Where Are The New Albums? December 2014 Update

It's now time for our delayed last "Where Are The New Albums?" post of the year, and I apologize for the wait, as we're badly behind on a lot around here after the concert review crush from the last few days. As usual, this monthly feature looks at the current release statuses of announced and partially recorded metal, punk, and hard rock albums from Sault Ontario-area bands, in order to keep tabs on how far along they are and when you might see them! This month, we've removed The Bear Hunters' new CDs and Sykotyk Rampage's "Bring The Heavy" (which we'll have more on in the coming days) due to their releases in the past month, but we also removed one due to a band's likely inactive status, and added three new albums in the works! As usual, updated entries have their titles in italics. So, where are the new albums? Read on below to hopefully find out!
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The Apocalypse Afterparty's debut EP

Rumoured Songs: "The Crowd" (The Fury cover), "Glory & Gore" (Lorde cover), "Rebel Scum" (The Fury cover)

Background: Before ever playing a public concert , new local rap/metal duo The Apocalypse Afterparty (featuring 2/3rds of Smeltzer as "songwriters") announced on their Facebook page on August 21st that they had begun working on their 3 song debut EP with producer Jamie Vincent (AlgomA), though they also alluded to recording the remaining songs with different producers. The song that they recorded with Jamie is "The Crowd", which you can hear in full at this link, though other details have yet to follow.

Current Release Status: No idea, especially given "songwriter" Steve Mozarowski's return to the Toronto area this fall and the band's announced plans to expand their lineup with female members, but things seemed to be progressing well despite the band's short existence, and hopefully more comes out soon on this EP!
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Beaumont Avenue - King of the World

Rumoured Songs: "Into the Fray", "Red Rover", "King of the World", "Way Out Of Hell", "Take Me Away", "Beaten Down", "Two More Jag", "Jesus Concubines"

Background: Already off to a quick launch with numerous concerts since their fall 2012 debut, local hard rock quartet The Suicide Kings (who changed their name to Beaumont Avenue this summer) surprisingly announced that they were officially working on their first EP on their Facebook page last February. Three weeks later, the band revealed in another Facebook posting that they were busy working on their own material, and they had plans to complete an EP by the end of the spring featuring 5-7 songs, which was recorded over the past month at The Smoke & Oak Room Studio with producer Dave Pihlaja. As of last spring, the tracks were in the final stages of mixing, and though info on the sessions and release was sporadic for much of last year, the band unveiled studio versions of their originals "Into the Fray" & "Jesus Concubines" in January on Facebook, presumably as a preview for the full release., though nothing has followed since, and the band is currently taking a break due to drummer Ben Boudreau's out of town college commitments.

Current Release Status: As of their Facebook page in September, Beaumont Avenue are planning to record 2 EPs of 4 original songs each (grouped by how they feel) before writing a debut album from scratch when Ben returns home, which may or may not mean that they're scrapping their Smoke & Oak Room session tracks for their pending debut CD. Given that they're on break while Ben's away, we may not get fuller details for a while, but be on guard just in case!
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Gates of Winter - Perihelion

Rumoured Songs: "The Stars Call My True Name", "Edin Na Zu", "Dimensions", "Time Warp", "Wormhole Mechanics", "Prometheus"

Background: Despite a hiatus from live concerts lasting over 5 years, Gates of Winter never broke up, and are slowly working on their follow-up to 2008's "Lux Aeterna". The first glimpse of the new album was unveiled in February 2010, when frontman/producer Lee Maines uploaded a snippet of their new song "The Stars Call My True Name" onto his YouTube channel, and he followed that up with more demo & rehearsal clips sporadically over the last couple of years, though all were later taken down. The band launched a new Facebook page in August 2010 to keep fans updated on the sessions, including the unveiling of a new song title, "Time Warp", and while Sault native Jon Morrison was announced as the album's drummer that fall, the album will feature programmed drums. In November 2011, bassist Steve Furgiuele confirmed in a YouTube video that the album, now titled "Perihelion", was planned for release in December 2012, with some older re-recordings likely for the summer, but Lee confirmed last month that the album would be delayed further, be retracted to EP length, and possibly be renamed. Other new songs, tentatively called "Wormhole Mechanics" & "Prometheus", was previewed in this video & this video that were uploaded last year & this April respectively. Whether ex-keyboardist Brian Holmes will be included on the EP is currently unknown.

Current Release Status: Personal commitments and the like have slowed things down incredibly, but in the band's most recent preview video (featuring audio samples), Gates of Winter hinted that work was winding down on "Perihelion", including noting that "the silence ends soon", with this year now targeted for a release. Good art takes time, and knowing Gates of Winter's talent and attention to detail, they won't wanna release this until everything's perfect. I'll admit that I know a bit more on "Perihelion" than what I've posted here, but I'll wait until more public word comes out before elaborating, so keep an eye out for updates!
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Haggith - "XIV", "Apocalypse II", and "Time Machine: Live"

Rumoured Songs (X): "Public Enemy", "These Four Walls", "Wasted", "Red", "By The Hand", "Runnin' From Love", "Metal Cage", "Road Rash", "Punch", "Anthem"

Rumoured Songs (A): "Apocalypse", "Spreading The Disease", "Hands of Death", "Tribute to Mike Haggith"

Rumoured Songs (T): Unknown

Background: After being broken up throughout early 2014, local grunge/alternative rock quartet Haggith came back at the fourth annual Sewer Swampstravaganza at The Oddfellows Hall on May 10th, where the band announced that they would be recording a new studio album, but their Facebook page later indicated that Haggith are now releasing two new CDs! These include a new original album named "XIV" (featuring unreleased songs, new tracks, and previous Punch originals) and a resumption of their "Apocalypse II" concept sequel CD, which has been sampled via song postings on their YouTube channel. Recording sessions are ongoing at Paperclip Productions, though it's yet unclear who the featured bassist(s) will be on the albums, given their recent unstability in that position. On November 24th, the band also revealed plans for a live album named "Time Machine: Live", though little else is known on it or if it will get a paid release.

