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Wacken Metal Battle Canada 2014

Wacken Metal Battle Canada: Canucks winning their way to an international stage

Interview by Laura Wiebe

If you’re a metalhead you’ve heard of Wacken Open Air. Founded in 1990, the German festival is a mecca for metal pilgrims, a status immortalized in Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen’s Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey (2005). But Wacken is a desired destination for more than fans. For a band, playing Wacken must be a tremendous high – a chance to reach out directly to some of the scene’s largest crowds, gathered together from some of its farthest reaches.

Relatively few Canadian bands have had the chance to storm a Wacken stage. So far…

HELLBOUND’s TOP 10 CANADIAN METAL ALBUMS OF 2013

Since Hellbound.ca is a Canadian-owned and operated metal publication, we do things a little bit different than most. While 2013 was coming to a close we asked all of our contributors to pick their Top Canadian metal albums of the year. We then tabulated up their responses and have created our fifth annual Top 10 Canadian Metal Albums writers poll.

Please check out what our writers feel to be the best Canadian metal albums released in 2013.

Gorguts / Origin / Nero Di Marte / Fragile Existence @ Annex Wreckroom, Toronto ON, December 17, 2013

“When I was asked by my friends in Fragile Existence to come out and try my hand at doing some video recording, I had no idea what I was in for with the rest of the night. It was only weeks later that I had a look at the headline for the bill… GORGUTS.. and realized the guardian angel of death metal was watching out for me.”

Live review and photos by Danielle Griscti

Bill Ward: The Hellbound Interview

When the gods made heavy metal, it was the thunder issued from Bill Ward’s fists that set the scene, at least as equally as Tony Iommi’s lightning. You could not have had that demon birth with a lesser drummer at the helm. Mixing the satanic swing of jazz with sheer brute clobbering force, Bill Ward’s drumming turned the oldest form of long-distance communication into a manifesto of power. And a thousand children picked up sticks.

Hellbound’s Kyle Harcott in conversation with original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward about his new art project, entitled Absence of Corners, and his upcoming musical releases.