Join us as we combine two Hellbound traditions – our monthly staff picks and our annual Canada Day feature! Every few weeks this year we’ve asked our contributors to weigh in on what they’re listening to, watching, going to see… This month we carry on with the usual categories, but we’ve added a Canadian twist.
Hellbound recommends: the Canadian edition
Danielle Griscti
Listening to:
Spectral Wound – Infernal Decadence (Vendetta Records – June 2nd). Black metal diamond in the rough, from Montréal.
spectralwound.bandcamp.com/album/infernal-decadence
New release:
Délétère – De Horae Leprae (Sepulchral Prod, June 15th). Solid, fast-paced offering from this mysterious Québec City duo with a penchant for atmosphere.
Live:
Völur at Coalition (May 29th). These trailblazers returned to the stage more energetic and spellbinding than ever. Angelic passages were punctuated by banshee screams amid their now well-established backdrop. Of note is their touring lineup included a new drummer, who filled in (heh) perfectly here.
Non-metal:
Grand Analog – Survival (January 26th). Warm and fuzzy danceability defines this refreshing hip-hop quintet. Perfect for taking things down a notch or while your morning coffee brews.
grandanalog.bandcamp.com/album/survival-ep
Wild card:
Wilt – Ruin (May 18th). So pretty. Doomy, sad, and pretty.
Matt Hinch
Listening to:
Cancer Bats discography. With the release of their new album I’ve been blasting my way through all their work. They sound like summer to me anyway. Hail Destroyer!!!!
New release:
Wilt – Ruin. Atmospheric and vile black metal from the frigid (in Winter) province of Manitoba. Mosquitos can cause that kind of anguish as well.
https://wiltmanitoba.bandcamp.com/album/ruin
Live: Haven’t seen anything lately but I have my ticket for Cancer Bats in Kingston this September! Stoked!
Wild card: My oldest daughter just graduated Grade 8. She wore purple Converse high-tops to her grad ceremony. That’s pretty cool!
Daniel Smith
Canadian pick: MorMor – Heaven’s Only Wishful EP (Don’t Guess, 2018). A beautiful R&B, psych-pop debut EP from Toronto local, Seth Nyquist.
Laura Wiebe
Listening to:
The White Swan – Anubis (2016) and The White (2017)
thewhiteswan.bandcamp.com/album/the-white
New (re-)release:
Altars of Grief – This Shameful Burden (2014/2018)
hypnoticdirgerecords.bandcamp.com/album/this-shameful-burden
Live:
Vile Creature opening for Bell Witch and Yob, coming up July 4 at the Mod Club, Toronto.
www.facebook.com/events/120069802094806
Non-metal:
Cuff the Duke – Life Stories for Minimum Wage (2002)
cufftheduke.bandcamp.com/album/life-stories-for-minimum-wage-3
Wild card:
Cirque du Soleil – Crystal in Hamilton, June 20.
Tempete – Photo by Matt Beard
www.cirquedusoleil.com/crystal
Adam Wills
Listening to:
Smoulder – The Sword Woman
smoulder.bandcamp.com/album/the-sword-woman
New release:
Altars of Grief – Iris (Hypnotic Dirge)
altarsofgrief.bandcamp.com/album/iris
Live:
Yob / Bell Witch / Vile Creature @ Mod Club, Toronto, ON
Non-metal:
Tanya Tagaq – “Run to the Hills”
soundcloud.com/tanya-tagaq/run-to-the-hills
Wild card:
Schitt’s Creek Season 4 (CBC)
www.cbc.ca/schittscreek/episodes/season-4