Current Release Status: As of November 24th, Haggith were aiming for releases of "Apocalypse II", "Time Machine: Live", and "XIV" in January, February, and March respectively, though those can change. "XIV" in particular has been delayed due to the band's split with bassist James White and his White Wreckords studio, which once had a hand in the recording sessions. Stay tuned for updates on all three as we hear them!
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Mike Haggith's third compilation album & "The Warinside"

Rumoured Songs (C): "1980", "Wicked Midnight Ride", "To Whom This May Concern", "Fourth Floor Centre/She Wanted To Be A Veterinarian", "Sun Perfume", "Grace", "Limb Coast","Miss 76", "Room 822", "Trinity", "Solitude", "Resurfaced", "The Day The Lights Went Out", "Lost Time"

Rumoured Songs (W): "We Met As Surrogates", "The Snake", "Candy Is A Hooker's Name", "Someday", "Lay My Body To Rest", "Of Cars & Criminals", "September", "Out Of My League", "A Drive Through The Peninsula", "30"

Background: In April, Haggith drummer Mike Haggith announced his third best-of compilation album (possibly "The Best of Mike Haggith: Volume 3"?), which would compile 14 top songs from his previous 4 studio releases ("Suspended Animation", "The Present Din", and both "Neighbourhood Watch" CDs), Mike didn't close the door on re-recorded some vocal tracks, possibly in conjunction with a planned re-release of the first "Neighbourhood Watch" album. You can view the compilation's artwork at this link, though further updates aren't out yet. However, Mike has updated his Facebook page this fall to detail his upcoming 49th studio album "The Warinside", which also has a tentative tracklist and will reflect his recent personal life, with the instrumental "September" now available to stream from it as well.

Current Release Status: For the compilation, Mike was hoping for it's digital release in the weeks following the reveal of the disc, but that's came and went, so it's unclear where this will fall. In any event, physical pressings are possible, pending customer demand. As for "The Warinside", we're a ways off from a release yet, but instrumental tracking is complete, and given how fast and honest he tends to be, any updates should be good as to it's progress. Stay tuned as more comes in!
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RedD Monkey - Opus 2

Rumoured Songs: "Broken Parts", "Losing Friends", "The Jock Song"

Background: The planned third CD from this popular local hardcore punk/classical trio, RedD Monkey have hyped "Opus 2" (a follow-up to 2012's "All Baroque")  in online posts through last spring, along with previewing the disc at a Toronto concert last June, though further updates on it's release status have yet to be made, nor has a release schedule been announced. I'd assume that "Opus 2" was recorded in a similar method to "All Baroque", but that's just speculation given that both CDs were labelled as opuses in a series. Keep an eye in case something's announced!

Current Release Status: I'm not really sure, especially following the band's confirmation that they're currently on a hiatus, and given that they've issued no public updates since their last show on Boxing Day last year, that can't be a good sign for fans. That said, the sessions appear to be complete, and a preview of it was held last year, so a release can't be terribly far off for when/if they return to activity. In case they do come back, keep an eye out!
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Redundant's debut CD

Rumoured Songs: "Miles Apart", "That December", "What You'll Do"

Background: Over two and a half years after their last documented studio sessions in the spring of 2012, local punk trio Redundant revealed on their Facebook page on November 16th that they're finally working on finishing their debut CD, and will look to hold a CD release party for it upon it's completion. Details are otherwise minimal, including on if the guys will just package their older studio work for the release, or include new recordings, perhaps at bassist James White's new studio White Wreckords. We'll keep you posted when we hear more!

Current Release Status: Though we don't know much on the new/revived album plans, Redundant do sound serious about completing their CD, and an early 2015 timeframe is likely being targeted. We'll be sure to let you know when updates roll in though!
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The Revolution's debut EP

Rumoured Songs: "Murder For Sport", "We Are The Gladiators", "Monsters", "Prisoner of Hate", "Mercury", "Get High With Me"

Background: New local doom/punk trio The Revolution (originally the second version of Brutaly Fatal) surprisingly announced on their Facebook page this summer that they were heading into the studio to begin recording their debut EP on July 26th. The sessions were being done at their new label PaperClip Productions, who signed the band in May. Details on the title, artwork, song list, and cover art are to be revealed, but the band revealed on November 24th that songwriting was still ongoing, and they wouldn't be back in the studio until they found a new bassist to replace the departed Rainey Vincent.

Current Release Status: Though The Revolution is hoping to have the EP out "in the new year", we don't have past albums from Austin & Brandan to compare in terms of making a specific guess (aside from Austin's early Brutaly Fatal demos.) PaperClip Productions tend to be fairly quick and honest with release dates, so we'll have to see how things flesh out in the coming months!
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The Sorrow Fields - Let Go

Rumoured Songs: "Godlessness"

Background: Previously known as Animas, April Eyes, and By The Gods, The Sorrow Fields is the long gestating black/death metal solo metal project from Bear Hunters/Suicide Kings guitarist Mitch Sirie. He resurrected the project under it's new name in 2012, complete with an atmospheric & dark sound, and he has sporadically updated fans as to his newest planned debut album via their YouTube channel and deleted Facebook page. As of June 2013, he'd titled the album "Godlessness" (though it was changed to "Let Go" this spring), and a preview of the title track and another unnamed song were uploaded there to check out before being privatized for unannounced reasons. Mitch is still working on the album though, and has aims to finish it after 6 years of off & on work, as per a personal Facebook posting earlier this year.

Current Release Status: Mitch's most recent release timeframe for The Sorrow Fields' album was this coming winter, though he added on Facebook that he didn't plan to speak about it further until completion, so our next word or previews on it might not be for a while. Knowing how delayed his past solo album "Hollow Hope" was prior to it's cancellation, this could be a long road, especially as he's a workhorse with his two bands. It should also be noted that Mitch hinted on personal Facebook posts this fall that a studio version of his fan favourite "Squirrel Buddy" is in the works, but whether it's a single or a renamed full album isn't clear. In case new "Let Go" or Sorrow Fields news rolls in, we'll have it here!
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Telephone & Address - Rust Orchid

Rumoured Songs: Unknown

Background: Less than a month after the release of their newest solo CD "Need Not Apply", Telephone & Address mainman Chris Shoust revealed on their Facebook page on October 25th that the solo grunge/punk project has already laid down studio tracks for another CD named "Rust Orchid", but he's waiting for funds to press physical copies before release. He says that the album will be "much different than the last", referencing "Need Not Apply" and it's electric bass/vocals sound, but whether he's returning to an unplugged guitar motif or going completely different isn't clear. When released, it's likely to also turn up on Telephone & Address' Bandcamp page and on Interpunk, which Chris is also using to distribute physical copies.

