June 2020 in Review

Oops! We made a bit of a mistake. On account of incredibly busy home lives and a hectic summer filled with political upheaval and civil unrest we missed our June in Review segment. But hey, better late than never right? Of course it goes without saying that the continued civil unrest going on across the globe has been felt even in our home of Newfoundland and Labrador with everything from Black Lives Matter protests to COVID-19 anti-mask protests occurring on the streets and in front of the Confederation Building and heated discussions, debates and arguments going on across the Newfoundland sphere of social media.

Even in our own community there have been individuals who have been assaulted by the police (as evidenced by one of the biggest stories we published this month in which Kristopher Crane of Nemophilist and Impaled Upon the Mountains was brutally attacked in Montreal) while we decided to put together our first ever compilation album to raise funds to fight racism and discrimination here in our own backyard.

Read on to find out exactly what June 2020 had in store for the punk and metal community of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Biggest Stories
– Ambient Artist Nemophilist Assaulted by Montreal Police
– A Compilation Album for a Good Cause
– Hag Receive Coverage in The Newfoundland Herald
– Kaspam Cult Seeking New Drummer
– Local Musicians Speak Out Against Racism
– Racism in Newfoundland
– November Mayhem Will Not Happen in 2020
– Yes, Officer Donates 100% of LP Proceeds to Black Visions Collective

New Albums
– Hag – Hag
– Yes, Officer – Autobiography of a Naysayer

New EPs
– Divine Eradication – Marystown
– Froze to Debt – Mind Control
– Nemophilist / Vehement Gates – Split
– Ring of Restoration – To Breach Cyclopean Tombs

New Singles
– Blood Wyrm – “The Forbidden Hand”
– Blood Wyrm – “Runestoner”
– Blood Wyrm – “War Maiden”
– Doom ‘An Blue – “Wicked Serotonin”
– Nemophilist – “The Nightlight Man”
– Yes, Officer – “Play in Traffic”

Album Reviews
– Hefe NFLD: Deadgaard / Orchid’s Curse – Graveyard of the Gulf
– Qyn – Archetype
– Sludgefist – Sludgefist

Albums Announced
– The Hellfire Club – Volume II

Albums Archived
– Divine Eradication – Marystown
– Vehement Gates – EP
– Vehement Gates + Nemophilist – Split

~ Akhenaten

Yes, Officer to Donate 100% of Proceeds from New LP to Black Visions Collective, Release New Single “Play in Traffic”

Following the violent and cruel murder of black American civilian George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department on May 25th, outrage in both the United States and Canada have sparked wave upon wave of protests and rioting in the week that has followed. Many North American musicians and celebrities have used their platforms to spread messages of peace and solidarity with the marginalized communities affected by these crimes.

From our own backyard we have St. John’s post hardcore outfit Yes, Officer, which was originally the one man band of Jeremy Harnum but has since expanded to include a full lineup. Harnum announced the band’s new record, Autobiography of a Naysayer, on May 23rd. As a result of the tumultuous situation underway across much of the continent, Yes, Officer have offered to donate 100% of the proceeds from their upcoming third record to Black Visions Collective, a charity dedicated to dismantling systems of oppression.

In Harnum’s own words:

BLACK LIVES MATTER. INDIGENOUS LIVES MATTER.

Complacency is siding with the oppressor. We must do better. I acknowledge my privilege as a white man and I will use it to speak up. I will call out racism when I hear it, when I see it, and do better as a human for those who need the most help; the systemically oppressed minorities who cannot live in peace until there is justice and change. Enough is enough. One person’s life being senselessly ended is far too many.

Disgusted by the actions of the police officers that murdered George Floyd this past week, and for so many other people who have died at the hands of police throughout our history, Yes, Officer will be donating 100% of the proceeds of “Autobiography of a Naysayer” from Bandcamp to Black Visions Collective, “a black, trans, and queer-led organization that is committed to dismantling systems of oppression and violence, and shifting the narrative to create transformative long-term change”.

Purchase the new single at the link below. Pay what you can, fill out your email address and it will act as a preorder. Once the album is released on June 12, I will send you a download code. I will personally start with donating $20 of my own.

https://yesofficer.bandcamp.com/track/play-in-traffic

This is not just an “American problem”. This is global, this is Canadian, this is in our own back yard and we need to recognize that. To lend a helping hand, you can visit this handy Google Doc below with numerous links to community led projects and movements which are helping the people who need it most.

https://bit.ly/3gCWOXz

JH

#blacklivesmatter#justiceforgeorgefloyd

The group’s new single, “Play in Traffic”, was released on Saturday, May 30th, and is available for purchase and download via their Bandcamp page. You can listen to it through our Bandcamp embed below.

~ Akhenaten