Albums Archived – 6000apez – The Consequential Mudhole [Demo / Hardcore Punk] – The Beer Patrice – Dead on the Ship [Live LP / Punk] – Blender – D03s 1t Bl3nd? [Demo / Cybergrind] – Clocked In – Clocked In / Year of the Rat Split [Split / Hardcore] – Coward – King Rat [Demo / Pop Punk] – Coward – Split [Split / Pop Punk] – Evan Watton – RPM 2021 [LP / Progressive Metal] – Kick Gut – Kick Gut / Don’t Split [Split / Garage Punk] – Kick Gut – The Peter Album [LP / Garage Punk] – Kristopher Crane – Piss Drunx Theme [Single / Hard Rock] – Make Mean Everything – Gamma Rays [EP / Progressive Rock] – Make Mean Everything – Make Mean Everything [EP / Progressive Rock] – Moss Heather – Summer Flu [Single / Garage Punk] – Of Wilds – A Ghost at the Strid [EP / Progressive Rock] – Personal Space Invaders – Eat Your Meat [LP / Experimental Rock] – Ratpiss – Four Humors [EP / Powerviolence] – Sarra Cenia – Good News [Single / Stoner Rock] – Solar Tongue – Consideration [EP / Drone Metal] – Sons of an Eastern Moon – Borealis [EP / Folk Metal] – The Strangled – Never Forget [LP / Skate Punk]
We also released Episode 63 of the Heavy NFLD Official Podcast, New Metal from Newfoundland IV, in which I recount some of the newer releases that have dropped from Newfoundland and Labrador bands in the past few months.
Albums Archived The Beer Patrice – Can’t Talk to Fish [Single / Punk] The Beer Patrice – Who are the Beer Patrice? [LP / Punk] Breaker – Breaker [EP / Pop Punk] Breaker – Do It Yourself [EP / Pop Punk] Death Ray – Murder Mouth [Single / Sludge Metal] Fennway – Demo 2015 [Demo / Melodic Hardcore] Fennway – Julianne [Single / Melodic Hardcore] Hot x Proxy – Fake It [Single / Hard Rock] Hot x Proxy – Mean to Me [Single / Hard Rock] Hot x Proxy – The Operator [Single / Hard Rock] Hot x Proxy – Tonite [Single / Hard Rock] Mistwalker – Basement Dwellers [Live EP / Black N’ Roll] Not Friends – Demo 2012 [Demo / Hardcore Punk] Not Friends – Stowaway [EP / Hardcore Punk] Securitron – Post-Apocalyptic Eras [LP / Thrash Metal] The Strangled – Dead Music [EP / Punk] The Strangled – Disconnected [Single / Punk] The Strangled – Straight to Ghost [EP / Punk] Twerp – Just a Little [EP / Grunge]
This year has been crazy in a lot of ways, mostly in terms of my own life getting in the way of trying to maintain regular updates on this blog, but still we soldier forth! The slow march of time won’t stop me from catching up on all the stuff I missed, so here’s the in review segment for January of 2024.
We also released Episode 62 of the Heavy NFLD Official Podcast in which we recount some of the best heavy music to come out of Newfoundland and Labrador throughout 2023.
Albums Archived – Aaiesieux – A.C.U. Volume 1: How to Kill an Idea [LP / Harsh Noise] – Aaiesieux – A.C.U. Volume 2: Hubris, as Shown by the Audience [LP / Harsh Noise] – Aaiesieux – The Monster Mash Vol. 1 [Compilation / Harsh Noise] – Bad Plan – EP 2016 [EP / Hardcore Punk] – Guntmold – Blackened Infection [EP / Blackened Thrash Metal] – Guntmold – Munging [Single / Blackened Thrash Metal] – Icefog – Firharbour [EP / Dark Ambient] – Lithops – ((BendeR)) [LP / Dungeon Synth] – Neko Suicide – Neko Suicide Suicide Neko [LP / Harsh Noise] – Nemophilist – The Forest was Silent and Clear [Single / Dark Ambient] – Nemophilist – The Nightlight Man [EP / Dark Ambient] – Outta the Basement – Outta the Basement [LP / Hard Rock] – Pretty Little Flowers – 11:39 – 2:20 [Single / Drone] – Pretty Little Flowers – A Tribute to Hoedh [Single / Drone] – Pretty Little Flowers – Betrayal in August [Single / Drone] – Pretty Little Flowers – Litani Til Satan [Single / Black Metal] – Pretty Little Flowers – Pretty Little Flowers [Single / Drone] – Pretty Little Flowers – Truly Alone [Single / Drone] – Pretty Little Flowers – Wits End [Single / Drone] – Scary Haunted Castles – Those Damn Castles are Scary [Single / Dungeon Synth] – That Night a Forest Grew – Demo [Demo / Metalcore] – Wet Cheeze Delirium – Live at Bar None – November 10th, 1999 [Live LP / Noise / Experimental] – Wretched Invention – Wretched Souls [EP / Groove Metal]
St. John’s blackened experimental hardcore outfit The Order of the Precious Blood are gearing up for the release of their next musical outing. We’ve already heard one single from this upcoming release, entitled “Cheaper But Will Do”. Following that first single the band has dropped a second, entitled “Black Hole”, which was released on April 22nd, 2024 along with a music video that premiered on Hardcore Worldwide.
