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Concert Review – KK’s Priest & Accept (Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Toronto, ON, 09/10/2024)

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Two of the most important bands of the current scene delivered powerhouse performances to their fans in Toronto, maintaining the spirit of classic metal alive.

***Review by Elizabeth “Liz Bathory” Anderson, with photos by Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi***

The Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto hosted an unforgettable night of classic heavy metal music on September 10th, 2024. With doors opening at 6:45 PM, eager metalheads had to wait until about 8 PM for the first band to hit the stage. Despite the wait, the anticipation was palpable, and the venue offered 750 ml of beer for $20, which wasn’t bad considering the cost at most venues.

The crowd was mostly veteraned metalheads with a few younger fans who appreciate the classic sound of old-school heavy metal. Interestingly, the venue was entirely seated, which is a rarity for metal concerts, but that didn’t stop the audience from rockin’ out once the music started.

ACCEPT

Setlist
The Reckoning
Humanoid
Restless and Wild
Straight Up Jack
London Leather Boys
Midnight Mover
Demon’s Night
Princess of the Dawn
Metal Heart
Teutonic Terror
Fast as a Shark
Pandemic
Balls to the Wall

The band ACCEPT kicked off their set with their opening song, “The Reckoning,” and as the first note was played, the crowd immediately stood up from their seats. Although long-time bassist Peter Baltes was no longer in the band, Martin Motnik, who has been playing with them since 2019, showed off his versatility on stage. The band’s stage presence and energy was as electrifying as ever. Following up with “Humanoid,” they delivered raw, raspy vocals and a classic metal sound complete with a blistering guitar solo. It was incredible to hear and see, filled with electric musical energy.

As they tore through “London Leather Boys,” the audience was fully immersed, with even an elderly man using an accessibility walker headbanging by his seat. The enthusiasm was contagious, and the fans moved to the venue’s aisles and sides to get closer to the action. One of their hit songs, “Princess of the Dawn,” turned into a bellowing crowd-wide chant, showcasing the timeless bond between the band and their followers.

The set culminated in a powerful rendition of “Balls to the Wall,” leaving the crowd awash in nostalgia. From the buzzsaw riffs in “Fast as a Shark” to the anthemic “Teutonic Terror,” Accept proved they still command the stage with authority and ferocity, bringing satisfaction to the ticket holders.

KK’S PRIEST

Setlist
Hellfire Thunderbolt
Strike of the Viper
One More Shot at Glory
The Ripper
Reap the Whirlwind
Sermons of the Sinner
Burn in Hell
Diamonds and Rust
Hell Patrol
The Green Manalish
Before the Dawn
Breaking the Law
Sinner
Raise Your Fists (encore)

When it was KK’S PRIEST‘s turn to perform, the majority of the audience had abandoned their seats and crowded the stage area, preparing for what could possibly be an epic show. They opened with “Hellfire Thunderbolt.” The song was captivating and also captured the audience’s attention with an accompanying visually stunning display. The band utilized custom visuals on large screens to complement each song, making the experience akin to a metal-infused action movie. For instance, “One More Shot at Glory” featured lighting effects that mimicked sharp bullets, while “Reap the Whirlwind” brought the storm to life with thunder on their back screen, lightning effects from their laser stage lighting, and smoke from smoke machines at both sides of the stage. It was quite a mesmerizing experience, and I felt that people got more than just music for what they paid but also a light and art show.

The vocalist’s ability to hit and hold high notes effortlessly was jaw-dropping, showcasing a vocal range that would make even the most experienced singers envious. K.K. Downing, the legendary guitarist and founder of the band, performed his riffs with ease, his casual demeanor belied the complexity of the music. He showed immense talent, which was clearly on display.

When they played “Diamonds and Rust,” the crowd clapped along to the intro, and during the Judas Priest cover “Hell Patrol,” the audience was singing in unison, with robot army visuals enhancing the performance. “Before the Dawn” offered a brief respite with a space-themed visual, slowing things down before launching back into high-octane metal with “Breaking the Law,” complete with a British flag backdrop. Downing’s speed picking and shredding during “Sinner” were nothing short of spectacular, with some insane whammy bar effects thrown in for good measure.

As they finished their set, the audience demanded an encore, and the band obliged with “Raise Your Fists,” ending the night on a high note and creating a lasting memory for those in attendance.

Final Thoughts

Both Accept and KK’s Priest delivered powerhouse performances, maintaining the spirit of classic metal. The seated venue didn’t stop the crowd from rocking out, proving that the music and the energy of metal know no bounds and that people will always find a way to rock out to the music. From start to finish, it was a night of incredible musicianship, theatrical visuals, and a shared love for the genre that transcended generations. For those in attendance, it was most definitely a night to remember, and I’m sure the fans will return whenever they decide to come back.

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Concert Review – Signs of the Swarm (Lee’s Palace, Toronto, ON, 09/01/2024)

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Simply relax and enjoy an evening out in the greatest city in Ontario with five amazing bands in a frenzy of circle pits and moshing.

***Review and photos by Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi***

OPENING ACTS: A Wake In Providence, 156/Silence, Ov Sulfur and Cane Hill

An evening out in the greatest city in Ontario with even better weather than the last few concerts we have been to. Fall weather is much cooler and makes for a great comfortable concert without the hot humid stench of sweat . The smell of crisp air filled with pumpkin spice from every store along Bloor Street in Toronto is great and with that the venues are cooler in terms of air quality inside, making it a perfect time to take some awesome death and metalcore bands.

