Canadian Metal

Flidais – Kazador Review

By GardensTale on December 3, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Heavy Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Heavy Metal, Progressive Metal, 19 comments

“Judging a book by its cover is an age-old tradition, despite the advice of moms everywhere. Albums are much the same. For instance, if the cover is a black passe-partout around a black and white figure, with a logo I can’t read, it’s usually a one-man black metal band. With the name of an ancient Celtic goddess and an album cover more lilac than the air freshener aisle in the local Wal-Mart, Flidais seem intent to have you believe they play some sort of flowery hippie folk metal, like the Grateful Dead with more distortion.” Lilac is the new black.

Krepitus – The Eyes of the Soulless Review

By GardensTale on November 30, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Reviews, Self-released, Thrash Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, 9 comments

“Metal fans collect sub-genres like Barbie dolls: in a huge assortment of flavors, often mildly disturbing, and most pleasant when pulled apart and recombined. It’s almost strange when a band plays a sub-genre straight and usually we cover up our embarrassment by transforming ‘death metal’ into something like ‘old school Swedish death metal.’ Luckily, I have no such problems, because Krepitus play one of the more prevalent genre combos: death thrash.” Mix n’ thrash.

Shark Infested Daughters – These Tides, Our Tombs Review

By El Cuervo on November 8, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 26 comments

“It seems misogynistic violence is on trend in metalcore. Feed Her to the Sharks led the aquatic way with Zombies Ate My Girlfriend chomping in its wake, both exacting satisfying chugs and saccharine melodies unto the metal public in a reasonable throwback to the All That Remains– or Bullet For My Valentine-dominated scene from the mid-’00s. Now Shark Infested Daughters steps up to invoke unpleasant images of ravaged women with their debut, These Tides, Our Tombs.” Please don’t feed the freakin’ sharks!

Zaum – Eidolon Review

By Eldritch Elitist on October 26, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Doom Metal, I Hate, Reviews, Stoner Rock, Doom Metal, Stoner Rock, 23 comments

“Anyone who’s made this blog a regular haunt knows there are several “don’ts” many of us consider when we review albums: don’t bloat your album length, don’t brickwall the damn thing in production, and so on. Far be it from me as a probational scribe to suggest a new entry for our Tome ov Rules, but after listening to sophomore effort, Eidolon, from Canadian doomers’ Zaum, I’ve settled on a new guideline for my personal rulebook: when writing a full-length album, don’t put all of your stock in only two massive songs.” A good rule is a good rule, regardless of its source.

The Chronicles of Israfel – A Trillion Lights, Tome II Review

By Akerblogger on October 20, 2016 in 2016, Bridge of Hands Entertainment, Canadian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Progressive Metal, 28 comments

“I’m sure we can all agree that if it wasn’t for the geniuses, the mavericks, the inventors, and the experimenters of this world we would all be living in a grim and destitute place consumed by darkness and destruction. If the likes of Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Leonardo Da Vinci did not exist, where would we be today? The same can be said for the advancement of our beloved metal. With open arms we embrace those who experiment, those risk-takers who take the form forward, the advance guard who pave the way for copy-cats to follow. As the pioneers surge ahead into a glorious vista, The Chronicles of Israfel wobble and hobble with the wives and children at the baggage train near the back, drunk from last-nights ale and crippled with a mind-numbing fear.” One step forward, three steps back.

Anciients – Voice of the Void Review

By Saunders on October 11, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Progressive Metal, Reviews, Season of Mist, Sludge, Stoner Rock, Progressive Metal, Sludge, 28 comments

“Canada’s Anciients stormed the scene with their promising Heart of Oak debut in 2013, an intoxicating if at times derivative mix of stoner, sludge, and prog. It was an enjoyable album, though it didn’t quite blow me away like it did many others. Nevertheless, my interest was certainly piqued enough to be excited by the band’s long-awaited return with the all important album number two.” Goats for all!

Yeti on Horseback – The Great Dying Review

By El Cuervo on October 9, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Doom Metal, Medusa Crush Recordings, Reviews, Doom Metal, 11 comments

“Horses live troubled lives. They cart. They carry. They race. They die if they fail. And now the poor bastards have yetis on them. It’s a cruel world and one depicted by Yeti on Horseback (band from Ontario, yetis from Northern Saskatchewan) through their bleak doom metal.” Beasts of bourbon unite!

Chariots of the Gods – Ages Unsung Review

By Dr. Wvrm on September 16, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, Reviews, Self-released, Melodic Death Metal, Metalcore, 40 comments

“Every metal-head has their watershed moment; whether that’s Master of Puppets, Symbolic or actually Watershed, that magic album taps you on the shoulder and says “young poser, let me show you the way to trveness.” Chariots of the Gods bills itself as melodic metal with In Flames as its top influence, I’m feeling cautious yet optimistic.” Get ready to chug.

Yer Metal is Olde: Cryptopsy – None So Vile

By Kronos on August 18, 2016 in Canadian Metal, Death Metal, Yer Metal Is Olde, Death Metal, Technical Death Metal, 36 comments

“The life of a metal drummer is one of near saintly asceticism. Your kit is about ten times heavier – and more expensive – than the six-strings that your guitarists snapped up off of craigslist. It breaks constantly and takes about half an hour to set up on stage, and while you’re busting your ass carting it around the rest of the band just loafs about because they’re too stupid to help set it up properly. And when you finally get to play it, nobody can see the intricacies of your cymbal work or the incredible sweatiness of your torso because a bunch of Rapunzely assholes are standing in front of you on stage. It would be a thankless task were it not for the dedicated few fans that really appreciate your craft. Kronos is such a fan.” The man loves a good beating.

Despised Icon – Beast Review

By Diabolus in Muzaka on July 22, 2016 in 2016, Canadian Metal, Deathcore, Nuclear Blast, Reviews, Deathcore, 49 comments

“The state of deathcore in 2016 isn’t an enviable one. It’s not quite old enough yet to spur on needlessly salty debates about the best MySpace pages, and it’s not fashionable or ubiquitous enough anymore to act as a gateway to further extremity as it once did for so many. Suicide Silence was never that good to begin with, but their records have noticeably declined in quality since their debut. Job for a Cowboy has been a boring modern death metal band since Genesis. All Shall Perish hasn’t released an album since 2011, let alone a good one since 2008; the list goes on. Enter the best-known Canadian deathcore band that’s not Cryptopsy in 2008: Despised Icon.” Deathcore in da house!