You can listen to “Black Hole” and watch the music video for it through our YouTube embed below.
Lawnya Vawnya, the annual arts and music festival that occurs in St. John’s, Newfoundland, has unveiled its lineup for the 2024 installment, its 14th iteration. These year’s fest will take place across four days spanning from June 5th to June 8th. Among the heavier and loud artists performing this year are Bread Clip, Carnage, Cuerpos, Doberman, Needle Crafts, and Tunnel Vision.
You can get tickets to the event through this link: here!
Despite being on the road in a completely different country I still will find the time to provide you with eight killer album recommendations because music is what makes the world go round. On that topic I’ve encountered a number of bands over the past week that definitely deserve a bigger audience.
Black
Infant Island – Obsidian Wreath January 12th, 2024 Post-Black Metal / Skramz / Blackgaze Independently Released Fredericksburg, Virgina, USA Standout Song: “Another Cycle”
The first time I was exposed to Infant Island it was when they were added last minute to a huge mixed bill that featured the likes of Gatecreeper and Fearing. It was odd but given how mixed the bill was I guess it made sense to toss a screamo band on there. Admittedly I wasn’t all that into them for this live show but decided to check out their new record when it dropped earlier this year and was shocked to find out just how damn much I liked it. This album is fucking phenomenal, featuring tons of atmosphere, triumphant guitar work that screams out over relentless blast beats and passages of intense, cathartic screaming. Screamo and black metal may seem at polar ends of the musical spectrum but bands like Infant Island manage to bridge that gap almost flawlessly and this record is proof of that. Obsidian Wreath is a phenomenal release that deserves your attention.
Death
Eyecatcher – Eyecatcher December 13th, 2023 Death Metal Independently Released Baltimore, Maryland, USA Standout Song: “Blood Carnival”
Eyecatcher is a four piece death metal outfit that my own band Ratpiss played with while on tour in Long Island City, New York. This Maryland quartet was amazing in the live setting and their brand of Obituary / Power Trip worshipping death metal was right up my alley. Checking them out on the recording side of things I am happy to report that their first self-titled release is just as good sounding as the live versions of these songs were. This is ripping death metal with thrash metal and grindcore influence that would not go unwelcome on a playlist next to bands like Frozen Soul and Sanguisugabogg. While this EP is “blink and you’ll miss it” short, it’s packed with more killer riffs and drum beats that you can shake a disembodied leg at. If the cover art doesn’t sell you on it already, let the song titles like “Blood Carnival” and “Wormtongue” entice into the grotesque nature that awaits.
Doom
Horndal – Head Hammer Man April 19th, 2024 Progressive Sludge Metal Prosthetic Records Stockholm, Sweden Standout Song: “Calling: Labor”
I was first introduced to Horndal through my friend Tyler. Admittedly when I first checked it out I wasn’t sure about it but after numerous repeat listens it dawned on me: this album is fucking incredible. This thing combines elements of the bright, harmonized guitar work of groups like Thin Lizzy or Kvelertak along with the progressive riffing nature of bands like Mastodon as well as the raw sense of urban decay ushered in by bands like Tombs or Morne to create a sound I’ve never quite heard before. This thing is a beast of modern metal, and not in the same way that people describe Lamb of God. This is the pinnacle of modern metal music, utilizing every aspect of heavy music that I personally love in such a way that I’ve never been privy to. It’s experimental while also being catchy as fuck, all while the gruff caveman vocals detail stories about the history and legends of the band’s hometown for which they are named.
Prog
Orbs – Asleep Next to Science August 17th, 2010 Nu Prog / Post-Hardcore/ Space Rock Equal Vision Records United States Standout Song: “A Man of Science”
Orbs was a band of particular interest to me back in 2010 when they first emerged onto the scene of modern, nu-progressive artists that had readers of the blog Heavy Blog is Heavy fawning. Featuring such notable names as Dan Briggs from Between the Buried and Me, Adam Fisher of Fear Before the March of Flames, and Ashley Jurgemeyer of Abigail Williams, this was a supergroup of sorts that existed to blend elements of jazz, prog, and space rock with a post-hardcore affectation and approach to songwriting, and holy moly did they ever knock it out of the park. Almost 15 years after the fact I still come back to this album and can sing along to all the words like no time at all has passed. Relentlessly interesting and masterfully composed with hooks for days both on the vocal front as well as the instrumental front, it’s a shame Orbs hasn’t been more active in the intervening years.