Lee’s Palace is the venue tonight where five amazing bands have come together to whip us up in a frenzy of circle pits and moshing. First band of the night is  A WAKE IN PROVIDENCE, aka AWIP, who has recently release the album I Write To You, My Darling Decay. Hailing from NYC this band is spearheaded by vocalist Adam Mercer, guitarist Dandre Tyre, bassist Anthony Adipietro, and drummer Jesse Mcenneny. I am not familiar with this band as its my first time hearing them and let me be honest I was not a fan of early deathcore but this band has got me listening to them. Awesome performance great music and a ton of groovy bass and drumming.

Our first short intermission while they switch up bands gives us time to check out the merch tables and gets some drinks from the bar, or just simply go outside and enjoy a smoke or the now legal weed. Next up is 156/SILENCE. Hailing from The Steel City of Pittsburgh, in the state of Pennsylvania, United States, this metalcore band consists of vocalist and bassist Mike Ernst, guitarist Jimmy Howell, drummer Zac Dranka and vocalist Aleks Pihl. They have a great sound and are tight, great stage presence and can get the crowd hyped up.

Another line change is happening and outside I go to chat with friends and other photographers, plus chatting to the promoter Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. I always enjoy chatting to Noel about his business and bringing the best bands to our city. The third band of the night was OV SULFUR. Hailing from my favorite place in the world, Sin City Las Vegas, Nevada, This band has been to Toronto this year three times and I’ve captured them every time  The first time I saw them was at the Phoenix Concert Theatre when they opened for some huge bands and they had me hooked. The band consists of vocalist Ricky Hoover, guitarist Chase Wilson, bassist Ding and drummer Leviathan. This deathcore band has a ton of energy and powerful delivery of sound, they will knock you into another dimension if not careful in the circle pits. If you have never seen this band I don’t know what you’re waiting for, get to a venue and see for yourself.

Another short break and CANE HILL was up; this band hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. This metalcore institution consists of Elijah Witt on vocals, James Barnett on the guitar, Ryan Henriques on bass and Devin Clark on drums. This quartet is also new in my listening experience and they are awesome to see live. Elijah is a great frontman delivering guttural and soft vocals while getting the crowd all horny, and by that I mean he was asking the crowd if they were horny or alive. I think the crowd spent a lot of energy on the first three bands and when he said that the crowd came alive again with circle pits and crowd surfers.

SIGNS OF THE SWARM

The last break of the night was much needed as the venue was getting hot from the near sold out venue. It was time for the headliner, another band from The Steel City area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, SIGNS OF THE SWARM. This deathcore band is made up of vocalist David Simonich, drummer Bobby Crow, bassist Michael Cassese and guitarist Carl Schulz. They have five studio albums with the release of their fifth album Amongst the Low & Empty. This band gets better and better every time I have seen them and it’s been two times this year. Their performance on and off the stage is top notch, friendly people with great showmanship, and if you ever get a chance to see them live do it. Also, if you see them hanging out during their tour, strike up a conversation.

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Metal Chick of the Month – Corinne Cardinal

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We are ready to die, Corinne!

Sons of Odin, can you hear the call of our metal lady of this month of September? If your answer is yes, then I’m sure you’ll have a very good time here on The Headbanging Moose with our humble tribute to Corinne Cardinal, also known as Korrinn or Crook, a multi-talented singer, voice actor and vocal coach who’s making a name for herself in the Canadian scene as the frontwoman for Montreal, Quebec-based Melodic Black/Folk Metal horde Valfreya, proudly waving the flag of Québécois metal high in the sky wherever she goes and hypnotizing us all with both her clean and guttural vocals. She takes no prisoners in her quest for heavy music, leading Valfreya into glory ride, and of course you’re more than invited to stand side by side with Corinne and her henchmen in the battlefield after knowing a little bit more about her life and career.

Born on August 20, 1986 in the charming city of Montreal, Quebec, in Canada, Corinne is not just the founder, main composer and vocalist of Valfreya, but she’s also a voice actor for La Fabrique de Monstres (or The Monster Factory), and a singer for the Growlers Choir, just like one of our most recent metal ladies Maude Théberge, showing how united the Québécois scene is. Not only that, she has also studied classical singing and instrumental composition, does graphic design, and of course she applies all those elements to her work with Valfreya. Her talent seems to be infinite, which translates into first-class heavy music when a new Valfreya album is unleashed upon humanity for our total delight.

After exploring choir singing during her formative years, Corinne, who’s a mezzo-soprano, undertook her studies by enrolling at Cégep Saint-Laurent and obtained her college degree in classical singing in 2007, perfecting her instrument with many teachers between 2007 to 2015 like Cécile Gendron, Mark Pedrotti, Christine Lemelin and Colette Boky, and pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UQAM in music (artistic performance concentration) in 2015. During her studies there, she developed a varied lyric repertoire and sings in more than eight different languages (Russian, Czech, German, Italian, Latin, Catalan, French and English), obtaining her diploma in December 2018. Finally, in 2020 she obtained her Estill Voice Training certificates one and two, and if you have no idea what that means, this course pertains to parts of the anatomy singers can exercise conscious control on to modify their sound.

After founding Valfreya back in 2009, merging the metal genre with classical and folk, Corinne started to develop different vocal techniques, matching guttural singing with opera and pop, which culminated with her joining the aforementioned Growlers Choir back in 2019, plus collaborations with many artists as a performer or composer the likes of Léa Dupuis, Augury, and Jeff Marcoux. That expertise also opened several doors to vocal acting out of specialized fields into voices for creatures and monsters in video games and film, including Resident Evil 7 (Capcom), Helix Season 1 (Syfy), Soul Blade (Namco, Project Soul), Rainbow Six Siege: Operation Chimera (Ubisoft), Tomb Raider: Shadow of the Tomb (Eidos Montréal), and Guardians of the Galaxy (Eidos), and also led to her founding in 2019 La Fabrique de Monstres alongside Sébastien Croteau and Jeffrey MacDermott, working in the sound design of hundreds of monsters and creatures over twenty or so video games, films and television series.

Corinne started studying for her musicologist’s master’s degree at Université de Montréal in 2020, wishing to analyze vocal techniques in metal music, precisely to identify the process of vocal production permitting control on specific structures of the vocal apparatus linked to guttural metal singing, with her ultimate goal being to produce the first pedagogical treaty on metal singing in English and French. In addition, Corinne is also a member of diverse research groups such as OICRM and ACTOR Project, and one of the rare vocal coaches who’s able to teach metal singing (both growl and fry) in Quebec.

As already mentioned, Corinne founded Melodic Black/Folk Metal horde Valfreya back in February 2009 in Montreal, with the band’s name being influenced by one of the names of Óðinn, Valföður (Old Icelandic for “Father of the Slain”) and Freyja, the Vanic deity, sister of Freyr. Valfreya deals with themes such as Norse mythology, Pagan gods, life, death, and legends, having released their debut EP First Chronicles in 2010, followed by their first full-length album Path to Eternity in 2012, the EP Acoustic Chronicles in 2013, and the full-length albums Promised Land, in 2017, and more recently Dawn of Reckoning, earlier this year, not to mention the band was also feature in the 2011 Galy Records compilation Trois-Rivières Metalfest 11 with the song Deity’s Grace. The band currently formed of our metallic diva Corinne on vocals together with Graz’zt and Erik on the guitars, Abhor on bass, Dommar on drums, and Eva Doucet De Leon on the violin has already played hundreds of concerts across Canada and the United States, and if you want to enjoy their amazing music you can find all of their releases on BandCamp, on Spotify, or by clicking HERE.

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Corinne is much more than just the band’s frontwoman, having also been responsible for the music, lyrics, arrangements, artwork and layout in their 2012 album Path to Eternity, the artwork, layout, cover art and lyrics in their 2017 album Promised Land, and the layout in their most recent album Dawn of Reckoning. Hence, if you want to have an absolute blast with Corinne and her Valfreya, apart from the aforementioned sources like BandCamp and Spotify, you can enjoy their official videos on YouTube for the songs Le Périple, The Rise, Odin’s Fury, Confront Immensity, Ocean’s Assault, and My Everlasting Star, as well as several unofficial footage of the band kicking some ass live.

Besides her career with Valfreya, Corinne also played keyboards and did backing vocals between 2008 and 2010 for a Montreal, Quebec-based Melodic Black Metal band named Vehemal, albeit she didn’t record anything official with the band; and did the live vocals with Canadian Progressive/Experimental Death Metal band Bookakee a few years ago. She can also be seen as a guest musician for a few interesting bands in the past few years, as for example doing additional vocals in the song Impending Apocalypse, from the 2020 EP Repaying Evil with Evil, by Canadian Death/Thrash Metal/Deathcore musician Jeff Marcoux; vocals in the 2017 single La pluie noire, by Canadian Black/Doom Metal band Lacrimae Mortalium; and more recently additional vocals in the songs Welcome, Immuration and Resilience, from the 2023 album Maladaptive Daydreaming, by Canadian Melodic Death/Gothic Metal band Sanguine Glacialis. Moreover, she was also responsible for the layout in the 2012 EP Deviated Inner Spectrum, by Canadian Technical/Melodic Death Metal act Pronostic, under the curious moniker of “Crapule”.

Lastly, as pretty much any metal lady hailing from Canada, Corinne is crazy for animals, having several pets from different species. For instance, in one of her interviews during the pandemic, she said she had at that time three fishes named Super Nova, Galaxy and Comet, five rats named Wicca, Gandalf the White, Zelda, Bouda and Titite (which means Tiny-tiny), and also a cat named Saroumine. As you might have already notice, the inspirations she takes for the music by Valfreya also have an impact on the names of her pets, which in my opinion is simply awesome. She mentioned she enjoys taking her rats to places like stores, parties, family reunions, chilling with friends, and so on, also saying that especially during the pandemic all of her pets brought a lot of joy and comfort as she couldn’t live in an empty house. She also said that all of her pets don’t seem to care about the fact she practices her music at home, and that whenever she’s on tour with Valfreya, it’s either her boyfriend or her sister who usually takes care of them for her. If you want to know more about such an amazing musician and animal lover, you can visit her own website (including a look at her impressive resume), and stay tuned for all news about Valfreya, because if by any chance they take your city by storm, don’t waste a single second and go check the powerful vocals by one of the most talented women of the current Canadian metal scene.

Corinne Cardinal’s Official Facebook page
Corinne Cardinal’s Official Instagram
Corinne Cardinal’s Official YouTube channel
Valfreya’s Official Facebook page
Valfreya’s Official Instagram
Valfreya’s Official YouTube channel

Album Review – Gutvoid / Breathing Obelisk EP (2024)

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One of the best still-young Death Metal entities from Canada challenges you to stand before their Breathing Obelisk.

