by Chris Wheeler | Août 20, 2014 | Critiques, Critiques de Shows
Tonight was slated to be a momentous night brimming with unadulterated youthful angst, rebellion and an all around good time – and it was. Slowly making their way into the Corona Theater, fans gathered in anticipation of seeing one of the hallmarks of Hard Rock/Heavy Metal, New Jersey’s, SKID ROW! With local Montreal acts in tow, the crowd was greeted by excellent openers that set the tone for the evening’s reckless abandon! Special thanks to Alain Labonte of Quebec-Metal for allowing me access to the event! Talking about Quebec-Metal, go see Alain‘s pictures of the show they probably look a lot better than those I post here that I took with my small digital cam.
MAD PARISH threw open the flood gates with their brand of high octane Heavy Metal in the spirit of the old guard and seeing them open for Grim Reaper on a smaller stage not long ago, it is clear that a bigger space is exactly what the band needed! Loads of onstage prancing and members’ charisma gave the audience a jolt to quickly “get in the groove”! Hook laden and punchy, the songs are such that they stay in the headspace long after they’re played. “A Stitch in Crime” and “To Build a Fire” (among others) struck a chord as singer, Josh McConnell’s confidence and onstage appeal made it easy for fans to sing along. Gyrating in unison, the players playfully performed their hearts out without missing a beat, harkening back to a time when the NWOBHM was just getting into full swing!
Quebec’s, DANCE LAURY DANCE proved a slightly different beast as their eclectic groove Metal “danced” upon the ears of patrons who immediately took a liking to the quintet! Vocalist, Max Lemire, (who at times sounded a bit like Danzig) was extremely expressive while exuding a sexual bravado and swagger throughout as the band performed rhythm based Hard Rock with a touch of funk. Looking like rabid animals, the band ploughed through cuts like, “Burnin’ Hot” with a full head of steam! Sure songs about hardcore partying, strippers and booze may make your mother cringe, but last night, the only cringe worthy moment was the end of their set.
For a band to reach 25 years of continuous music and tour life, it’s a testament to SKID ROW to have survived the pitfalls of the industry. But last night’s performance saw the seasoned veterans in outstanding form, playing hit after hit, celebrating a phenomenal era in Hard Rock/Metal history! Opening with sound bite, THE RAMONES’s “Hey Ho, Let’s Go”, the group stepped on stage to rip into a stellar plethora of hits ranging from the debut record all the way to their latest EP, “Rise of the Damnation Army – United World Rebellion, Chapter II”. “Big Gun”, “Piece of Me”, “18 and Life”, “Thick is the Skin”, “Riot Act”, “In a Darkened Room”, “Monkey Business” and “I Remember You” all proved that these songs are immortal and live and breathe within the packed house! Singer, Johnny Solinger was on point as well, appealing to the fans’ sympathies for “sticking it to the man” rebelliousness and staying true to what you believe in as he effortlessly sang songs that seemed cater made for him! Zero pretention and an obvious humility seemed to wash over each of their faces as they played; clearly honoured to be there. “Psycho Therapy” made a surprise appearance as bassist, Rachel Bolan, dedicated the tune to THE RAMONES before blasting into the ferocious piece and before long, the members walked off stage before reemerging for the night’s encore. New song, “We Are the Damned”, “Slave to the Grind” and “Youth Gone Wild” closed the set much to the chagrin of fans who couldn’t get enough, but clearly the band have every intention of returning….if their smiles had any indication!
Chris
by Chris Wheeler | Août 19, 2014 | Critiques, Critiques d'Albums
Contrarian
« Predestined » EP
Unsigned/Independent
2014
It’s always interesting to hear members of your favorite bands convene and initiate another project/band that expands the template of what they’ve done before. It’s sad, however, when that new endeavor offers nothing new. Not so, with CONTRARIAN, a Rochester New York based band, including members of NILE and MITHRAS that really bring something new and exciting to the table!
CONTRARIAN’s debut EP, “Predestined” is a smorgasbord of layered sound and technical wizardry, not to be misconstrued as senseless noodling, however. No, the three songs on offer delve into avant-garde latter-day DEATH riffage, with slight atmospherics giving the listener a satisfying experience. Title track, “Predestined”, varies greatly in tempo and guitar flare as semblances of MITHRAS creep gently through from time to time. “Libertarian Manifesto”, though being the shortest track, offers the most mesmerizing ideas in its bassline break and clean sweeping chords! Lyrics fueled by philosophical questions concerning man’s place in this world, deep guttural vocals in front of “Sound of Perseverance” style aggression all add up to being one of the many bona fide highlights!
Final number, “Diogenes at Delphi” continues the momentum but includes short spacey tinges which leave the listener breathless, especially towards the finale, where lush, tuneful guitar picking cascades to bring “Predestined” to a peaceful end. Indeed, CONTRARIAN offer something refined and delicate all the while keeping with the traditions of Extreme Metal but adding just the right amount of sophistication; an emotional ride to be sure.
Standout Tracks: all of them, especially “Libertarian Manifesto”
9/10
Chris
by Chris Wheeler | Août 17, 2014 | Critiques, Critiques d'Albums
Holocaustum
« Crawling Through the Flames of Damnation«
Dark Horizon Records
2011
Formed in the Winter of 2009, HOLOCAUSTUM are described on Encyclopaedia Metallum as playing Death Metal but there’s more afoot here on their debut than this tag may suggest. “Crawling Through the Flames of Damnation” hears a fledgling band dole out Blackened Death with low, growled vocals that would send shivers down anyone’s spine! Though, with members having played in other notable outfits like MORPHEUS DESCENDS, DISINTER, TYPHUS and SPIRITUAL DECAY, fans can expect a healthy dose of competently performed extreme Metal.
