Photo by Andrew Epstein
Head to the Interviews section to see my two latest pieces for A Journal of Musical Things: a record-shopping excursion with The Trews in celebration of their first Greatest Hits compilation, as well as a chat with Tool / A Perfect Circle / Puscifer frontman Maynard James Keenan about his new biography and his experiences north of the border.
Photo Courtesy of Earsplit PR
Check out the Interviews section for my latest chats with industrial one-man-band Author & Punisher, and Canadian pop star-turned-headbanger Skye Sweetnam of Sumo Cyco.
Zombitrol Productions is once again a proud Media Partner of the Wacken Metal Battle Canada, now in its fourth year. After weeks of competition it’s down to five finalists who will go head to head in Toronto to decide who will be the one that represents Canada this summer at the Wacken Open Air festival in Northern Germany. Canada has now won the international final two out the last three years with Crimson Shadows in 2013, and Vesperia in 2015. With The Governor’s Ball on indefinite hiatus I’m stepping back from my hosting duties this year to sit on the judge’s panel for the first time.
The final takes place this Saturday June 11th at The Opera House in Toronto. Here are this years’ finalists:
Tales Of The Tomb - Edmonton, AB
Profaner - Hamilton, ON
Pyramid Theorem - Toronto, ON
The Mountain Man - Vancouver, BC
DistortHead - Montreal, QC
The special guest headliner this year is none other than 2013 Winners Crimson Shadows. This will be their first major headlining performance since they were joined by their new vocalist Paul Ablaze, known for fronting Montreal’s Blackguard. Tickets are $12 in advance or $15 at the door and it’s a 19+ event. Come out and see who will be crowned Canada’s newest metal ambassadors to the world.
UPDATE: Congratulations to winners Profaner, and runners-up DistortHead!
Photo by Ole Luk
My latest interview for A Journal of Musical Things is a controversial chat with one-woman Danish black metal act Myrkur a.k.a. Amalie Bruun. We talked about her transition from indie pop act Ex Cops into heavy metal, and some of the misogynistic reactions from men she’s received on Facebook. It was the latter topic that moved the conversation in a surprising direction, as Bruun revealed that she’s far more worried about the proliferation of Islam in Europe than sexism in metal culture. Have a listen to the interview and let me know what you think.