Since their formation in 2019, the ascent of Toronto, Canada’s Death Metal entity Gutvoid has been nothing if not meteoric. From their 2019 debut EP Astral Bestiary to their 2022 full-length opus Durance of Lightless Horizons, the band churned forth a world-eating metal of death that duly devoured the listener whole. Currently formed of Brendan Dean on vocals and guitars, Daniel Bonofiglio also on the guitars, Justin Boehm on bass, and D.W. Lee on drums, the band is unleashing upon us their brand new 31-minute EP Breathing Obelisk, a grim and visceral creature embraced by the otherworldly artwork by Marcio Blasphemator that will surely cement their status as one of the best still-young Death Metal entities around.

Those four demented metallers transport us to their Stygian realm with their minimalist notes in Swamp Consumed, gradually evolving into a darkened Death Metal entity to the visceral roars by Brendan and the hammering drums by D.W. Lee, presenting elements from Doom Metal and Blackened Doom embedded in their core (and evil) essence, whereas For We Are Many, the first single of the album (which they played live with Tomb Mold and Horrendous in Toronto), is a lecture in Progressive Death Metal sounding dissonant, intricate and disturbing, with Brendan and Daniel making an amazing guitar duo while Justin supports them with his menacing bass (not to mention it’s easy to sense elements from Brendan’s Fathomless Ritual in the riffs). Let’s then embark on one more cryptic, grim voyage together with Gutvoid in When The Living Dome Opens, again presenting their trademark vociferations, low-tuned, groovy bass lines and pounding drums, sounding dark and evil until the very end; and the last song of the EP, entitled Shodar, offers us all seven minutes of solid, melodic and visceral Death Metal led by the strident riffs by Brendan and Daniel, an awesome headbanging feast by the quartet where Brendan continues to deeply gnarl like a demonic entity.

After all is said and done, Gutvoid challenge you to stand before their Breathing Obelisk, and you can do that by following them on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, by listening to their wicked music on Spotify, and by purchasing a copy of their new EP from Blood Harvest’s BandCamp page or webstore as a CD, a MLP or a cassette. In other words, do you think you have what it takes to face Gutvoid’s menacing and caustic Breathing Obelisk?

Best moments of the album: For We Are Many and Shodar.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Blood Harvest

Track listing
1. Swamp Consumed 9:50
2. For We Are Many 5:51
3. When The Living Dome Opens 7:20
4. Shodar 7:03

Band members
Brendan Dean – vocals, guitars
Daniel Bonofiglio – guitars
Justin Boehm – bass
D.W. Lee – drums

Concert Review – Lamb of God & Mastodon (Budweiser Gardens, London, ON, 07/31/2024)

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Two of the most important bands of the current metal scene crushed the city of London, Canada in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their most-acclaimed albums to date.

OPENING ACTS: Malevolence and Kerry King

What a wild and busy day and night it was this Wednesday, when the cozy Budweiser Gardens in London, Ontario hosted one of the most insane tours of the year, Ashes of Leviathan Tour 2024, featuring nothing more, nothing less than MALEVOLENCE, KERRY KING, MASTODON and LAMB OF GOD. It was a rough 2-hour drive for me to get to London in time for the shows, but it was absolutely worth it as this tour is simply celebrating the 20th anniversary of two seminal releases, Lamb of God’s biggest-selling album Ashes of the Wake and Mastodon’s acclaimed sophomore album Leviathan, which were both released on August 31, 2004. My friend Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi was also there and was dying to photograph his favorite band of all time, Lamb of God, for the first time in his career; however, no idea why, he only got the approval for the first band, Malevolence, something we’ve never seen happening before nor any of our friends, which is why the only good photos of this review are for Malevolence. Sorry about that.

The first band to hit the stage was Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England-based Groove Metal/Metalcore piece MALEVOLENCE, and let me tell you those guys kicked some serious ass, working as the perfect warmup for the devastation that was about to come. Still promoting their 2022 album Malicious Intent, the band formed of Alex Taylor, Joshua Baines, Konan Hall, Wilkie Robinson and Charlie Thorpe put everyone at Budweiser Gardens to slam into the pit, turning up the heat on an already extremely hot day in the city. You can get more details about the band by clicking HERE, and also stream their infuriated creations on Spotify. I just wish they had more time to play, and that the start of the show wasn’t so early, before 6pm, which impacted in a negative way the amount of people already inside the venue for their show.

Setlist
Malicious Intent
Life Sentence
Still Waters Run Deep
Self Supremacy
Higher Place
Keep Your Distance
On Broken Glass

Band members
Alex Taylor – vocals
Joshua Baines – guitars
Konan Hall – guitars, vocals
Wilkie Robinson – bass
Charlie Thorpe – drums

It wasn’t even 7pm when Los Angeles, California’s one and only Thrash Metal icon KERRY KING and his crew took the stage of Budweiser Gardens by storm with their blood red (and sometimes dark blue) stage, endless heaviness, and a strong will to crush everything and everyone that dared to cross their path on Wednesday night. Playing songs from his insane debut solo album From Hell I Rise including Where I Reign and Idle Hands, plus the Slayer all-time classics Raining Blood and Black Magic, Mr. Kerry King was absolutely ruthless during his short but extremely destructive set, supported by the soaring vocals by Death Angel’s frontman Mark Osegueda and also by his Slayer buddy Paul Bostaph on drums, driving fans crazy and igniting some demented mosh pits for the delight of lovers of some good circle pit action. Once again, I really wish his setlist was a bit longer, maybe with a couple more songs from his album or from Slayer, but in the end he certainly proved there’s life outside Slayer as his solo material sounds incredible both in studio and on stage, and you can enjoy Kerry’s wicked music on Spotify, of course, or click HERE for all things surrounding one of the greatest guitarist in the history of Thrash Metal.

