St. John’s blackened / experimental hardcore outfit The Order of the Precious Blood has revealed the posters and full lineup announcements for the remaining three gigs of their upcoming Maritime tour at the end of April.
On April 26th the band will be in Miramichi, New Brunswick performing at The Shred Shed alongside Moncton death metal / grindcore outfit Ibex and Miramichi local hardcore punks Ten Dollar Meat Bags.
On April 27th the band will be in Moncton, New Brunswick at Xeroz Arcade Bar and will be joined once again by Ibex as well as stoner punks Yhorm from Sussex, New Brunswick.
On April 28th the band will be in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia at The Bitten Moon Pub alongside Breakneck, Great Value, and Nova Scotia powerviolence / hardcore outfit Fear and Filth.
This one is coming to you a day late because life got in the way this past week and I didn’t get as much time to hammer out which albums I wanted to recommend to you all on Friday. I was also busy hosting a show at The Traxide in Montreal featuring some rather excellent bands from the Maritimes, namely the blackened death metal stylings of Paratomb and progressive metal wizardry of Omnivide, along with local thrashers Grimhold and death-sludge riffologists Obelisk. Now that I’ve got a few moments of free time to myself this Saturday (between recovery) I’m going to make up for it. Read on for some of your (somewhat) regularly scheduled riff recommendations!
Black
Pakkt – To Brocken Heights Where Witches Dance December 24th, 2021 Black Metal Ván Records Germany Standout Song: “Three Desecrated Hosts”
The first time I heard this record I was absolutely floored and to this day it continues to shock me. I’d like to thank Devon Milley for this recommendation as it was through him that I discovered this band. I’ve never heard a band so perfectly emulate the sound of Darkthrone’s early material. Everything on this record from the guitar tone to the drum approach to the production to the vocal approach is the closest I’ve ever heard a band mimic that style, and they do it wonderfully. The riffage is so pure and kvlt and trve and devoid of any bells and whistles. Even the vocals sound eerily similar to the range and tone of Nocturno Culto on those classic black metal albums as well as the post-Panzerfaust era of the band. All you have to do is listen to the first track here, “Three Desecrated Hosts”, and you’ll see what I mean. If you’re at all a fan of that style of Norwegian black metal, then Germany’s Pakkt is a must-listen, especially for Darkthrone die-hards like myself.
Death
Human Remains – Using Sickness as a Hero August 27th, 1996 Deathgrind / Grindcore / Death Metal Relapse Records Hazlet, New Jersey, USA Standout Song: “Weeding Out the Thorns”
I first discovered this band through a video made by the YouTuber known as The Punk Rock MBA. I think that guy sucks but I’d be lying if I said he hadn’t put me on to some cool music over the years. Human Remains is definitely one of those bands. The first time I put this record on I couldn’t quite believe what I was hearing. “A deathgrind diamond” as one Bandcamp reviewer named Brett put it, this thing is fucking weird. There are sounds on here that I didn’t even know a guitar could make before I listened to this thing. It’s exceptionally brutal, uncompromising, relentless, and unapologetically experimental. There’s plenty of moments where the music remains firmly rooted in brutalizing the listener with blast beats and atonal guitar riffs before launching into interludes that feel like they’re drawing upon bands like Mr. Bungle and The Dillinger Escape Plan. Of course Dillinger was probably influenced by this band considering that Human Remains predates them.
Doom
Wardehns – Now Cometh the Foul December 21st, 2018 Stoner Metal / Sludge Metal / Crust Punk Independently Released Wausau, Wisconsin, USA Standout Song: “Denim Dogs”
I was put onto this band through a friend of mine who just happened to be playing them out loud on a Bluetooth speaker while I was hanging with some pals at their house. I was pretty much immediately hooked by the quality of the riffage, the production value, and just how similar it felt to the kind of sludge metal that I am really drawn to: bands like Mastodon, Kylesa, and Black Tusk. The ones who are a little artsy but aren’t afraid to get deep, down, and dirty with their music. Wardehns certainly scratches that itch for me and I’ve had this record on repeat ever since that initial encounter. It’s monolithic in size, with every song imparting the image of a group of intrepid travelers and warriors climbing their way to the top of a frostbitten mountain, surviving blizzards and avalanches, and fighting horrible beasts all along the way. The album cover is indeed a perfect representation of what kind of music you’ll hear on this thing. It comes highly recommended.