Current Release Status: It's all up to when Chris can fund the physical copies, but I'd be surprised if we see it before New Year's Day, given the time involved with that and SOCAN registration, which he tends to do for his CDs. Given the lo-fi nature though, things could roll along very quickly, so stay tuned for updates!
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With all of that said, one album was removed due to it's unlikely release status, so here's what you should know on it:
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Sailor's Tongue's debut album

Rumoured Songs: "Float, "Out of the Woodwork", "Wired For No Sound", "Shadow", "Doctor John", "BootScattered", "Beauty's Limousine", "Don't Shoot The Messenger", "Horses & Trains", "Navy"

Background: Despite only playing two gigs (both at the Rotaryfest Second Stage) since returning from their three year breakup in 2012, local hard rock notables Sailor's Tongue hit the studio to record tracks for their debut full length album, which would have featured their recent quintet lineup. Drummer Dean McKey uploaded four tracks (some labelled as demos) to his Soundcloud page last year that are likely towards the album, while there are existing songs on their Reverbnation page from earlier sessions that would likely have be featured in some form. A preview demo CD named "Pierced" was sold at their Rotaryfest Second Stage set in July 2013 that featured 7 tracks, though Dean later told me on Facebook that the album was just a sampler for attendees and was not the intended final product.

Reason For Removal: This album's been removed because of Sailor's Tongue's inactive public status, as the band hasn't played live or issued a public update since said Rotaryfest set last July, which could partly be due to members Kyle & Dean McKey's out of town residence, or perhaps due to the Second Stage's 2014 hiatus. In any event, their planned CD is presumably in limbo until they come back, though if Sailor's Tongue return (perhaps along with the Second Stage in 2015), I can't see the full album being that far behind! Hopefully we hear more from the guys!
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I hope you guys liked this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post, and of course, stay tuned one week from tomorrow for our Defunct Local Band Profile on Half Past! That's all for today, but stay tuned for weekend concert previews TOMORROW! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (Brutally Fatal), Bear Hunters CD Release Fallout, And More!!

With concert reviews taking up the last few days, we finally have our first news post of December for you guys today, and yes, this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post is guaranteed to be next! Today, we have a new guitar video, plenty of updates from a recent CD release and it's launch show, and first, a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT for later this month!

A new house party concert from Blood Shed Productions will take place on Boxing Day (Friday, December 26th), and yes, it's location is publically advertised! Termed a "Bloody Boxing Day Basement Jam", there's a huge lineup currently planned for this event, so who all's playing? The scheduled headliner is Strange Coyotes guitarist Chase Wigmore in a solo set at 11:30 PM, while Blood Shed death metal acts Brutally Fatal and Rotopsy are slated for 10:45 & 9:15 PM. Notably, local metal/rap project The Apocalypse Afterparty will play a local set for the first time since September at 9:15 PM that night, but how will their set look and sound given teased lineup additions and their own recent songwriting? We'll know for sure then! Goregrind solo project Crucify The Whore will take the stage at 8:30 PM, while the 8:00 PM slot is currently vacant, and we'll let you know when it's filled!

The opening four acts are all rappers, including Mikey Thomas at 7:30 PM, Legitly Logic (formerly Dillionaire, a.k.a. Rotopsy's Dylan Taylor) at 7:00 PM, Miracle Man at 6:30 PM, and Phat Boii at 6:00 PM. To be held at 11 Hearst Street (downtown/centrally located) and partly as a makeup for a halted Boxing Day private gig last year, this ALL AGES show has no announced cover charge. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! Sounds like a stacked event for the Blood Shed, so keep it in mind if you love similar events, especially given the season!

Next up, here's some fallout from The Bear Hunters' CD release party at The Canadian Nightclub on Saturday! The show and release was covered before and after the fact in separate SooToday articles by Donna Hopper, so what's in them? On Saturday before the show, an article went up to hype the event, which featured remarks by guitarist Mitch Sirie on the troubled recording process for "Eternal Hibernation", their work with White Wreckords to complete the album, and why he went the do-it-yourself route to complete the CD. Solid read, if dated now given that it was pre-show! As for after it, Donna's article recapping the event went up on Monday, where she called "Eternal Hibernation" a "powerful 10-song release", and remarked briefly on the event itself. As expected, she got some great photos that night (albeit in black & white), including 15 of The Bear Hunters and 5 of Brampton's Livid & The Bloodthirsty, though sadly, none of Haggith's opening set.

Excellent photos as always, so give them a look above! Also, video cameras from Local2 were on hand, presumably for an upcoming Tuned episode, so we'll let you know when they make it online! As for The Bear Hunters' CDs themselves, here's some info on the contents of each! Both "Eternal Hibernation" ($10) and the prior EP "Collapse The Sun" ($2 in limited quanitites) were released & mastered through Mitch Sirie's new independent company Edge of Eden Productions, and were recorded at White Wreckords with producer James White. Both professionally packaged with album booklets, full lyrics, and artwork by Kevin Powe, "Eternal Hibernation" is dedicated to late original rhythm guitarist Andres Duchesne, who has a tribute photo & message on the inner tray liner. It's booklet includes large individual photos of each band member, along with full credits, shout outs, and thanks to everyone who helped along the way.

Of note for the lyrics, singer Nik Deubel wrote almost every song himself, save for "Succumb To Eternity" (which bassist Justin Lam wrote), while Nik & Justin both wrote "Casualties of War", and Nik & Mitch both wrote "Render This Void", so there's some insight if you didn't know the minds behind the words! As for the "Collapse The Sun" single, that features the studio version of "the title track, a live version of said song, and a 2011 demo instrumental of it, mainly to show how it's evolved since the early days. The live version was recorded at the 3 Inches of Blood concert at the former Roosevelt Hotel (now Reggie's West) on July 9th, 2012, and to my surprise, it's actually a mastered audio copy of the video I shot from their set at that show! I'm not complaining, I'm glad to see that the guys liked it and put it to a greater use! "Eternal Hibernation" t-shirts are forthcoming within the week, apparently, while The Bear Hunters' attention now shifts to new CDs.

