Editorial: September 2014

Autumn is upon us! We may not have hit the equinox quite yet but Autumn is definitely in the air. The nights and mornings are colder and the leaves are starting to fall from the trees and I couldn't be happier. Call me a tragic stereotype, but I'm not the biggest fan of the Summer. It's too hot and and too bright. I'm more of a big jumpers and cosy fires kind of person, so I'm happy to say good riddance to an inconvenient season!

The other big thing this month already has been the announcement of “The True Identity Of Jack The Ripper”, which according to the 'armchair detective' and writer of the new book 'Naming Jack The Ripper' (AND owner of The Jack The Ripper Souvenir And Walking Tour Shop) Russell Edwards “Only non-believers that want to perpetuate the myth will doubt.” 

You may remember last year I wrote an in-depth article for this site about the Ripper murders and their influence on art and culture over the following one-and-a-quarter centuries. The news of a possible name for the Ripper has already spread like wildfire with it's claims of DNA evidence from an item of clothing reportedly owned by one of the victims. Now this wasn't announced in a major scientific journal, but in a column in the Mail, which as far as we know hasn't been subjected to a peer review. The announcement was vague with its details and already the initial “wow” of the announcement has been replaced with scepticism. And rightly so. Experts have already cast doubt not only on the claims made by Edwards, but also of the legitimacy of the blood stained shawl on which his evidence hangs.

http://io9.com/three-things-to-keep-in-mind-about-the-big-jack-the-rip-1631736706

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/Jack-Ripper-Aaron-Kosminski-Er-says-expert-Mike/story-22893770-detail/story.html

http://www.newstatesman.com/future-proof/2014/09/dna-evidence-proving-jack-ripper-was-polish-barber-isn-t-enough-be-conclusive

It already looks like this will be added to a long list of tenuous theories that have captured the public's imagination and swelled the number of suspects from the contemporary police originals to the hundreds. But does is the identity of the Ripper that important? Britain's most infamous cold case has already slipped into semi-mythology and has become a morbid horror story for each new generation. Plus it has become a major money spinner for the east end of London's tourist trade. Short of a written confession with a murder weapon and preserved piece of one of the victims, the Ripper case still looks set to remain open.

In other news we have responses from bands for the next compilation and am happy to say we've already started to receive the tracks. I think there will be a lot that people are going to like on this one.

Finally, if you're new to this humble website and haven't downloaded our first 'Blood Pack' compilation album yet, please click the album cover in the sidebar and download yourself a free copy from our bandcamp page.

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