Prog
Omnivide – A Tale of Fire March 22nd, 2024 Progressive / Symphonic / Technical Death Metal Independently Released Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada Standout Song: “Holy Killer”
I brought up Omnivide in the intro to this article not just to tell you about the show I was at last night, but also as a genuine recommendation for a band that kicks fucking ass that doesn’t live all that far from Newfoundland. This New Brunswick progressive metal outfit just released their debut album, A Tale of Fire, last month, and are currently embarking on a tour across Canada in support of it. Having seen them live a couple of times now as well as having listened to this thing all the way through time and time again I can attest to this band absolutely ruling. If you want your brain to be disassembled and then put back together wrong then this is the record for you. Their music certainly draws heavy influence from big-name prog bands like Between the Buried and Me, but there are also shades of groups like Cynic, Obscura, and Beyond Creation to be found within. If you like any of those bands you’ll almost certainly like this.
Punk
Flower – Hardly a Dream December 26th, 2022 Crust Punk Profane Existence New York City, New York, USA Standout Song: “Lethargy”
I was lucky enough to catch Flower at Varning Fest last year, an annual underground crust punk and metal festival that occurs in Montreal. They came up from New York City to play here and absolutely tore the place apart. I thought their live performance was already great but it was checking out their recordings after the fact on my own that really sold me on them. This right here is the kind of punk I like the most. It’s loud, aggressive, angry, and dirty as fuck. All the best crust punk is only a few steps removed from speed metal and black metal and Flower really embrace that vibe on this LP. The album opens with an atmospheric blackened guitar riff that reminds me extensively of Gallhammer and Darkthrone, before the unruly punk ripping starts at full force. It’s so gross and nasty, from the raw guitar tone to the punchy drums to the pissed off vocals. Flower are fantastic, and this LP absolutely slays.
Thrash
Phantom – Handed to Execution October 27th, 2023 Thrash Metal Inframetal Records Guadalajara, Mexico Standout Song: “Reaper’s Bane”
Mexico’s Phantom are pretty much everything I want from modern thrash. Their sound is supremely old school, drawing clearly upon the bands of the 80’s, with the Teutonic sound in particular being a primary influence. If you like Sodom, Kreator, or Destruction, or at least the way those bands used to sound back in the day, then Phantom may be for you. That’s not to discount the American influence in their sound either, because notes of Slayer and Metallica definitely crop up from time to time, but ultimately they keep things rooted in that more aggressive sound that veers on the edge of black metal without ever stepping forth into the blizzard. What makes this album even more impressive is that the dudes in this band are really young, most of them being around the ages of 18 to 20. For being as young as they are they’ve got a fantastic grasp of their instruments and their songwriting capability is excellent. I’m stoked to hear what they put out next.
Trad
I am the Intimidator – I am the Intimidator March 8th, 2024 Speed Metal / Traditional Heavy Metal Miserable Pyre Portland, Oregon, USA Standout Song: “Eat My Smoke”
I never thought I would unironically enjoy a NASCAR-themed metal band but then I am the Intimidator came out of nowhere and showed me the errors of my hubris. This is the new solo project of former Poison Idea guitarist Andrew Stromstad and the entire thing is lyrically and aesthetically based around the final day of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt’s life. If that wasn’t already enough to sell you on the concept, then I’m happy to report that the music contained within is just as fucking awesome. It’s old school speed metal that draws as much influence from Metallica, Motorhead, and King Diamond as it does from a blackened speed metal act like Venom and an epic doom metal band like Candlemass. While the record may be all over the map in terms of influence it is surprisingly consistent all the way through, featuring fabulous riff after fabulous riff and vocals that’ll put hair on your chest.
