ENSLAVED, INSOMNIUM, BLACK ANVIL

April 8th, 2023

Toronto, ON @ The Opera House

Photos By: Kim Baarda

Words By: Jason Deaville

BLACK ANVIL

What better way to start a night of extreme metal in Toronto than with some dirty, raunchy, New York City-styled black metal! Hitting the stage with corpsepaint, the guys pummeled the audience with a set of songs torn from the pages of the blackened thrash bible. After experiencing this set, I can see why the hype around Black Anvil is as strong as ever!

INSOMNIUM

The melodic death metal stylings of Finland’s Insomnium could not have been a better fit for this particular night of extreme metal in Toronto. The beautiful, morose intro of the song ‘1696’ reverberated like faraway thunder… exploding into a double-bass assault as the storm of Finnish death metal rained on fans like a torrent of blood.

The guys delivered an incredibly evocative performance that was comprised mostly of songs from their latest album, Anno 1696. That said, they did bust out a collection of songs from previous masterpieces such as Heart Like A Grave, Shadows Of The Dying Sun, and Above The Weeping World.

The organizers of the tour couldn’t have picked a better band to co-headline this tour. A masterful performance from one of the best melodic death metal bands to ever have existed.

ENSLAVED

Fittingly, a chill permeated the crisp Toronto night just as the gods of Nordic progressive black metal took to the stage. As the lights dimmed, the disturbing sounds of the Clockwork Orange theme music filled the venue, creating an eerie-yet-appropriate vibe as we waited excitedly. Then, with a rumble from the halls of Valhalla, the opening riff of ‘Jettegryta’ hit like the weight of an iron-cast sword to the head.

Immediately, it was telling that the band was short one member. It was later learned that founding guitarist, Ivar Bjornson, was unable to make the tour to do a personal issue back home in Norway. As the night progressed, Ivar’s absence was only discernible from a visual perspective. Sonically, you would never know Ivar was missing. The songs sounded as full and functional as they do on record. Of course, Ivar’s presence would have been very much welcomed, but the guys did their best to give fans the authentic Enslaved experience. Newest drummer, Iver Sandøy, did an incredible job filling out the lineup with an energized and magnetic performance behind the kit, as well as delivering a passionate vocal performance, particularly on the song ‘Homebound’.

Enslaved are one band that needs to be experienced live to truly appreciate their incredible sonic soundscape. Having seen Enslaved previously, it goes without saying that tonight’s venue, The Opera House, was an absolutely perfect home for the band. The sound and lighting were both top-notch, projecting the journey of the Enslaved sound throughout the venue’s century-old interior. In fact, this was the very first venue that I photographed at, and remains one of my favorites to this day.

Album Review: HORRIBLE EARTH

Weakened by Civilization

Review Score: 7.0

Reviewed by Johnny Ibay

Horrible Earth are back with their latest release, “Weakened by Civilization“, and the Boston-based deathgrind outfit show no signs of slowing down their brutal assault on the senses. Released through the ever-reliable Horror Pain Gore Death Productions, this 17-track album is a reminder of the band’s vision of cut throat savagery and vicious grindcore intensity.

The albums opener “Worth more Dead” starts off with slow, brooding rung out chords reminiscent of Assuck before breaking into a tremolo picked riff accompanied by a blastbeat. The vocals are an interesting intermediary between extreme metal and traditional grind or hardcore, sounding like a more extreme metal tinged Chris Dodge. In true grindcore fashion, this song (along with the rest of the album) is almost over before you can finish your second or third beer since almost every song is 30 seconds to a minute and a half long.

The album rages on with a relentless onslaught of start-stop speedpicked riffs and brain melting blast beats that give off a bit of a Brutal Truth vibe. Although this is a grindcore album I think that this band truly shines in their use of groove riffs such as the beginning of “Extinction Through Violence”, “Brainworms” and the identical riffs in the intro and title track “Weakened by Civilization” which bookend this release and tie everything together very nicely. “Jazz Odyssey” starts with about 30 seconds of funky drums and clean guitar that sounds like Jimi Hendrix before blasting into furious grindcore for maybe another 20 seconds. I found this track to be a little silly for my liking and thought the album would be better off without it.

Lyrically the band touches on familiar themes of the genre such as inequality, environmental destruction and human rights violations. The production is very clear and punchy, sounding more like a modern metal type production than a basement jamspace recording typical of a lot of grind acts.

Overall, this album is a certified Boston grindcore rager. The production sounds heavy and the music is fast and filthy. I wouldn’t expect any less from an outfit hailing from the area of greats such as Siege, Dropdead and Disrupt. Fans of Assuck, Brutal truth or Siege should check it out.

Album Review: NEGATIVE PRAYER

Self-Titled [E.P.]

Review Score: 8.0

Reviewed By: Johnny Ibay

Negative Prayer‘s self-titled EP is a sonic blitzkrieg of death tinged d-beat that pummels the senses and leaves the listener reeling. Guitarist/vocalist Kyle House (Decrepisy, ex-Acephalix, ex-Poison Idea, ex-Vastum) and drummer Charles Koryn (Chthonic Deity, Decrepisy, Funebrarum, VoidCeremony), are both veterans of the extreme metal scene and have crafted an unrelenting and ferocious assault on the status quo.

The EP’s opening track ‘Morbid’ sets the tone with House’s guttural vocals and downtuned d-beat/mosh riffs, combined with Koryn’s thunderous drumming to create a dark and aggressive vibe reminiscent of a straight ahead punk version of Machetazo. The lyrics present a bleak and nihilistic worldview, suggesting that life is a never-ending cycle of struggle and hardship, and that there is no greater purpose to existence beyond enduring pain and ultimately dying alone.