Setlist
Where I Reign
Trophies of the Tyrant
Residue
Toxic
Idle Hands
Shrapnel
Raining Blood
Black Magic
From Hell I Rise

Band members
Mark Osegueda – vocals
Kerry King – guitars
Phil Demmel – guitars
Kyle Sanders – bass
Paul Bostaph – drums

MASTODON

It was only 8pm when Atlanta, Georgia Progressive/Sludge Metal beast  MASTODON, one of the main attractions of the night (and it’s funny because there was still light outside the venue), kicked off their more-than-special set based on their 2004 album Leviathan, playing the entire album from the very first song, the breathtaking Blood and Thunder, until Joseph Merrick, all supported by a beautiful stage with lots of fire, crazy background images, and a lot of smoke too. Troy Sanders, Brent Hinds, Bill Kelliher and Brann Dailor were insane as usual, mastering the art of their instruments for our total delectation, therefore receiving a wild and huge ovation form the fans at Budweiser Gardens. The overall sound was a bit muffled to my liking, but nothing that could stop the quartet form putting on a fantastic show, taking us all back 20 years with one of the most important metal albums of the past two decades. There was even time for a nice encore with the songs More Than I Could Chew, Circle of Cysquatch and Steambreather, and after that Brann took some time to thank everyone and to say how insane it is to be on this tour with Lamb of God, both celebrating 20 years of their masterpieces, also taking into account the fact they’ve been friends for all that time too. Mastodon always deliver, and hopefully we’ll see them celebrating 30, 40, 50 years and so on of the great Leviathan.

Setlist
Leviathan
Blood and Thunder
I Am Ahab
Seabeast
Ísland
Iron Tusk
Megalodon
Naked Burn
Aqua Dementia
Hearts Alive
Joseph Merrick

Encore:
More Than I Could Chew
Circle of Cysquatch
Steambreather

Band members
Troy Sanders – vocals, bass
Brent Hinds – vocals, guitars
Bill Kelliher – guitars, backing vocals
Brann Dailor – vocals, drums

LAMB OF GOD

After a short break, where fans took the time to grab a few final beers and whatever was left from the merch booths, it was time for Richmond, Virginia’s magnificent Groove Metal institution LAMB OF GOD to pulverize our senses with the full play of their 2004 masterpiece Ashes of the Wake, and let me tell you that the city of London, Ontario simply loves Lamb of God from the bottom of their hearts. The reaction of the fans to each and every song played by D. Randall “Randy” Blythe on vocals, Mark Morton and Willie Adler on the guitars, John Campbell on bass and Art Cruz on drums was beyond superb, with the first three of the album, Laid to Rest, Hourglass and Now You’ve Got Something to Die For, already igniting some of the sickest mosh pits of the night. The show moved on majestically, with Randy delivering his trademark “WOOOOOO’s!” inspired by the iconic Ric Flair in between songs, while the fans kept running around like beasts inside the circle pit. And after Ashes of the Wake was over, the band crushed whoever was still alive with the classics Walk With Me in Hell and Redneck, crowning another spectacular performance by Randy and his crew in Canadian lands. As mentioned for Mastodon, I would love to see Lamb of God celebrating many more decades of Ashes of the Wake with amazing concerts like that, and maybe next time there will be less confusion in the communication between us and the organizers, and you readers can have some ass-kicking photos as well to enjoy.

Setlist
Ashes of the Wake
Laid to Rest
Hourglass
Now You’ve Got Something to Die For
The Faded Line
Omerta
Blood of the Scribe
One Gun
Break You
What I’ve Become
Ashes of the Wake
Remorse Is for the Dead

Encore:
Walk With Me in Hell
Redneck

Band members
D. Randall “Randy” Blythe – vocals
Mark Morton – guitar
Willie Adler – guitar
John Campbell – bass
Art Cruz – drums

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Album Review – Evil Villain / Evil Villain EP (2024)

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An evil villain armed with its debut EP and consumed by the violence of Death Metal is lurking in the shadows of Toronto waiting for its next victim.

A cruelly malicious person who is involved in or devoted to wickedness or crime, a scoundrel, or a new Death Metal entity hailing from the ruins of Toronto? That’s how Evil Villian like to label themselves, blending the aggressiveness of their music with the harsh reality of the big city. Earlier this year the band formed of Matt Patterson on vocals, Chris Lee and Tim Hardcastle on the guitars, Dustin Pepper on bass and Patrick Cairns on drums released their debut self-titled EP, offering us all four tracks bursting with Death Metal violence while also showing nuances of Hardcore, Groove and Thrash Metal.

Patrick wastes no time and begin hammering his drums in Tumer’d, accompanied by the neck-breaking riffs by Chris and Tim while Matt roars and gnarls like a rabid beast in a caustic fusion of Death Metal and Hardcore; and get ready for another six-minute attack by Evil Villian entitled The Cycle, where Dustin and Patrick make the earth tremble, providing Matt with exactly what he needs to vociferate nonstop in the name of extreme music. Then blending harsh roars with Hardcore clean vocals, Paste Eater is another pulverizing, dissonant creation by the quintet where Chris and Tim once again slash their axes in great fashion until the very last second, whereas Furuta, the last song of the EP, is an amalgamation of styles, sounding Death Metal but at the same time presenting elements from the music by Faith No More and several Hardcore and Punk Rock acts, with Matt screaming viciously for our total delight.

