AxMinister-The Crucible of Sin

Self-Release/Independent
2018


Toronto, Ontario's AxMinister, fronted by vocalist/bassist Nicholas Klaus and citing bands like Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, and Manowar as their primary influences, will release "The Crucible of Sin" on Friday, May 4th. It is a five-track EP that was produced by Ryan Jones and mastered by Harry Hess. Clocking in at just under twenty three minutes, this impressive EP opens up strong with the cut "Prey" and only gets better from there! With each passing track better than the last one, AxMinster's forthcoming EP is bound to impress fans of (rugged & tough) heavy/power metal!! Having first come together in 1999(!), AxMinister is a (razor blade sharp) group that has been tearing it's way through the scene since 2008. Lyrically the group covers topics such as film, history, politics, and religion. Guitarist Tim Smith and drummer Bas von Bismark round out the official line-up on this (classic heavy metal and N.W.O.B.H.M.-inspired) powerful metal release. