Desperate Paradox, site layout mockup/idea Options

[Mikeplyts]

I'm a bit frantic now to get a new website layout for my site but lately, I've been having an inspiration block. I've pretty much been on hiatus for a while to see if any good ideas spring up, and most have, but the end result just didn't look right to me anymore or I wouldn't like it anymore. I've tried this idea, because to be honest, I love the strong, serious vibe this seems to give off. A few things still bug me like the sidebar headers, but ehh. Anyhow, I'd like to get some of your opinions on this new design.

click to enlarge

Trash or keep?

UPDATE #1: (Removed brushes. Changed up sidebar content and 'meta' header. Made a different navigation. Altered body text and links.)

click to enlarge

[JonHMChan]

I think your lack of inspiration is being reflected here. There really isn't much going on except for the clock. One of the general rules I use for judging a design is imagining what the site overall would look like if any individual portion of it were removed: if the layout becomes typical, there isn't enough done. The idea goes that you would have to remove at least two to three elements to make a site look typical, so that all the different parts come together in a way that can only make sense if all the parts are there.

In this case, there isn't much of that going on. There's no reason to have the clock with the layout, nor the layout with the clock. Neither necessitates with the other. I think what needs to happen is a general revamping of the entire concept as a whole. What sort of theme are you going for? What kind of overarching aspects bring the whole together?