According to their Facebook page on Sunday, the guys plan to have an online store up and running in the coming weeks to sell digital copies of their CDs (no word on if it'll be on Bandcamp or not), while tentative plans are to release their "Aftermath" EP (featuring leftover songs from older songwriting sessions) "early next year", with their second studio album "The Dead Testament" following late next year. No word on Rad Zone availability yet, but it looks like The Bear Hunters are well on their way, and it's great to finally have the CD out! Look for our review of it later this month, and stay tuned for more from their camp!

Finally for today, here's a new solo guitar performance video by Exiled guitarist Joe Jenkins! Uploaded to his YouTube channel yesterday, this is of the Sault Michigan-area guitarist jamming his own original compsition "Pitch Black", which he previously demoed on his YouTube channel in March via this link. Shot from below, you get a good angle of his playing with this video, and the song remains a solid hard rock number that would be neat to see fleshed out with a full band! Solidly done, so give it a look below, and stay tuned for more from Joe & Exiled!



That's all for now, but stay tuned for this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post either tonight or tomorrow, with weekend concert previews and more to follow! Thanks everyone!

Toystock 2014 Concert Review!!

It's finally time for our review of Sunday's 3rd annual Toystock fundraiser concert at The Canadian Nightclub, and apologies for the delay! The Bear Hunters CD release party's review and uploading everything from Toystock ate up yesterday. As you may remember, this show was once again held to raise money and donations for Christmas Cheer, and plenty of people donated toys and food for the occasion! In return, organizers Maxx Entertainment delivered in kind with lots of family entertainment from bands and local merchants, including a free photo booth, free slushies, a kids play area, Santa & Mrs. Claus, and plenty of prize draws from numerous sponsors and local establishments. The turnout was never exceedingly packed, but remained consistently good throughout the day, though the floor was largely left for kids in attendance to dance and have fun, and they sure did that!

I missed last year's Toystock due to family commitments, so I can't compare the layout to then, but I did notice that the long tables from 2012 were not present on Sunday, which I honestly found a bit restrictive then. And yes, if you've followed the saga of the Kraft Dinner box from one of the local Facebook auction groups that Toystock co-organizer James Scott put up for charity, that saw it's end yesterday when Samantha Cadreau (who won it for $200) claimed the Kraft Dinner and a bouquet of flowers, ending a great charitable cause that raised at least $1,500 on it's own, and even got Kraft's attention and their own huge donaton!

Opening the day's musical entertainment was The Stumpy Coldwater Trio, who I want to apologize to first off, as our Toystock coverage said they were a blues band, when they're actually a country act. I couldn't find media of them, but saw that they played blues-branded shows, hence the confusion. They have a familiar face for hard rock fans though, as That's Chester bassist Aubrey Falls plays a large stand-up bass for them alongside singer/guitarist Rick Deevey and mandolin player Jim Hopper. Their set was comprised entirely of country covers, and while I'm admittedly not a huge country fan, I could clearly see their talent and veteran professionalism during their set, and their interactions and vocal harmonies showed a good chemistry between them! Not my thing, but The Stumpy Coldwater Trio delivered for early country fans!

Next was Mike Case's Junior All Stars, the live band that results from former Case's Music owner Mike Case's annual youth music classes that you may remember seeing at other all ages concert events. I've never seen them live before, so in a nutshell, their lineup includes 7 young musicians (4 girls, 3 boys) ranging in age from 6 to 16, alongside Asylum Country's T.J. Case on drums, who recurs in the band's yearly versions. Their set was comprised of pop and classic rock covers, mostly from female singers like Serena Ryder, Katy Perry, and Joan Jett. You can't really critique a band like this, as they're all young and developing their musical talent, so while the song choices largely weren't my preference, the kids are learning their respective crafts well, but you could tell that they were a bit nervous and stiff. Special props go to the two youngest kids also, as they were just having fun! It'll be interesting to see how this year's Junior All Stars develop in the coming years, and kudos to them on playing Toystock the past 2 years!

After the All Stars' set, attendees were treated to a surprise mini-set by local beatboxer Robert Drolet, a.k.a. Killabeatz, who recently competed at the Canadian Beatbox Championships in Toronto! In case you're not familiar, beatboxing is vocal percussion, where you use your mouth and voice to make beats and music, generally for rap and hip-hop styles. His performance included assorted vocalizations and rhythms, an attempt at a beatboxed version of "Jingle Bells" with fan accompaniment, and even the impressive act of laughing while beatboxing. Even if you're not a big rap fan, you could tell that Robert's very good at what he does, and he can generate some solid beats and rhythms with just his mouth! Killabeatz also had a second mini-set after Lucky 13's set later that evening, but it was mostly a reprise of the first set, albeit with a livelier crowd response.

Next among the scheduled bands was Lorrie Lynn & The Sinners, the country band led by former Obsession frontwoman Lorrie Bolduc. Her backing band includes some familiar faces though, including guitarists Marco Pedalino (The Wing-Its, ex-Lion Ride) and Joey Marrocco, Northwest's Greg Callaghan on bass, and Late Shift's Clint Wilson on drums. One of three bands on Sunday who played a largely original set, Lorrie and company played songs like "Swear When I Pray" and "You Talk Too Much" to a positive reception, and her set gave more of a country rock feel that gave fans on either sides of the coin something to like! She's a solid singer and songwriter, and the guys behind her gave their all too, though it is a little odd seeing them playing non-punk music. Lorrie & The Sinners had a great interaction with the kids too, distributing noisemakers so they could play along, and even inviting them on stage to help during their rendition of "Frosty the Snowman"!

The day's first heavier band was on next, that being local alternative hard rock trio The Pixo Control, and they left a solid impression in their own right! This is actually only the second time that I've seen The Pixo Control live, and I've noticed that the guys are definitely capturing the early 1990s grunge vibe well, seemingly picking up where "Dragon Joy Ride"-era Haggith left off locally. If the effects of frontman Michael Mikus' unidentified health scare last month still linger, then they didn't show during his energetic and lively performance, and he and the guys have very solid chemistry on songs like "Land of the Moles" and a grunged up cover of "Twist & Shout"! However, bassist Steve Edwards needs to work on his stage presence, as he mostly looked to the side while playing and didn't engage the crowd too much (also, Michael's speaking voice was not clear between songs.) Very good set, and hopefully we hear much more from The Pixo Control in the coming months!

Veteran country cover quartet Thin Ice were up next in their first ever Toystock appearance, though they were without usual bassist Robin Lee due to external commitments. As a result, Kyle Brock (who guested with Thin Ice at Rotaryfest) filled in for the night, and he seemed to fit in pretty well! Hard rock fans will have noticed some familiar faces in Thin Ice's lineup too, including Glitch/Tripod the Dog alum Mark Oliverio on guitar, and Griphook drummer Anthony Fabiano, and it was nice to see them again! Their set included covers of the likes of Luke Bryan, Thomas Rhett, and Jason Aldean (among others), and while I'm admittedly not a country fan, the guys had a good command of the stage, and Nathan Albidone's singing was on point for the genre! I can see why they have a good following, and it's nice to finally see them rocking out at Toystock!

The second half of Toystock commenced with the return of Domina, the all-female classic rock band that debuted at Rotaryfest this summer! Featuring alumni of Obsession, Mid Life Crysis, Spyder's Web, and Boogie Fever in their lineup, their set included covers of the likes of The Headpins, Heart, and the 4 Non Blondes, mostly leaning towards female-fronted classic rock acts, though they capped their set with a OneRepublic cover. An all-female rock band like this isn't a local novelty (The Danger Cats came first), but these five women are known commodities in local music, and any band with Valerie Powley on lead vocals has a lot going for it just from her presence alone! For my money, she has one of the best voices in local rock bands, even if it was a little scratchy at times on Sunday! The ladies have a good sound going, and their talents are clear, so be sure to look for them next year when they have a full set to play headline dates in the area!

Local alternative/hard rock cover quartet Lucky 13 played next, becoming the only band to play at all three Toystocks, so kudos to them on that level! Playing covers from the likes of Finger Eleven, The Black Crowes, and The Tragically Hip (among others), it was nice to see the guys again after far too long, and they pumped out a solid set of covers! Expanding their range to include more recent songs and even select 1980s tracks (I didn't expect A Flock of Seagulls to turn up!), everyone sounded tight and added a workman-like grit to their performances, with Ed Vowels channeling his Aftersight past with strong vocals, and Jeremey Salatuk looked and sounded the part on lead guitar! Everyone was visibly having fun, but Ed should have bantered with the crowd a bit more, as he only really introduced the band they were covering next. Strong set from this talented band, and be sure to check them out at their next headlining gigs!

After the aforementioned Killabeatz's second mini-set, local classic/hard rock cover trio Mourning Wood capped off the hard rock portions of the show with a set of varied covers that also seemed to get a good response! Generally featuring guitarist Terry Eaton on vocals (with bassist Steven Flint handling 3 songs and drummer T.J. Case singing AC/DC's "Highway To Hell"), their set included covers of everyone from Joe Walsh and Billy Idol to Megadeth and Metallica, though I'll concede that "Symphony of Destruction" doesn't work well without a second guitarist. The three guys sound good together and continued their momentum from their short notice Reggie's West gigs (I hope to be more on the ball next time!), but Terry's stage presence is still very stiff, and their set would benefit if he loosened up and moved around more. Better set than at Rock For Dimes though, and longer, so hopefully Mourning Wood keep up the good vibes!

Second-last at Toystock was local progressive rock quartet Mannapool, and this cemented it for me, as I think Mannapool might be near the top of my favourite non metal/punk bands in the Soo (Blues Harvest and iT, you have company!) What makes it more unexpected is that, before I heard that they were on Rock For Dimes, I wasn't familiar musically with anyone in the band, but if they keep this up, we'll all be aware! Playing an all original set including "Words of Wisdom", "Way Home", and "Trance", their dark and intricate originals seemed to go over well on Sunday, and I liked how they blended indie & progressive rock with deep themes throughout, jumping styles fairly easily! Korey Deluca was great on guitar, and Josh Ingram cut through everything nicely on vocals, adding to a very strong set, and I hope to see Mannapool again in short order!

And finally, your headliners on Sunday were local country rock cover quartet Bone Yard, making their second Toystock appearance after missing last year. Capping the day with a set of country covers from the likes of Tim Hicks, Big & Rich, and Justin McBride, the fourth and final country act of Toystock 2014 was arguably also the one with the most "rock" in their sound, partly because frontman Greg Simpson & drummer Ric Datson already handle that side together in That's Chester, and they sounded good for country fans!  Alex D'Ettore was really solid on lead guitar (great solos), Greg's voice adapted well to the more southern material, and Ric's impressive drum skills remain present as ever (kudos to him as well for lending his kit for all of the prior bands!) Bone Yard delivered a fun set of country covers, and it was a good way to end a successful event!

Overall, Toystock 3 was a rousing success from attendees, and the show had lots of good varied musical entertainment! Myself, I had fun (though it was a long haul given the length), and thanks to organizers, and to Budweiser and Scootz for the prizes that I won! In case you're wondering, there was coverage of the event by SooToday and Sault Online, plus professional photos by Roy Iachetta Photography, so visit those links to see their coverage before we can mention everything! As for our media, I got photos of each band (and Killabeatz), but I do apologize for the quality of them, as the reflective paint on the road signs behind the stage are still a nuisance for flash photography. They look nice, but it has to be said. Give them a look at this link or at our Facebook page, and now, to our videos!

In order, here's The Stumpy Coldwater Trio covering Blackberry Smoke's "Lesson In A Bottle", Mike Case's Junior All Stars covering One Direction's "Story Of My Life", Killabeatz covering A Great Big World's "Say Something" (plus extra beatboxing), Lorrie Lynn & The Sinners playing "Bad Company", The Pixo Control playing "Scratch", Thin Ice covering Blackberry Smoke's "Like I Am", Domina covering Pat Benatar's "All Fired Up", Lucky 13 covering The Cult's "Wild Flower", Mourning Wood covering Tom Petty's "Yer So Bad", Mannapool playing a song credited on their setlist as "Mex", and Bone Yard covering Montgomery Gentry's "Hillbilly Shoes"!












That's all for now, but stay tuned for more news and notes soon, plus weekend concert previews, Toystock fallout, and this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post! Thanks everyone!

Bear Hunters CD Release Party Review!!

Hey guys, it's finally time for our review of Saturday night's Bear Hunters CD release show at The Canadian Nightclub! I was at Toystock all day yesterday, hence the delay, but better late than never, and our Toystock review will follow either tonight or tomorrow! There was an OK turnout on Saturday, though honestly less people than I was expecting, but fans made their presence felt by night's end! As for the Bear Hunters' merchandise, shirts weren't ready, and there was no sign of the mini-posters or stickers from the planned prize draw, but both their new CD "Eternal Hibernation" and the previously released "Collapse The Sun" single seemed to sell briskly! If you're wondering, we will go over the contents and surprises of each CD in a coming news post, but now, to the bands!

Opening on Saturday was local grunge/hard rock quartet Haggith (replacing Destroilet), who had their fourth different bassist in four shows, as the guys unveiled Jordan Leach as the newest "candidate" for the bassist position (so it looks like Caleb Cachagee's return at Sault Band-O-Rama didn't last.) Jordan has been actively looking to join or start a new band recently, so if this sticks, it's big for him! He sounded good, but he needs to work on his stage presence, as he was very stiff and mostly looked off to the side. As for the band as a whole, their set included 6 songs from their upcoming CD "XIV" and two from "Dragon Joy Ride", plus "Hands of Death" from "Apocalypse II", and set-bookending covers of Jethro Tull and Jimi Hendrix, the latter after calls for an encore. Aside from "Locomotive Breath", no real surprises, but the guys sounded good and heavy, keeping with their recent shows! Curtis McKenzie did strain his voice on high notes, and Daniel Horton seemed too serious for much of their set, but solid work all around!

Second was Brampton deathcore quintet Livid & The Bloodthirsty in their local concert debut, and despite a slow early crowd response, the guys made some fans with their energetic hybrid sound! Playing a number of original songs like "Gear Up" and "Senseless Debauchery", their mix of modern hardcore with death metal vocals was fun and well worth checking out, with singer Matt Chepetto a visible ball of energy throughout, including entering the crowd on multiple occasions! I did notice that fan response did start to turn once L.A.T.B. covered Lamb of God's "Laid to Rest" (and opened a second mic to the fans), and by set's end, fans were eating everything up! Joe Baldasio & Sandy Thompson were impressive on guitar in their own right, and while a bass mishap brought an early standstill to their set, the guys filled time well and left a good impression! Hopefully we'll see them up north again!

And of course, your headliners were local death metal quintet The Bear Hunters, as it was their CD release show, after all! Playing for an extended length with two sets, their first was comprised of the entire "Eternal Hibernation" album in exact song order, while the shorter second set featured newer songs to be included on their next album "The Dead Testament" (like "The Omen" and "I Fear No God"), and more expected additions. With the lengthy album recording and release process finally at it's end, the guys seemed renewed and happy to just play for a change, and fans responded in kind! Even if there was no new CD, seeing Josh Stephney back with the band for just the third time since he moved to Brampton was great enough, as his rhythm guitar is a missing element from most of The Bear Hunters' recent shows, so we got to hear them as intended on Saturday! The guys all sounded tight, especially Justin Lam on bass, though Nik Deubel's vocals were sometimes hard to hear. Great set, and make sure to buy your copies of their CDs A.S.A.P.!

Very solid concert, and congratulations go out to The Bear Hunters on finally getting this CD out! We'll cover it in greater detail in the coming days, and our review of it will be this month too! Donna Hopper and the SooToday/Local2 crew were on hand for an article/Tuned episode, so be sure to look out for them in short order as well! Our photos from the show can now be seen at our Facebook page, as can our videos, so here's Haggith playing "No Cure For Insanity", Livid & The Bloodthirsty playing "This Scene's Too Preteen", and The Bear Hunters playing their CD's opener "Dominate"!




That's all for now, but stay tuned for our Toystock review, this month's "Where Are The New Albums?" post, and more news and updates very soon! Thanks everyone!

LOCAL CONCERT ALERT (X-Mess 2), A New Interview, And Much More!!

Before we get to this post, here's another apology for a missed Mourning Wood concert, as they plugged Reggie's West shows for Friday night & last night on their Facebook page, but they didn't confirm a day for the shows in the first post, and we had no time plug the latter on here once we heard about it. Our sincere apologies, but don't miss them TODAY at Toystock! Now, here's one more post before we head to Toystock (and take care of concert reviews from the weekend), including assorted updates, new videos, and a LOCAL CONCERT ALERT, so here's what you need to know!

Local concert promoter J.D. Pearce will host a second annual X-Mess acoustic punk concert on Saturday, December 20th at The Algonquin Pub! Some of you guys may remember that this event originated at the LopLops Lounge last year (no word on why it moved this year), but like then, there will be a number of unplugged punk-leaning acts playing for the Christmas season, and after last year's positive reception, it's no surprise that we're getting a second go-round! Two performers are currently confirmed for X-Mess 2, including Northwest guitarist "Evil" Greg Callaghan (who played last year) and a presumably one-off band named Sleigher (formerly Mistlechode), whose lineup will be comprised of yet-identified Jack Spades members. Could they bear similarities to drummer Johnny Belanger's recent acoustic sets, just an unplugged Jack Spades set with seasonal music, or something else entirely? Find out on December 20th!

At least one more act is to be confirmed, but for reference, the artists last year included Greg, The Danger Cats, Bankshot alum Lucas Schmiedendorf (as "Dr. Sal Velinus"), and a one off band named The Debts featuring Jay Case, Jake Rendell, and Ryan Seabrook. This show has a 10:00 PM start time on the 20th, there's a $5 cover charge, and you must be 19 to attend, though no word yet on if there will be a recommendation to wear ugly Christmas sweaters again. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page, and stay tuned for more info on this intriguing second X-Mess!

Next up, here's a neat new interview with former Woods of Ypres guitarist Joel Violette which features some insights and remarks on his run as the local blackened doom metal band's final lead guitarist! Conducted by phone with the YouTube interview series Behind The Screams (which focuses on metal singers), the interview largely focuses on Joel's current black metal band Thrawsunblat (who feature all surviving members of Woods of Ypres' last lineup), but there are three chunks of the 54 minute interview that Woods fans will be especially interested in! Around 10 minutes into the interview, Joel discusses the songwriting process & his contributions to their last CD "Woods V: Grey Skies & Electric Light" and the band's shift to a Type O Negative-inspired sound, wherein he also noted that he and late frontman David Gold planned to have most of the album ready for live concerts (with "Lightning & Snow" planned as a set opener), but the band obviously never got to that point before David's passing.

About 31 minutes in, Joel indicated that when Thrawsunblat begin playing live (which is an eventual goal), they'll likely play at least one Woods of Ypres song in their set, and he even demoed a black metal version of Woods' doom ballad "Finality" on air to show how it might sound. Lastly, at around 46 minutes in, he addressed when he began listening to Woods and the impact and recognition that followed their signing with Earache Records in 2010. Great interview overall, and it's nice to see Joel open up about Thrawsunblat too and the writing and processes for their albums and next material, so check it out below!

Also today, Theatre of Night keyboardist Craig Harrison has uploaded a pair of new videos onto the band's YouTube channel over the past few days! One video takes fans behind the scenes to the writing process for the Sault Michigan classical metal band, basically showing Craig playing a short solo composition on the keyboard which is presumably for a Theatre of Night original. Well done, though obviously not what the full song would sound like, so give it a look above! Embedded below though is a cover of Bon Jovi's "Bed of Roses" that Craig posted on the band's channel, and it might be of extra note to fans of his old '80s metal cover band Dust 'N Bones! Featuring vocals and keyboard only, it's a well done version of this hair metal ballad with strong vocals (though no word on why it's in black & white) so give it a look below, and stay tuned for more from Theatre of Night!



Finally for today, here's three assorted shorter items from the last while, and as usual, these are in alphabetical order by artist name:

• Local musician Chris Raginskis is once again looking to start a band with him on vocals and/or rhythm guitar. He's focusing on Volbeat, Skillet, and some punk for preferred genres. It'd be nice to see Chris finally get a band going, so message him at this link or via his Musicians Wanted Facebook group post on November 20th!
• Last week, local funk/hard rock quartet The Elements revealed on their Facebook page that they'll be taking a break from concerts so they can write some original songs. That should be cool, and well be sure to welcome them back to the stage when the time is right!
• Newer local grunge/punk duo The Red & Black uploaded a new song to their Bandcamp page last week entitled "Not The Only One"! It's a short and somewhat sludgy original, but it's not yet clear if they plan to include it on their announced debut CD. Check it out at the above links though, and stay tuned fo more!

That's all for now, but I'll see you guys TODAY at Toystock, and remember, our Bear Hunters CD release show review is coming! Thanks everyone!

Toystock & White Cowbell Oklahoma Concert Previews, And More!!

Before we head off to TONIGHT'S Bear Hunters CD release show, here's the rest of the weekend's concert previews, concerning Sunday night concerts in Sault Ontario tomorrow, though we also have some Blood Shed Productions updates to cap things off! Here's what you need to know!

The long anticipated third annual Toystock goes down TOMORROW at The Canadian Nightclub! As has become a recent tradition, local concert promoters Maxx Entertainment are hosting this all day (and ALL AGES) charity concert event to help raise funds and donations to Christmas Cheer, with admission once again being FREE with a donation of a new/slightly used toy or non-perishable food item (though cash is accepted too.) As well, the Stuff-A-Bus will be on site to bring donations to the Christmas Cheer depot, Santa & Mrs. Claus will be present to meet the kids, and there will also be prize draws, so if you loved past installments of Toystock, get ready for tomorrow! Like at the last two Toystocks, 10 bands will grace the stage for 10 hours, and are largely comprised of veteran cover bands, giving fans a chance to see them outside of weekend bar engagements, and it's great to see them all donate their time for this year! Somewhat surprisingly though, seven of the 10 bands this year are Toystock newcomers, so here's who to look out for in descending order!

Local country rock veterans (and Toystock 2012 performers) Bone Yard will headline at 9:00 PM tomorrow, with two bands from the Rock For Dimes fundraiser earlier this month preceding them, those being progressive/jazz rock quartet Mannapool at 8:00 PM and classic/hard rock cover trio Mourning Wood at 7:00 PM. Fellow hard rock cover veterans Lucky 13 will play at 6:00 PM (becoming the only band to play at all 3 Toystocks), with all female classic rock cover quintet Domina returning to the stage at 5:00 PM, and country veterans Thin Ice making their Toystock debut at 4:00 PM. Young local alternative/grunge trio The Pixo Control are slated for 3:00 PM, with local country musician Lorrie Bolduc's band Lorrie Lynn & The Sinners on at 2:00 PM, Mike Case's Junior All-Stars returning from last year for a set at 1:00 PM, and local blues band The Stumpy Coldwater Trio opening the day at 12:00 PM. Nice diverse lineup to take in tomorrow, and remember, this is an ALL AGES event, and admission is via donation to Christmas Cheer!

For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! Though it is a little odd not seeing Boxcar Junction, Obsession, or Stiffler's Mom back this year, there's still a great lineup of bands to enjoy TOMORROW, including three or so hard rock bands, and I hope to see you guys there! I missed last year's Toystock due to family commitments, but fingers crossed that I'll be there tomorrow! For a preview, here's Mourning Wood live at March For Dimes!



Finally for the weekend's concert previews is the return of Toronto southern hard rock veterans White Cowbell Oklahoma to Sault Ontario for a headlining concert TOMORROW NIGHT at The Rockstar Bar! Making their first local appearance since headlining at The Grand Theatre in 2010, this show will be in the midst of W.C.O.'s 15th anniversary tour, and if you're familiar with this band, you'll know how exciting their live concerts are! Featuring extended jams, power tool-infused songs, and energetic hard-edged southern rock, White Cowbell Oklahoma should leave a solid impression once again tomorrow night! Dutch alternative hard rock band The Paceshifters will open for W.C.O. tomorrow night with their own old school yet original sound, so be sure to come early for their set! Note that while White Cowbell Oklahoma pages also list Vancouver psychobilly band Big John Bates & the Voodoo Dollz as opening on this tour, they are only on Western Canada dates and not playing in Ontario (source here), despite opening at their local show in 2010.

