fair bit lower than what is offered by the Resurgence / Rejuvenate spread option in exchange for superior burst. The Unmatched Haste legendary implant would also synergize with this option, making it a better choice to use with the Volt Rush / Telekinetic Blitz build.

The only real thing Id like to adjust for Sorcerer / Sage healers would be for Unnatural Preservation / Force Mend to heal for more. It didnt get an appropriate increase compared to how much our health pools were raised with 7.0, just like Shield Probe / Defense Screen, and its a bigger issue for healers compared to the DPS disciplines which have more options to boost survivability.

Perhaps the Dark Resilience / Valiance utility that increased its healing by 30% and made Extrication / Rescue grant DR could be made into a passive or swapped out for the Conspiring Force / Confound ability tree buff. I always liked Dark Resilience / Valiance as a utility and was sad that I couldnt take it more in 6.0 because of Surging Speed / Metaphysical Alacrity being a DPS boost thanks to the set bonus.

Special thanks to Zab and Malka for their help and presence in the Featured image. I also want to thank Tom for spending multiple hours talking to me about the Operative Scoundrel healer changes.

See the original post:

SWTOR 7.1.1 Healer Balance Changes Overview and Analysis - VULKK.com