Laura Wiebe

Articles, Headline, Reviews, Reviews - Audio January 10, 2013

LISTENING TO THE PAST: Death – Human

“(Human) embodies much of metal’s concern for and obsession with material questions of existence. It remains special partly because of its historical importance for extreme metal, but also because it stands out as a prime example (out of many) that it is very possible to merge anger and aggression in extreme metal with a compassionate search for answers to social and philosophical questions.”

A revisitation and re-evaluation of the classic DEATH album Human by Jonathan Smith

Articles, Featured, Features, Headline, Reviews, Reviews - Audio January 1, 2013

HELLBOUND’s TOP 10 CANADIAN METAL ALBUMS OF 2012

Since Hellbound.ca is a Canadian-owned and operated metal publication, we do things a little bit different than most. While 2012 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 fourth annual Top 10 Canadian Metal Albums writers poll.

Please check out what our writers feel to be the best Canadian metal albums released in 2012.

Hellbound.ca presents The Metalhead's Gift Guide
Articles, Features, Headline December 6, 2012

A Metalhead’s Holiday Gift Guide

As December’s gift-buying chaos falls upon us, rest assured that shopping for your favourite metalhead doesn’t have to be a taxing chore. Whether you’re a bewildered dear one, a metal fan buying for a fellow metal lover, or looking for a treat for yourself, we Hellbounders have a few holiday shopping ideas that might make your task a little easier.

Articles, Features, Headline, Interviews October 1, 2012

Dark Forest: Land of the Evening Star

“Sometimes album art can be misleading, but visual imagery is to some extent genre specific, so there’s usually a pretty good chance I can judge by an album cover if a band’s style is likely to be my kind of thing. Such was the case with Dark Forest’s Land of the Evening Star. What I can’t always predict is how good the music is going to be, but with Dark Forest’s third “Vinlandic pagan black metal” release, the tracks inside are not just well represented by the gloomy mountain and forest scene on the cover. They’re also very good. As impressed as I was with the recording I wanted to learn more about the band, so I went straight to the source.”

Interview by Laura Wiebe

Devin Townsend
Headline, Reviews, Reviews - Live September 24, 2012

Epic Kings and Idols: Devin Townsend Project / Katatonia / Paradise Lost / Stolen Babies @ The Opera House, Toronto ON, September 19, 2012

“With tour line-ups so diverse – much like metal in general – it’s not that common to run into a show where every band demands your equal attention (in anticipation, if not necessarily in performance). But the Epic Kings and Idols tour might have been custom designed for a metalhead like me, and even without a perfect execution this one ranks high amidst my favourite concerts of the year.”

Live review by Laura Wiebe, concert photos by Adam Wills

Articles, Features, Headline, Interviews August 13, 2012

Schizoid: The Next Extreme

” For years this album felt like the last thing I would ever do, before ultimately killing myself as well. Unfortunately for my enemies, that ended up not happening; instead, the disc was completed. “What doesn’t kill you…,” I guess, right?”

On the eve of the release of his third album, Laura Wiebe interviews Canadian digital hardcore artist SCHIZOID

Headline, Reviews, Reviews - Live July 27, 2012

Agalloch / Taurus / Musk Ox @ Opera House, Toronto ON, July 23, 2012

“The relationship between musicians and the music they play comes in varying kinds. Some artists are clearly intent on displaying their mastery of the musical tools they wield. Others are more willing to relinquish control, letting the music itself dictate the ways it’s conveyed. Agalloch’s latest visit to Toronto was of the latter type, a night of musical channelling and possession, with all three bands performing as conduits between primal source and receptive fans.”

Live review by Laura Wiebe