This show will surprisingly have NO COVER CHARGE tomorrow night, and everything starts at 9:00 PM, but it's still a 19+ event. For more details, visit the official Facebook event page! I'd like to hit this show up too, but with the length and camera battery drain that I expect Toystock will be, I'm unsure if I can work both shows in. White Cowbell Oklahoma's live concert experience speaks for itself though, so don't miss out if you can help it, and here's the guys live in 2012!



Finally for today, here's some updates from the Blood Shed Productions camp, starting with a new Facebook page for the reunited original version of Brutally Fatal! As you may remember, the death metal duo featuring Revolution frontman Austin McCrae and Crucify The Whore's Ringsnaps Gibson on drums reunited at the Archspire concert in August, but only just launched a new Facebook page on Wednesday (the original one was deleted a few months prior), which also confirms that Austin will remain the band's guitarist rather than bassist, and that "Brutally" is now spelled correctly with two Ls! I still don't really know why Austin spelled it "Brutaly" for so long, but the extra letter does noticeably improve the name! Details on their next show are to be determined, but Tyler's other live two-man band Rotopsy revealed on their Facebook page this week that they have plans to record a full length demo CD next year and will apparently play at the Touch of Death Festival in Cochrane next year, which would be great exposure!

C.T.W.'s Facebook page also hinted yesterday that they and Rotopsy will be playing at a concert of some type late next month, though whether it's an Oddfellows show, a house party, or somewhere else is to be confirmed. Sounds like there's some good developments from the Blood Shed, so follow along above for more, and Brutally Fatal are back in our active band links! That's all for today, but we'll see you guys TONIGHT at The Canadian for The Bear Hunters' CD release party! Thanks everyone!

Northwest EP Review!!

With their next show at Coch's Corner taking place tomorrow night, now's a good time for our 65th monthly CD review at The Sault Metal Scene, as we're taking a look at local indie/punk quintet Northwest's self-titled debut digital EP! Released on September 2nd through their Bandcamp page, this EP was recorded at Mission Control Studios with producer Dustin Jones earlier this year and later mixed & mastered by Fairmounts guitarist Simon Head. The EP features Northwest's original lineup, with singer/guitarist Wayne Watkins joined by guitarists/Terminal alumni Mike Yakasovich & Greg Callaghan, along with Wayne's ex-Small Town Rivals bandmates Mike Smykacz on bass and Clint Wilson on drums (though Clint has since left the band), with all but Mike Smykacz providing backing vocals. Currently available online only, you can download "Northwest" for just $2 (or more if you so chose) on Bandcamp, though it's unclear at best if there are plans to release physical copies of the EP. With just four songs clocking in at under 15 minutes in length, each track's name below is linked to it's Bandcamp copy.

This EP begins with "Young & Wild" (also named "Young, Wild, and Hopeless" on some live setlists), which slowly begins with bass riffing before the full band kicks in for this somewhat short number that has an upbeat but medium-tempo song. In contrast from their live show, Wayne's vocals oddly channel Perry Farrell a bit on the verses here, but they fit the melody of the song, which isn't overly fast or too ambitious. The triple guitar attack doesn't come across as overkill, Clint's drumming fits nicely, and it's a catchy enough number, but it'd be nice to see a more of a bite to the choruses, and the song does at times seem too laid back compared to it's title and lyrics. Second is the only 4 minute song on "Northwest", that being "Time", which is a bit more up-tempo and edgy in it's sound while still retaining an indie rock lightness, and I like the guitar melody and Wayne's rougher vocals here! I like the use of backing vocals, but at times, the background audio surprisingly sounds empty, which shouldn't be when they have three guitarists. Abrupt ending too, but it's a consistent track that will please Northwest fans!

Third on the EP is "Stars Don't Fall", which opens with a drum beat by Clint that sounds like a sped up take on Green Day's "Know Your Enemy" before the rest of the band jumps in for arguably the softest verses on the EP, with Northwest playing them in a very relaxed, quiet manner before amping up some more aggressive choruses powered by raspy higher vocals. Some of the bridge guitar work is really solid and among my favourite parts of the EP, and I like how the verses and choruses contrast, but this strikes me as a song that would play better in live concerts with more spontaneity and freedom. Northwest's EP closes with it's shortest song, "I Got You", which has an early Foo Fighters feel in it's instrumentation, and to me, it's my favourite of the four songs on the EP. It's the most consistent in tone, it has the catchiest chorus, and it has the most "rocking" riffs and melodies, if that makes sense. It captures the punk side of their sound nicely, but as catchy as the chorus is, it's also too repetitive with mostly repeated singing of the song's title. Solid ending though to a very good debut release!

So, what are my final thoughts on Northwest's EP? To me, it's a solid first effort at a recorded album from this experienced quintet, and given their past resumes in indie and punk bands, it's a nice marriage of their influences and styles! Wayne Watkins' vocals fit the songs well and are reminiscent of his old Nebraska Arms songs at times (even though he wasn't their singer), while he, Greg Callaghan, and Mike Yakasovich trade off and compliment each other on guitar without being lost in the shuffle. Clint Wilson's drumming and Mike Smykacz' bass work were both solid throughout, and the guys have chemistry, but there are some areas to address for their next recordings. The songs often lacked bite in the instrumentation and guitar riffing, with some songs sounding a bit empty & too reserved given the lyrics, and some of the chorus vocals could be repetitive. I've also found that these songs benefit from the live concert experience, and the EP is fairly short (where are songs like "Hangover Habits"?), but for a first album, Northwest have delivered the goods, and I'm curious to see what's next! Buy their EP above!

I hope you guys liked this month's CD review, and as for our last monthly review of 2014, we will definitely be looking at The Bear Hunters' debut album "Eternal Hibernation", which will officially be released at TOMORROW'S CD release show at The Canadian Nightclub, and we'll absolutely see you guys there for all of the action! That's all for today, but stay tuned tomorrow for a new news post before the show! Thanks everyone!