As the air cooled and the sun set, rabid Black Metal fans were in for a treat this evening! Five Canadian Black Metal bands were set to unleash Hell in no uncertain terms and as members of Black Empire shuffled through the venue already in corpse paint, this couldn’t be understated.
Anticipating the onslaught of the evening’s Black Metal contingent, eager fans gathered in front of the stage to witness Montreal’s, Frostbite, the perfect storm to commence the occasion! Their brand of melodic black/death translated well live and despite having a minor glitch in sound early in the set, guitarist, Max Allard, recovered gracefully, shredding with technique and confidence! While the songs were short, the energy captivated the audience especially in witnessing the drummer energetically wail on his drums! A great performance and sound left those in attendance howling and cheering for more. Their set was indeed, too short.
Quickly transitioning to the stage was Black Empire, a no-nonsense Black Metal three-piece hailing from Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec. Looking menacing and determined, vocalist/guitarist, Audeath, seemed to be prepared for war! A straight-forward aural attack did not leave much room for musical variety or a “rock star” stage presence, but more than adequately got the job done. Surprisingly, being only three members, one would think the sound might be thin, but they’d be wrong. The wall of sound was the perfect catalyst and stark contrast to Frostbite’s melodic leanings, previously. Rabid tremolo picking and blitzkrieg drumming made for an impact that certainly laid waste to the “naysayers”, to which there were none!
Following the barrage of discord, Scum Sentinel were next to plunder! Blending their interpretation of black/death, the band displayed an enthusiastic camaraderie as guitarists, Strident S. and Ekinox seemed to play off one another in a show of musical fortitude! Being that the melodic parts were catchy and hummable, Scum Sentinel DOES know how to get the head banging, especially on “Roadkill Barricade, a number sure to leave neck’s aching for days! A definite highlight of their set, the song includes a dual guitar harmony mid-way through and almost has a “punk/rock” quality to it. Ever the “comedian”, vocalist, W. Solstice, had them “rolling in the aisles” with his song introductions, “Ok, la prochaine tune, ça parle de Satan” for every song played! “Silent Invaders” had a very Celtic Frost vibe and was similar in guitar ideas to “Circle of the Tyrants” while their cover of Darkthrone’s, “The Claws of Time” was an immediate surprise and joy to hear! The only band who had thus far garnered a noticeable pit, Scum Sentinel combined diversity and fervor in equal measure!
Ontario’s, Will of the Ancients, mounted the stage a little green following such an act. Technical problems made their initial impact waver slightly, but no sooner had the difficulties subsided, did the band roar through a set that left many nodding their heads in approval and surprise. Songs soared between rhythmic foot tapping and all out aggression and at times included traditional metal soloing with chaotic guitar patterns. A keyboard was present on stage but wasn’t used very often, if at all. However, the keyboardist provided inspired growls and clean vocals that added an epic quality to the mayhem. As it was, the stage did not allow for much movement, although the band did their best to maneuver along with the riffs and song tempos, especially on the closing number. Here, the band impressed with majestic flare along with a morose feeling aided by dual guitar riffs. With a set full of surprises, the in between song banter/introductions might need more fine tuning as the vocalist/guitarist seemed to be tongue tied at times. Despite this, Will of the Ancients is a deserving band to watch more closely!
The final band to hit the stage, Eclipse Eternal, from Toronto, Ontario, gave a performance that was awe-inspiring and haunting, reaching new heights in dramatic theatrics. Vocalist, Voldamares, struck an imposing presence with the multi-faced mask he wore during “Infected with Human Disease”, a song that is both grim and merciless! Eclipse Eternal’s sound and performance was the most accomplished of this evening’s line-up. Rich, haunting keys filled in the empty spaces, particularly on “The Black Abyss”, which included an emotional guitar solo to wonderful effect! “Ode to a Time Long Gone”, began with tribal sounding drum patterns before heading full tilt into a blackened fury, while new song, “Summoning the Negative”, recalled Norwegian atmospheric black metal band, Troll, in its execution of austere keys. A band with no predilection towards conceit, Eclipse Eternal dedicated their final number to Black Empire, to which (that band’s) vocalist Audeath, thrashed and headbanged to every note, ginning evilly from ear to ear! A night that will go down in blackened history for him and many more!