Non-Metal
Shpongle – Tales of the Inexpressible March 29th, 2001 Chillout / Psychedelic Trance Twisted Records Chobham, England, UK Standout Song: “Star-Shpongled Banner”
I discovered Shpongle years ago when I was still in high school. While sick and staying home from school one day I went down an enormously long musical rabbit hole on YouTube (this was back in the day before algorithms ruined everything) which eventually led me to a fan-made animated music video for the song “Star-Shpongled Banner”. I was so enamored by the combination of the music with the visuals I was experiencing made that song stick with me for years to come, and to this day I still revisit this record from time to time. While I don’t often find myself listening to electronic music, when I do I prefer the kind of stuff that’s outside the realm of the typical club fare. I don’t go to clubs often, mind you, but I have a hard time imagining that this is the kind of thing played anywhere outside of a hippie drug den. It’s not for everyone, but if you like weird electronica you should definitely check this one out.
St. John’s blackened / experimental hardcore outfit The Order of the Precious Blood have announced a new tour. Coming up this April, this marks the band’s second excursion off the island since their formation. The group will be playing a series of shows across Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
The tour dates are as follows:
April 19th, 2024 @ Peter Easton Pub – St. John’s, NL
April 20th, 2024 @ Gower Street United Church – St. John’s, NL
April 25th, 2024 @ Radstorm – Halifax, NS
April 26th, 2024 @ The Shred Shed – Miramichi, NB
April 27th, 2024 @ Xeroz Arcade and Bar – Moncton, NB
April 28th, 2024 @ The Bitten Moon – Glace Bay, NS
The band will be joined by the following acts on each date:
Peter Easton Pub: Kaspam Cult, Of the Black, Killer 9000
Radstorm: Pale Ache, Pavel Stroke, Thousand Knives
The supporting acts for the Miramichi, Moncton, and Glace Bay dates have not yet been announced and there are no posters for these dates as of yet either.
Here are the posters for the two St. John’s dates and the Halifax date:
St. John’s metalcore / hardcore group Precious Blood are hitting the road this August for several dates across the Maritimes in support of their recently released debut EP I No Longer Wish for Salvation. The band will be traveling across Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia for a series of shows, some of which will be with P.E.I. hardcore punk band Baited, and some of which will be with New Brunswick sludge / grind outfit Anthesis.
The dates are as follows:
August 13th – St. John’s, NL @ Gower Street United Church (All Ages)
August 18th – Charlottetown, PEI @ Stanley’s Pub w/ Baited
August 19th – Saint John, NB @ The Panic Room w/ Baited
August 20th – Bathurst, NB @ Southside Lounge
August 23rd – Fredericton, NB @ Monarch Drop-In w/ Anthesis (All Ages)
Glovertown blackened heavy metal outfit Mistwalker, which has since relocated to Montreal, along with Montreal death metal / sludge metal trio Øbelisk, have announced a full three week tour of the Maritimes in August of 2023. The Atlantic Annihilation Tour will make its way through Eastern Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia before eventually making its way to Newfoundland.
The bands will perform in Corner Brook on August 16th at The Corner Pocket on West with local support from The Mill and October Wasp. They will then make their way to Glovertown on August 17th, Mistwalker’s hometown, where they will be joined by short sets from Defense Force, Wretched Fiend, and Nemophilist. The bands will then hit St. John’s for a series of three shows. Two of these shows will take place at The Rockhouse on the evenings of August 18th and 19th where the bands will headline both shows but play different sets each night. On the 18th they will be joined by Winterhearth, InfectDead, and Everose, while on the 19th they will be joined by The Skeats, Dendron, and Jaded Truth. On the 19th they will also play a matinee show at the Gower Street United Church alongside Bazooka, Sick Puppy, and Buck 50’d, courtesy of Barely There Media.
