Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Logo of The Spectrum
Submit a Tip
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Monday, December 08, 2025
The independent student publication of The University at Buffalo, since 1950

Arts

ARTS

It's a pirate's life for me: Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag game review

By JORDAN OSCAR | Nov. 17, 2013

Battling a British man of war as rogue waves and typhoons smash other boats to pieces is one of the innumerable yet memorable moments awaiting players in Assassins Creed IV: Black Flag. Ditching the American Revolution for the Caribbean during the Golden Age of Pirating in the early 18th century, the sixth and newest installment of one of this generation's biggest franchises delivers not only a superior experience over recent installments like Revelations and Assassins Creed III, but the best and most ambitious Assassins Creed title to date. Taking the helm as captain of the Jackdaw, players control Edward Kenway, a Welsh privateer-turned pirate searching for wealth and riches by preying on Colonial ships in the West Indies.

ARTS

Thor: The Dark World movie review

By JORDAN OSCAR | Nov. 14, 2013

Film: Thor: The Dark World Released:Nov. 8 Studio: Marvel Studios Grade: B With the Bifrost destroyed, the nine realms have fallen into chaos, and it falls on the Mighty Avenger to restore the peace he is sworn to uphold. Thor: The Dark World picks up where Thor and The Avengers left off; Loki (Tom Hiddleston,Out of Darkness) is being brought back to Asgard to pay for his crimes, and Thor (Chris Hemsworth, Rush) is battling to save the realms from falling further into chaos. As peace is restored, an ancient enemy named Malekith (Christopher Eccleston,Emily) reawakens and threatens to plunge the nine realms into total darkness, which he attempted to do many millennia before - until Thor's grandfather stopped him. Pitted against an enemy that neither Odin nor Asgard can withstand, Thor must risk everything to stop the dark elf before the universe is extinguished. Generic plot aside, Thor: The Dark World, directed by Alan Taylor (Game of Thrones), is everything that fans of Marvel's movie universe have come to expect and builds upon the enjoyable foundation of the first Thor film. Thor was packed with whit, humor, charm and action, but between the mythological and fantastical was a film filled with family drama and memorable characters.

ARTS

The cores of existence

By FELICIA HUNT | Nov. 14, 2013

Security guards at The Waiting Room had to pull bloody concert attendees off each other in mosh pits and watch for "crowd killers" - fans that push other into the pit - more than usual on Wednesday night. The crowd was violent and ready to get down to deathcore. Progressive metal/deathcore band Born of Osiris returned to Buffalo Wednesday night on its tour with Reflections and Sylar. Unfortunately, Reflections was unable to make it to the venue, which disappointed a majority of the crowd - especially those in the pit. On Reflections' Facebook page, fans asked why the band couldn't make it to the show.

ARTS

Spectrum Style Guide: Vol. 4

By ALLISON DEUTSCHMAN and VICTORIA BENITEZ | Nov. 7, 2013

Name: Emma Janicki Hometown: Buffalo Year: Junior Major: English and French What she's wearing: Target blazer, Karl Lagerfeld for Macy's blouse, American Apparel skirt, sweater tights and Clark's shoes Favorite trends: high-waist anything, tight crop tops and "I want to buy an American Apparel turtleneck cape sweater for winter" Worst trends: light wash or super low-rise pants and neon or thin mesh tights Inspiration: American Apparel and her friends' Instagram accounts Advice: "Bloomers should always be worn under too."

ARTS

Charlie Brown goes grunge

By ERIC CULVER | Nov. 7, 2013

Anxious fans clad in grungy Pearl Jam, Audioslave, Soundgarden and Temple of the Dog t-shirts from yesteryear skipped out on the big UB football game on Tuesday night to see a music legend perform at UB's Center For the Arts. Chris Cornell, an icon of the '90s Seattle grunge scene, played a solo performance to a sold-out audience.

ARTS

Best alternative albums of October

By MEGAN WEAL | Nov. 5, 2013

October was a good month for music. The twerk queen, Miley Cyrus, kicked off the month by storming through the charts and placing her musically matured album Bangerz at the No.

ARTS

A new kind of show

By MEGAN WEAL | Oct. 31, 2013

When Justin Bieber hit radios and television screens in 2009, it was because of YouTube. Fellow teen pop icons Cody Simpson and Austin Mahone jumped onto the YouTube platform and their fame seemed to launch overnight. Clearly, YouTube is a powerful place. It is a place that stimulates growth and confidence, allows criticism and thrives upon community support, so it makes sense that, this year, YouTube launched the brand-new YouTube Music Awards, set to take place online on Sunday.

ARTS

Set sail

By FELICIA HUNT | Oct. 29, 2013

Album: Skeletons Artist: Sirens & Sailors Release Date: Oct. 29 Label: Razor & Tie/ Artery Recordings Grade: B+ Rochester, N.Y., hardcore band Sirens & Sailors might be commonly mistaken for Sleeping With Sirens, a more popular "metalcore" outfit, but that association could now be over. Sirens & Sailors have taken their heavy riffs and catchy two-step grooves to the next level with their major label debut, Skeletons. Their debut album, Still Breathing, and last year's EP, Wasteland, garnered enough attention for a headlining tour this past January, signing with Razor & Tie in June and opening for August Burns Red at the 2013 iMatter Festival. Skeletons

Popular
View this profile on Instagram

The Spectrum (@ubspectrum) • Instagram photos and videos

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2025 The Spectrum