Evil Villain’s debut EP is available in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but you can show those hardworking metallers from Toronto your support by purchasing a copy of the album from their BandCamp page, of course. Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, or click HERE for all things Evil Villain, including their live performances in the city and surroundings, inspiring the band to keep moving forward no matter what. Their debut EP sounds great and I can’t wait to see what’s next for them, because you know, there’s always an evil villain lurking in the shadows of Toronto waiting for its next victim.

Best moments of the album: The Cycle.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Tumer’d 6:10
2. The Cycle 6:36
3. Paste Eater 5:40
4. Furuta 5:27

Band members
Matt Patterson – vocals
Chris Lee – guitar
Tim Hardcastle – guitar
Dustin Pepper – bass
Patrick Cairns – drums

Concert Review – Crewfest 2024 (Lion’s Gate Park, Brantford, ON, 07/19/2024 & 07/20/2024)

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***Review by Elizabeth “Liz Bathory” Anderson, with photos by Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi***

Day 1: July 19, 2024

Venue: Lion’s Gate Park, Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Performers: Sumo Cyco, Buckcherry, Big Wreck, and The Headstones

This was my first time at Crewfest, and let me tell you, driving through Toronto traffic was an adventure in itself. But as soon as I arrived, the vibrant sound of Sumo Cyco hit me. I got there a bit late but still caught “Move Mountains” and “Bystander.” Fans I spoke to were thrilled about hearing “Undefeated.” Their stage presence was electric, and their sound really stood out. The crowd was loving every minute of it.

During intermission, I wandered around and soaked in the Crewfest vibe. The air was filled with the smell of stone-baked pizza and weed. There was a Crewdama tent where people were playing with kendama toys, and a small drone flew overhead. The crowd was a mix of young and old, metalheads, country fans (probably for the side stage), boho ladies, and bikers. The organizers did a great job with the portable washrooms, including wheelchair-accessible ones and an accessible seating area. As the night went on, portable outdoor chairs started popping up near the shaded areas – a thoughtful touch by the organizers.

Next up was Buckcherry. Their stage energy was impressive. The frontman’s style was urban meets rock ‘n’ roll, and their guitarist Stevie D stood out with his funky riffs and Tokyo Drift-style jacket. They got the crowd going with “Crazy Bitch” and played some classic rock/bluesy metal tunes like Guns N’ Roses and AC/DC. They also did a cool cover of “Rollin’ on a River” by Proud Mary.

Big Wreck was the next big act. By then, the sun was setting, and the stage lights were becoming more impressive. Drummer Sekou Lumumba was highlighted on the big screen, and he looked amazing. Seeing him in action was a treat. One nostalgic moment was when one of the band members threw an Emoji beach ball into the crowd, reminding me of my first concert (The Rolling Stones in the early 90s at the CNE). Big Wreck’s set had some heavy-sounding songs paired with classic metal vocals, including their 90s hit “That Song” and a cover of Thornley’s “Come Again.”

During the next intermission, I explored the venue more. There was an area dedicated to local vendors selling rolling papers, bongs, candies, cannabis, and more. There were even shirts being sold to fundraise for mental health support. The food section near the VIP area was a delight, with trucks serving wood-fired pizza, decked-out perogies, BBQ sandwiches, poutine, and Greek food. The VIP area had lit-up tents and seats sponsored by local businesses, Vanessa Mortgage Broker and Lanca, offering drinks and charcuterie boards. I did get asked to leave the Lanca tent since they didn’t accept my media pass.

Finally, The Headstones took the stage. Their lighting was spectacular, lighting up the whole area to the point that it could be seen from blocks away. They had the biggest crowd of the day, and their sound mixed classic funk with punk elements. Frontman Hugh Dillion made a few jokes, including a funny pizza delivery joke aimed at someone by the stage.

Day 2: July 20, 2024

Venue: Lion’s Gate Park, Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Performers: Otherwives, Junkhouse, Sloan, The Trews, and Goo Goo Dolls

Day 2 started off mellow with a soft opening from the side stage, giving an old-school rock and roll vibe. The crowd was a mix of Tragically Hip and Red Hot Chili Peppers fans, many rocking cowboy hats and boots. The side stage featured local country artists playing covers like Kings of Leon’s “Use Somebody,” and they threw shirts into the crowd at the end of their set.

I tried Crewfest’s own branded lager by Farm League Brewing. As a beer lover, I had to give it a shot, and it was pretty good – a mild, crisp taste similar to a Belgian ale. As I enjoyed my beer, Otherwives, a local band from Welland, Ontario, hit the main stage. Their stage presence was great, and they reminded me a bit of Billy Talent. The crowd was really into their 00s-style punk pop riffs.

During the next intermission, 50 Mission played Tragically Hip covers on the side stage, and the audience grew. Then Junkhouse took the main stage, opening with “Jesus Sings the Blues.” Frontman Tom Wilson shared stories about their days in Hamilton and various shenanigans, making their set feel personal and engaging. The T-rex in the crowd really jammed out during “Be Someone.”