The remaining tracks continue in a similar vein, with each one delivering a punishing dose of d-beat/crust combined with lyrical themes of a stark existence and systemic oppression that’s as intense as it is cathartic. House’s guitar work is a study in d-beat-meets-death metal, a style that has been growing in popularity over the past several years and is displayed with exceeding proficiency on this release. The production quality is exactly what I desire in this type of music; clear enough to be discernable but still dirty enough to sound like it crawled out of a sewer.

Negative Prayer‘s self-titled EP is an intense blast of downtuned d-beat thrash and circle pit inducing breakdowns that would be enjoyed by fans of Driller Killer, Wolfpack or Acephalix. With this release, House and Koryn have cemented their status as two of the most uncompromising and talented musicians in the genre. I look forward to more releases and a potential full length from these guys.

Album Review: FROZEN CROWN

Call of the North

Review Score: 8.5

Reviewed by Blake Mossey

Frozen Crown is a power metal band hailing from Italy. This is the bands 4th album in just 6 years. When covid hit it caused 3 members to decide to quit the band. But this is the 2nd album with the current line up. Power metal meets classic metal with some symphonic moments.

For me this is the first time I have listened to Frozen Crown and I am not one to listen to much power metal these days but I was totally taken aback when I first put this on. Faster and heavier then I was expecting. With the powerful female vocals of Giada “Jade” Etro it really reminds me of Canadian Power Metal outfit Unleash The Archers. The guitar work of Federico Mondelli (founder) and Fabiola “Sheena” Bellomo are full of speedy riffs and leads and solos that match anything else I have heard in the power metal genre. Bassist Francesco Zof and drummer Niso Tomasini along with Fabiola are the 3 newest members joining in 2021.

The album comes in just under a hour. Opening title track CALL OF THE NORTH is a great opener and is a great introduction to the band if your new like me. The song slows down to crawl before ripping into the solo section. FIRE IN THE SKY shows the melodic but still speedy side with some Maidenish Oh Oh’s thrown in. BLACK HEART if the heaviest track and my personal favourite with Giada’s powerful soaring vocals and the catchy melodic chorus. VICTORIOUS gives me the feeling of some neo classical leads reminding me a little of Yngwie. 5th track IN A MOMENT features the most male vocals on the album from Federico who I would say has a great voice for slower parts. On my first few listens the next 2 tracks LEGION and UNTIL THE END didn’t stand out to me and I could of did without them. BUT after a few more listens doing a more deep dive into the songs they are growing on me. Especially LEGION as now its one of my favourites. Another favourite track is NOW OR NEVER just another showcase of the their melodic but still very speed power metal side. ONE FOR ALL is definitely the song designed for sing alongs in concert. Starts out slow and you think your going to get your first full on ballad but they kick it into a crunchy power metal anthem with a little Maidenesque gallop and I can see the crowd singing along to the “All for one, One for all, we stand fiery in the dark” Closing out the album with the longest track FAR AWAY at 7 minutes and another one of my favourite tracks and a great closer.

For fans of as previously mentioned Unleash The Archers, Maiden, Helloween. The best power metal band I have come across in a long time.

They are currently on tour in Europe playing with Nanowar of Steel.

SKID ROW IN FORT WAYNE, INDIANA

PIERE’S ENTERTAINMENT CENTER

MARCH 14, 2023

BROUGHT TO YOU BY: MARSWORTH

Many know the band Skid Row from their rough and raw vocals or their Earth shattering guitar solos, but going into this show, I knew not to compare it to a show you would have seen them perform in 1991. Don’t get me wrong, the screeching vocals were still present, but nobody could ever overshadow Sebastian Bach; although, it is nice to hear the band still playing the classic hits that they wrote the music for all those years ago. Not many rock groups from that time still have what it takes to put out a full length record and tour with it, so applause is definitely in order! The members may not be jumping around, running, and twirling on stage, but they know how to put on a hell of a show just like they did in ‘91.

Let’s start with my VIP experience. I get there by noon for the early as heck soundcheck, refuse to wait in the freezing weather, and have all my VIP goodies in hand by 12:30. The vomit-inducing anxiety leading up to seeing those 5 men, who’re old enough to be my father, on stage in their street clothes to play 2 songs, have us all turn around for a group photo, and the shortest mingling session you have ever seen was all worth it. Meeting all but my favorite member was still worth every penny spent as the members I did have the joy of meeting were more than happy to see the 20 of us VIP folks.

The time leading up to doors opening was seriously bone rattling. The exhilaration running through my veins was unspeakable, but I never let that change my demeanor as the evening went on. I secure my barricade spot, make nice with the patrons around me, and even see some familiar faces from previous internet connections! The opening acts, No Resolve and Buckcherry, warm the crowd like no other show I’ve attended in the past. The fans were feeling the music and the genuine reactions of the concert-goers is something no artist can forget, even if it is in a smaller venue! Before we knew it, the lights went down for Skid Row.

Being able to have the opportunity to capture one of your favorite bands in a riveting moment in time is out of this world. You can see the youth flaming in the members’ eyes as they get a chance to look into the crowd and see their trusty fans living in the moment. Even if the new album isn’t your jam and you prefer to stick to the old gold, you’re in luck because that’s mostly what they’re serving up! If you’re a Skid fan, take a weekend off to catch these boys perform their hearts and souls for just one evening, you’re in store for something monumental!