Punk
Diuretic – Martyrfucker May 14th, 2023 Grindcore / Hardcore Punk Independently Released Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Standout Song: “Nepo Baby”
Another band that Ratpiss has shared the stage with, multiple times now. Philadelphia’s Diuretic absolutely fucking rule. Not only are they super cool people, but their music fucking rips too. The band has released one EP and a demo as of their existence so far, with Martyrfucker being the most recent effort. Pissed off, aggressive, loud and nasty, this is grindcore as it should be. Along with the general angry vibe of the music it also sounds raw as fuck. It’s not really “pure” grindcore in a sense since most of the music on here doesn’t rely exclusively on blast beats, and there are a lot of groovier sections with two-step parts that lean them a little bit more towards the hardcore punk side of grindcore. That said Diuretic is still full of angst, piss, and vinegar, and this EP is a prime example of just what the Philadelphia grind scene has to offer.
Thrash
Drowning in Blood – Crush the Weak December 20th, 2021 Thrash Metal / Crossover Independently Released Montreal, Quebec, Canada Standout Song: “Crush the Weak”
This Montreal thrash trio, which has since evolved into a quartet, have been slowly making a name for themselves over the past year in Quebec and the wider Eastern Canadian scene. Taking influence from both the realms of old school thrash metal legends like Slayer and Anthrax as well as newer crossover institutions, the band doesn’t really fall squarely into one category or another. There’s a hefty amount of hardcore punk influence going on here, especially on the EP’s opener “Chernobyl”, but the ripping thrash doesn’t take long to kick in. Guitarist Christophe Michaud has one goal in mind and that’s to rip your head from your neck by making you headbang like a fucking lunatic. He accomplishes that goal in spades on here, while making sure the punk influence keeps things fun and upbeat.
Trad
Gatekeeper – From Western Shores March 24th, 2023 Power Metal / Traditional Heavy Metal Cruz del Sur Music Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Standout Song: “Western Shores”
Vancouver’s Gatekeeper are the best kept secret in the world of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal originating from Canada. This band embraces every classic metal cliche, taking as much influence from bands like King Diamond and Mercyful Fate as they do bands like Blind Guardian. They straddle the line between old school heavy metal outfits like Dio as well as pure power metal that emerged from Europe in the 80’s and 90’s a la Helloween. Delightfully melodic and impossibly catchy, every song on this record is absolute fucking banger and deserves to be blasted at max volume. With lyrics inspired by the works of famous fantasy and horror authors like Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, listening to this album makes me feel like Conan the goddamned barbarian, riding a mighty steed across the plains of uncharted wilderness, a great broadsword strapped across my back.
Non-Metal
Com Truise – In Decay July 16th, 2012 Synthwave Ghostly International Orlando, Florida, USA Standout Song: “Data Kiss”
Have you ever been on a long-ass drive that you started early in the day, like before noon, and you keep on screaming down the highway, still having not reached your final destination as the sun goes down behind the hills and it seems like night is going to last forever? You’ve had one too many energy drinks and you’re wearing sunglasses to minimize the glare of the searing lights of the construction zone you’re passing through? Well this album is the soundtrack to that vibe. This is a night driving album if there ever was one. Much like other synthwave artists like Perturbator, Carpenter Brut, or Filmmaker, Com Truise has made a career off of perfectly encapsulating the atmosphere of the liminal space that is a highway after dark. That said Com Truise’s music is a bit more chillwave-leaning than the retro and horror inspired vibes of those other artists, but the comparison is still apt.
St. John’s blackened experimental hardcore outfit The Order of the Precious Blood have revealed new t-shirts that they’re selling at their upcoming shows and upcoming Maritime tour. The shirts were first revealed through social media on Friday, April 19th, 2024 and feature art designed by Kris Thornhill.
St. John’s hardcore band MiR have released their debut recording. The new release is a self-titled EP that dropped on April 20th, 2024 and features seven tracks of ripping, metallic hardcore. The EP can be found on streaming services as well as Bandcamp.
You can listen to MiR by MiR through our Bandcamp embed below.
St. John’s hardcore band Of the Black have released their first piece of new music since 2020. Their new EP, entitled A Structured Narrative, is the first since 2020’s series of five EPs numbered One through Five which dropped over the course of that year. This new EP features 6 tracks, was recorded at Paradise Sound Studio and was mixed by Bryan O’Reilly. It was released on April 16th, 2024.
You can listen to A Structured Narrative through our Bandcamp embed below.
St. John’s avant-garde / jazzcore band Killer 9000 have revealed new t-shirts that feature the band’s logo in white against a black backdrop. The shirts will be available at the band’s show tonight at the Peter Easton Pub alongside The Order of the Precious Blood, Of the Black, and Kaspam Cult.
HeavyNFLD 