Full list of tour dates:
July 22nd – Montreal @ The Rat Trap w/ Beef Baron, S.W.E.A.T. August 4th – Trois-Rivieres @ Taverne Royale w/ Tunt August 5th – Quebec City @ Le Knock-Out w/ Sedmi August 6th – Rimouski @ Underground Rimouski August 8th – Fredericton @ Broken Record Bar and Music Room w/ Fogger August 10th – Charlottetown @ Howie’s Records w/ Omnivide August 11th – Halifax @ Radstorm w/ Ritual Warfare August 12th – Halifax @ Good Robot Brewing Company w/ Mutated Void August 16th – Corner Brook @ The Corner Pocket on West w/ The Mill, October Wasp August 17th – Glovertown @ Tucker’s Pit w/ Defense Force, Wretched Fiend, Nemophilist August 18th – St. John’s @ The Rockhouse w/ Winterhearth, InfectDead, Everose August 19th – St. John’s @ Gower Street United Church w/ Bazooka, Sick Puppy, Buck 50’d August 19th – St. John’s @ The Rockhouse w/ Dendron, The Skeats, Jaded Truth August 22nd – Yarmouth @ TBA August 23rd – Saint John @ McGill’s w/ Swarm of Pestilence August 25th – Sherbrooke @ Bar Le Magog w/ Raped God, Electrika
This tour is sponsored by Heavy NFLD, Geomorph Records, and Viridian Records.
Each year the East Coast Music Association doles out awards to artists from all across eastern Canada who exemplify the best of the best of homegrown new music. Every year this includes the ‘Loud Recording of the Year’ Award for artists who fit into the metal, punk or loud rock category. 2021’s East Coast Music Awards have nominated Newfoundland’s own Winterhearth for the award this year for their third full length album, Riverbed Empire, released August 21st, 2020.
The other artists nominated for the award include Diner Drugs from Moncton, New Brunswick for their 2019 record As Is, Hero’s Last Rite from Fredericton, New Brunswick for their 2020 record Behind the Darkest Days, and who previously won the ECMA ‘Loud Recording of the Year’ award in 2015, Sonic Detour from Saint John, new Brunswick for their self-titled record, and Sound Drown from Saint John, New Brunswick for their 2020 record Selfish Reasons.
We wish all of these artists the best of luck in this year’s ECMA’s though we’re obviously rooting a bit more for the underdog from our own province.
An annual staple of the eastern Canadian music world, the East Coast Music Awards, has been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping the globe. An official statement from the ECMA’s Board of Directors was posted online on March 17th and reads as follows:
After carefully considering the guidance and recommendations from Eastern Health, the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the City of St. John’s, and several other key event partners, we have made the collective decision to cancel the 2020 East Coast Music Awards: Festival & Conference presented by TD.
We are admittedly devastated to cancel this event and our thoughts are with all of the hard working musicians and industry professionals who are facing a tremendous degree of uncertainty in the face of this unprecedented public health issue. Under the advice of scientific and medical experts throughout Atlantic Canada, the country, and the world, cancelling our event is the right thing to do as we all take necessary preventative measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our region. The ECMA takes the safety of its members, staff, patrons, sponsors, and contractors very seriously. We know this is a difficult time for many in our sector. This is indeed a challenging and unpredictable time for the world. As such, we urge everyone to follow the guidelines and protocols issued by public health officials,
In the coming weeks and months, the ECMA will explore alternative ways to celebrate the accomplishments of our world-class regional talent and honor the winners of the 2020 East Coast Music Awards. To stay up to date on these decisons as they progress, please continue to visit ecma.com.
We thank everyone already involved in the 2020 ECMAs for their passion, dedication, and hard work, and we thank you for your understanding and continued support. The music industry has, time and again, demonstrated a great wealth of resilience when faced with adversity. Together, we will get through this.
Sincerely,
The ECMA Board of Directors
The event was to take place between the dates of April 29th to May 3rd and would have included a heavy showcase featuring Jim Jones and the Kool-Aid Jammers, Sons of an Eastern Moon and The Combine, all originally from Newfoundland, as well as Kilmore, Spirit of the Wildfire and Dumpster Mummy from Nova Scotia and Dischord from New Brumswick.
HeavyNFLD 