The side stage was closed for the next intermission, so I checked out more vendors, including AE3D Printing and Collectables. They had cool 3D-printed fidget toys, dice rollers, game controller holders, and more. Time flew by, and before I knew it, Sloan was on stage. The crowd, now even larger, went crazy for their 90s hits like “The Other Man,” “Money City Maniacs,” “The Rest of My Life,” and “The Good in Everyone.”

The Trews followed, opening with “Tired of Waiting.” The crowd sang along enthusiastically. As they performed “Fleeting Trust,” the sun set, and the stage lights became more vibrant. Their set ended with “Hold Me In Your Arms,” leaving the crowd buzzing.

Finally, the Goo Goo Dolls took the stage. Their lighting was the most impressive, with beams visible from a distance. They opened with “Dizzy” and played hits like “Long Way Down,” but the crowd went wild when they started “Iris.” It was the perfect ending to a fantastic festival.

Crewfest 2024 was an unforgettable experience filled with diverse music, vibrant energy, and thoughtful organization. From the lively performances and nostalgic moments to the well-planned amenities and variety of vendors, Crewfest had something for everyone. It was a celebration of music and community that brought people together for two days of pure enjoyment. If you haven’t been to Crewfest yet, mark your calendars for next year – it’s an event you won’t want to miss!

Note: Unfortunately, due to the high temperatures that hit the festival area on Saturday, our buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi wasn’t able to stay at Crewfest during that day, which is why there are no photos from day 2 of the festival.

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Concert Review – Kittie (History, Toronto, ON, 07/12/2024)

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Kittie’s first show in Toronto in ten years was an amazing celebration of the legacy of the band, of diversity, and obviously of our good old heavy music.

OPENING ACTS: Dear Evangeline and Vile Creature

I really want to understand what the hell is going on with traffic in the city of Toronto and surroundings. I left my place yesterday with plenty of time to get to History to see DEAR EVANGELINE, VILE CREATURE and KITTIE kick off their Fire Tour 2024, but due to all construction, rain and whatever else, it took me over two hours to get to the venue. Due to that driving nightmare, I missed the entire performance by Brampton, Ontario’s own Hardcore/Sludge Metal newcomers DEAR EVANGELINE, which was a real bummer as I was eager to see those girls live. At least we can all enjoy their self-titled EP on Spotify, and also click HERE to know more about such a promising Canadian band.

Another bummer was the fact that my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi didn’t get a photo pass due to some bullshit about “high demand for passes”, or something like that, but I was there as I had a ticket and I think I saw only ONE photographer apart from the band’s own, so I guess either the organizers didn’t want any external photographers taking pictures of the event (which makes no sense at all, as you want people to see those photos and get inspired to attend future shows, right?), or all of the ones who got the limited passes “didn’t attend the show”, if you know what I mean. Anyway, the photos in this review are a piece of shit because of that reason, and I almost though about not reviewing the show; however, I think Kittie still deserve a nice review because they kicked ass on stage on Friday.

At least I was there in time for St. Catharines, Ontario’s Sludge/Drone/Doom Metal beast VILE CREATURE, a non-binary duo who explores themes of veganism, LGBTQ, animal rights, and anti-oppression in their music, and let me tell you it was a dark and extremely heavy performance by vocalist Vic, vocalist and guitarist KW, and a special guest drummer who I knew nothing about. I have no idea about their setlist, but I’m pretty sure they played a few songs from their latest albums Cast of Static and Smoke (2018) and Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! (2020), both available on BandCamp and on Spotify, and all songs sounded insane. One of the best moments of the show was when KW took a few minutes to talk about how much he loves Kittie, that it was Kittie who inspired him to play heavy music after years not knowing where he belonged as a gay guy, and that he sports his Kittie shirt from the very first Vile Creature live concert. It was a very emotional moment for sure, and seeing KW and his Vile Creature kicking ass right before his favorite band of all time was truly inspirational.

Band members
Vic – vocals
KW – guitars, vocals

KITTIE

The fact that both opening bands had short setlists allowed London, Ontario’s Alternative/Groove Metal powerhouse KITTIE to kick off their musical extravaganza relatively early, at around 9pm, giving a feeling of a matinee to the whole event as they wouldn’t play past 11pm for sure. That would have been a good thing if traffic back home wasn’t another nightmare, but I won’t complain about it again. Let’s focus on the show, and what a show it was! Morgan Lander, Tara McLeod, Ivana “Ivy” Jenkins (holy shit, Ivy was insane during the whole show!) and Mercedes Lander were on absolute fire throughout their entire set, which makes total sense as their new album Fire in indeed an incendiary one. Needless to say, their 22-song setlist inspired everyone at the venue to slam into the circle pit and to have a wild time with all crowd surfing going on, making the girls from Kittie really proud of their local fans in their first show in Toronto in ten years.

Blending some of the most electrifying songs of their new album the likes of Fire, We Are Shadows and Eyes Wide Open with classic including Cut Throat, Spit, Funeral for Yesterday and Brackish, the quartet sounded tight, focused and mesmerizing, and when we thought the show was over after the heavy-as-hell We Are the Lamb, the band got back and kicked us hard in the head with a special encore with the songs One Foot in the Grave and Do You Think I’m a Whore, a nice surprise that caught everyone off guard and that turned up the heat inside the venue through the roof. Having said all that, keep an eye on their tour dates by clicking HERE, stream all of their amazing albums, including their new beast Fire, on Spotify or on any other streaming service, and don’t miss the chance to see those four Canadian girls live whenever they take your city by storm. I just wish I had better photos of the band to show you, of course, but you can’t win ’em all, right?

