Tag: Canada

Protest The Hero – Volition

Volition is the album the band should have made after Kezia (2005) and Fortress (2008). The perfect blend of songwriting and technicality makes this record a true standout. This baby is a prime candidate for my end of year list.

November 8, 2013
And if we made our politicians pay $425 every time they showed up for work, we’d balance the budget in no time!

I forgot that our brave legislators only listen to bands like the Eagles and Supertramp. Cuz with their new amendments to the country’s labour laws, Stephen Harper and company are making it so that crusty classic rockers and pre-fabricated pop tarts could be the only artists to ever come to Canada…

August 31, 2013
Watch Monster Truck live from Download Festival 2013

Hellbound Metal: “Monster Truck recently had the opportunity to perform at Download 2013 in the UK, one of the bigger UK hard rock/metal fests and they have just released a video of a song from their performance there. Please take a look at our hometown boys playing Furiosity’s lead off track “Old Train” before thousands…

July 5, 2013
The Night Watch – s/t

Hellbound Metal: “The Night Watch have released a challenging debut, one which initially did not work for me. Though not all the tracks stand out, it’s with repeated listens that it becomes apparent to me that the album is an exciting piece of avant-garde metal/post-rock/insert label here.”

July 4, 2013
Blood Ceremony – The Eldritch Dark

Hellbound Metal: “Alas, while part of me is still pining for the s/t, I’m digging this new direction as well.”

June 21, 2013
Iron Maple Volume II: Robert Zemeckis, Tapout, Orchid’s Curse (and more Abriosis and some Thrawsunblat too!)

Well, here we are with week two’s Iron Maple column. With any luck there won’t need to be a name change this week or anyone crying ‘conflict of interest’ with my reviews! It’s been an interesting week for me here in Iron Maple land, racking up plenty of interviews as well as a whole lot…

February 11, 2013
Dark Descent Double Shot: Vorum and Paroxsihzem

“Dark Descent has a characteristic signature that lends confidence to, and underscores, the veracity of its releases. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily imply that you’re going to enjoy every album with Dark Descent’s sigil attached, but all its releases are imprinted with a strong sense of integrity bound to the label’s trustworthy aesthetic.” Craig Haze…

January 29, 2013
Cryptopsy – Cryptopsy

I admit when Cryptopsy first crossed my desktop I was hesitant. The clean vocals (and keyboards) of The Unspoken King left a sour taste in my mouth. Not knowing what I was getting myself in to, this self-titled rejuvenation far exceeded any expectations I had. Growing on me with every listen, Cryptopsy is becoming one…

August 27, 2012
My patriotic punk/metal Olympic playlist

Well, unlike Vancouver 2010, I can’t truly say that I’m sick of our national anthem by now–Canada’s only won one gold medal this time around. But that said, while watching some exciting Olympic action, I still prefer to have the following blasting in the background…

August 11, 2012
Still Seeking Out “Uncharted Territory”: Devin Townsend Talks Seriousness, Humour and “Interesting” Art

“I think that with these two recent records, Deconstruction and Ghost – specifically with Deconstruction in my head, I can probably write this sort of Andrew Lloyd Webber-esque sort of absurdity that, if I was in a genre which afforded me the opportunity to really go for it on the level that they’re able to…

December 8, 2011