On this snowy Sunday afternoon, let's dive into recent updates from St. Ignace deathcore band Heavy Lies The Crown, so what's been going on in their camp in the past month+? On September 30th, frontman Brandon West starred in this new update video on their Facebook page, where he hyped their newly announced concert on October 11th at The Sanctuary in Hamtramck (outside of Detroit), where they were among the openers for Detroit death metal band Living Dissection. If the name is familiar, it's because they're the current band from prolific local metal guitarist Mike Libertoski (formerly of The Slackjawed Rats, Galactic Alignment, et al.), marking a rare time where two metal bands with Yooper members joined forces downstate! Surprisingly, Brandon doesn't mention this at all in the video, but he does note that he's wanted to play at The Sanctuary with H.L.T.C. for years, and they have more shows lined up there.
Brandon next references their upcoming single, multiple new music videos, and hinted that the release date for the single was hidden in clues on their social media posts that you can figure out if you want to. We also get a brief interruption from Brandon's kid asking him to play hockey, which has to be a first for these vertical update videos! He closes things by teasing that three brand new songs that have never been played live before would be unveiled at the Sanctuary gig. Effective updates that say a lot without giving much away, so give this video a watch below!
Entering the month of October, Heavy Lies The Crown's social media updates were primarily teasers towards an apparent music video shoot featuring three band members in creepy clown costumes, and on October 3rd, they confirmed that the video was for a new song named "Happy Fun Fun", which was to be released on "all platforms" on October 17th. I somehow doubt it was released on Tidal, Napster, Bandcamp, or dozens of other platforms, but never mind. In advance of it being uploaded to major streaming services, the full video was posted to their YouTube channel on October 10th. I'll hold comment on the song pending our 2026 review of Heavy's new album, but the video features Brandon, Jaxon, Christian, and Kaycee performing in costume around a bonfire at nighttime (one assumes Brandon wasn't in the teaser photos because he took them), interspersed with an investigation of abandoned property full of cryptic messages, ominous threats, and a lot of balloons.
How much of this video shoot and concept was inspired by the late lamented local hard rock band Clownsack (who were wearing clown costumes on stage almost two decades ago) is up to you to decide, but they certainly weren't as aggressive and horror-influenced as what Brandon and crew got up to here! Effectively shot and presented, and certainly brutal while it lasts, so give the "Happy Fun Fun" video a watch below!
On October 13th, Brandon starred in another solo vertical update video, this time a 6+ minutes-long one where he first thanked everyone for coming out to the Living Dissection show in Hamtramck two days previously, which had a good turnout that stuck around from bell to bell. Heavy Lies The Crown got asked for an encore, even, but they ran out of time, and he noted their recent lineup shuffling (particularly Kaycee moving to drums) as a factor in their recent live preparation. After noting the commute to Metro Detroit and back, he thanked original H.L.T.C. guitarist Ted Olson for letting them borrow a pedal that was essential to play "Happy Fun Fun" effectively on stage (Brandon actually hopped on rhythm guitar for that song). After thanking that night's other bands, he eventually noted that they'll be restocking their merchandise for future concerts, and asked fans what they'd want to see sold.
At the end, he noted their next scheduled shows (this weekend, in fact), which will see them rock The Sanctuary in Hamtramck again on Wednesday before rocking Battle Creek on Thursday. Neither are local, obviously, but good luck on the 4+ hour road trip ahead! "Happy Fun Fun" was successfully released on October 17th to Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Deezer, Boomplay, Qobuz, Anghami, and Assis Feijo. Certainly not "all platforms", but more than most local acts bother with! Embedded below is one more 6+ minutes-long update video from "Heavy here", where Brandon immediately addresses their lineup instability in recent years, and how the guys frequently swap instruments live, with all four current members having multi-instrumental talent (Jaxon has even sang a bit live). but regardless, they're there to have fun and make the most of things.
After teasing an upcoming show that they may take on, Brandon confirmed that they're planning to bring back Exit 808 bassist Blaze Beairl on drums, who hasn't been present in new band materials since the spring for unannounced reasons. If things lined up, it would be cool to see Blaze back! For this show, Colorado-based DJ Tyler "Dirty6" Chambers was supposed to join them as guest performer during a return home to Michigan. Tyler and Brandon went to high school together, and H.L.T.C. have long teased wanting to incorporate a DJ/turntables into their music more, so this might be a fun diversion! Kaycee Mason (who left guitar to take over for Blaze on drums) wasn't acknowledged by name in the lineup plans but he was counted when Brandon named off where members currently live. With all of that said, what is the mystery show that Brandon was teasing?
It would appear to be one that just took place on Friday night, as they opened for Chicago progressive metalcore band Born Of Osiris at at The Crofoot Ballroom (presumably in The Vernors Room again) in Pontiac, basically an encore of when they opened for Born Of Osiris there in May of last year. That was actually Blaze's debut with Heavy Lies The Crown (albeit as a one-off DJ), so you can see why the occasion and scope would call for a fuller lineup. Did Blaze and Tyler make the trip for Friday's concert? We'll know more when we next catch up on H.L.T.C.'s updates, but give the October 17th update video a watch for yourselves below!
That's all for now, but stay tuned for this month's Defunct Local Band Profile next! Thanks everyone!
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