Setlist
Fire
I’ve Failed You
Cut Throat
No Name
Spit
What I Always Wanted
Sorrow I Know
Look So Pretty
Ugly
We Are Shadows
Into the Darkness
Eyes Wide Open
Severed
Funeral for Yesterday
In Winter
Vultures
Charlotte
Mouthful of Poison
Brackish
We Are the Lamb

Encore:
One Foot in the Grave
Do You Think I’m a Whore

Band members
Morgan Lander – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
Tara McLeod – lead guitar
Ivana “Ivy” Jenkins – bass
Mercedes Lander – drums, backing vocals

Concert Review – Hyperia (Rivoli, Toronto, ON, 07/07/2024)

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A fantastic heat wave of Canadian underground metal hit the city of Toronto this Sunday night with three of the most must-see bands of the current scene.

OPENING ACTS: Invicta and Thunderor

The heat is on in Toronto, and together with it comes an overdose of the Canadian underground like what happened last night at Rivoli when TUNDEROR, INVICTA and HYPERIA kicked off Hyperia’s sensational Constricting Canada/Europe Tour 2024, and I believe it’s the first time ever this thrilling band from Vancouver, British Columbia is touring not only Eastern Canada, but also venturing through European lands. Needless to say, Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were there to celebrate the music and professional growth of Hyperia, proving Canadian metal is alive and kicking, with band’s like Hyperia, Invicta and Thunderor being more than ready to take over the world.

I must confess it was a little late for the doors at Rivoli to open, only at 8:30pm on a Sunday, but nobody seemed to care about that late start, and a little after 9pm Kitchener, Ontario-based Melodic Death/Thrash Metal outfit INVICTA kicked off the metallic ceremony with a fast-paced, heavy-as-hell performance, inviting all concert goers for some vigorous headbanging. The band spearheaded by the talented vocalist and guitarist Kyle Edissi, who also plays the guitar for Heathen on their live shows, delivered the goods, playing songs from their two album Halls of Extinction and Triumph and Torment (both available on BandCamp and on Spotify, by the way) for the delight of the small but excited crowd that attended the show. Those guys should definitely be opening for renowned acts like At The Gates, Sylosis, Arch Enemy and so on during their future tours in Canada, and I’m sure once more people get exposed to Invicta’s first-class heavy music, they will go places.

Band members
Kyle Edissi – vocals, guitars
Jonah Kay – guitars, backing vocals
Steven Rowlands – bass, backing vocals
Reef Hassanien – drums, percussion

The show must go on, and after a short break where everyone could enjoy good quality beer for a very decent price (which doesn’t happen very often at concerts, as you might know), Toronto’s own Heavy Metal trio THUNDEROR began their melodic and incendiary concert based on their 2022 debut Fire It Up, available on BandCamp and on Spotify, including Fire It Up, Dangerous Times, Thunderor and On the Run, putting everyone to dance and have a very good time in the name of Rock N’ Roll. Guitarist Johnny Nesta and bassist Brycen Gunn were obviously amazing, but it was the band’s mastermind JJ Tartaglia (of bands like Skull Fist and Final Trigger) who truly impressed me the most. How can he sing and play drums at the same time, and sound so good in both? He has indeed become a staple of the Canadian underground scene, and if you have a chance to see him playing live, please go for it, because he’s a great person and a superb musician that deserves all our recognition.

Band members
JJ Tartaglia – vocals, drums, keyboards
Johnny Nesta – guitars
Brycen Gunn – bass

HYPERIA

I’ve been a fan of Melodic Thrash/Death Metal machine HYPERIA since day one, having already reviewed all of their albums, those being Insanitorium (2020), Silhouettes of Horror (2022) and The Serpent’s Cycle (2023), but I honestly had no idea if I would ever be able to see them live as touring from one coast of Canada to the other is extremely pricey these days. Well, to my total surprise and sheer happiness, yesterday I had a fantastic time witnessing frontwoman Marlee Ryley, guitarists Colin Ryley and Skyler Mills, bassist Jon Power, and drummer Aaron Bell kicking some serious ass on stage in preparation for their more-than-deserved debut European tour starting on July 14 at Masters of rock in the Czech Republic. It was wild, intense, and above all that, as metal as it could be, putting a huge smile on everyone who was brave enough to stay at the venue until (very) late on a Sunday night, completely ignoring the fact the next day would be an always boring Monday.

Most of their setlist was based on their newest album The Serpent’s Cycle, with songs like The Serpent’s Cycle, Trapped in Time and my favorite of the night, Automatic Thrash Machine, sounding killer live, and the band was so relaxed and having a good time that Marlee herself went down to the floor/pit to have a good time with the fans more than once, with Jon also joining the crowd during the last song of their set, the excellent Pleonexia, and that translated into a very warm and vibrant reaction form the crowd. All of their wicked creations are available on BandCamp and on Spotify, and if you’re in Europe and have a chance to catch Hyperia live in the coming weeks, don’t miss the chance to see one of the coolest names of the current Canadian scene. I would love to see them on July 21 at the famous Carts & Horses, the birthplace of Iron Maiden, because they definitely deserve to reach new heights with their undisputed thrash, and hopefully when they return from Europe I’ll have another chance to see them here in Toronto in a not-so-distant future.

Band members
Marlee Ryley – vocals
Colin Ryley – guitars
Skyler Mills – guitars
Jon Power – bass
Aaron Bell – drums

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