Beginning rather immediately without an intro or gradual emergence, “The Putrid Race” is effective in showcasing where HOLOCAUSTUM’s allegiances lie. Tremolo riffing and steady propulsion defy labels of pure “Death” as even the title track screams older Swedish giants, NECROPHOBIC, UNANIMATED and SACRAMENTUM, the only difference is the deeply imposing growl of vocalist, Shawna Silvers. In fact much of this comparison comes courtesy of the production sound of Jeff Mhaghnuis‘s cymbals, duo guitar attack of Baughman and Newton razor sharp performance! With simple song structures and guitar patterns, HOLOCAUSTUM don’t dwell necessarily in “technical“ worlds, but do focus energies in strong rhythms and repetition. Case in point, both “Prepare For Butchery” and “Sacrificial Chamber of Blood” let go of the earlier comparisons slightly to make way for a bottom heavy assault and guitar tone that BOLT THROWER fans would consider superb! Even still, closer, “Funeral Song” features more of a Death Metal approach in its ugly execution that aptly justifies the “Death Metal” label.
HOLOCAUSTUM may have a bit of growing to do in writing songs that punch their way outside the box, but as a debut, “Crawling Through the Flames of Damnation” is a fine listen that doesn’t wear out its welcome. Short songs that get to the point will leave listeners curiously wondering where the band will venture next with new Drummer Tomasz Pilasiewicz, won’t have to wait too long as their second album titled « In The Fields They Bled » is waiting in the wings for Fall 2014 set to release on both Dark Horizon Records and Horror Pain Gore Death Productions. Cheers to anticipation…. Meanwhile grab this album or go download for free the 2 songs on their reverbnation: « Prepare for butchery » and “Sacrificial Chamber of Blood”.
Standout Tracks: “Buried Alive”, “Sacrificial Chamber of Blood”, “Funeral Song”
7.5/10
Chris
by Chris Wheeler | Août 15, 2014 | Critiques, Critiques d'Albums
Sade Slavey
« Industrial Devolution »
(preview, out officially on September 7th)
Groupe la Machine inc.
2014
Formed in 2007, Quebec Industrial Metallers, SADE SLAVEY have been busy touring with such genre luminaries as GENITOTURERS and WEDNESDAY 13 while recording a demo and two studio albums. Now marks the time when the group are set to release their third installment, “Industrial Devolution” to be released on September 7th!
With a strong interest in fetish art, cartoons, and retro Industrial acts from the 90’s, it’s no wonder SADE SLAVEY sound like a throwback to earlier sounds of urban decay and “mechanical” nuances. “The Fame Monster” is immediately striking in its electronics and guitar driven melodies. Heavy and caustic, the cut certainly make the point of being sonically bombastic! “Captain Slavey” introduces a more streamlined keyboard rhythm that harks back to the 1980-‘s New Wave movement as the verses, calm and blissful, only mislead the listener before storming into the catchy, manic chorus; “I’m Captain Slavey and no one can fuck with me”!
What is apparent on “Industrial Devolution” is the accessible variation of ideas on offer, especially on cuts, “Captain Slavey” and “Spies See”. Though the electronic elements are readily audible, there is enough vitriol and angst to satisfy some Metalheads. “We’re all in the Same Shit” exemplifies this with its ugly distorted guitar tone and pounding rhythm, even including a solo!
For all intents and purposes, SADE SLAVEY’s third album, “Industrial Devolution” will leave fans of MARILYN MANSON, KMFDM and NINE INCH NAILS crawling out of the woodwork for more! For those who like to vary their musical diet, this is a good platter of Industrial Metal that’s sure to peak interest! Look for it on September 7th when the band are to unveil said album at Sala Rossa, Montreal.
Standout Tracks: “Captain Slavey” and “We’re all in the Same Shit”
7/10
Chris
by Chris Wheeler | Août 13, 2014 | Critiques, Critiques d'Albums
Sunder
Demo
Unsigned/Independent
2013
Including members of MYTHOLOGY, New York’s SUNDER boasts Black Metal that combines blistering guitar fuzz with melodic and often rousing rhythms heard on last year’s premier demo. Lo-fi and building in momentum and drama, much of the material is clearly inspired by emotionally, depressive odes which many other compatriots bathe themselves in as well.
First track, “Where Power Once Dwelled” begins with a murmur, a slow burn rising in “action” to a steady beat eventually becoming a cascade of white noise and which is wholly satisfying. Sounding somber, yet proud; drone-like yet spinning out of control as a blast beat emerges later, the song clearly exercises a guitar ambiance and decrees how the demo, in its entirety, will sound.
Repetitive simple riffs give the demo a “trance-like” feel as “The Ancient Hall” revels in an almost up tempo drive reminiscent of older FORGOTTEN WOODS, marked noticeably by the bassline and drum pattern. “Forgotten Wilds” brings the listener back down again to a slower groove before executing a blast once more.
Vocally, there are two who ignite the caustic flame, Lord Gallows who provides the higher pitched rasp and Raithus who plays the guitars and bass. The straight forward song structures bring the demo to a close in “To Dispel the Ignorance” which rounds out this four song release in its “no-frills” blueprint.
Coming in at approx. 34 mins, SUNDER’s demo showcases all the hallmarks of earthy, depressive Black Metal and although the production value isn’t high (the drums could be made a little louder) the infectious rhythms and miserable darkness shine through. Sure to please many fans who appreciate older BURZUM, FORGOTTEN WOODS or even newer act, WOODS OF DESOLATION, New York’s SUNDER is worth checking out!
Standout Tracks: “Where Power Once Dwelled”, “The Ancient Hall”
7.5/10
Chris
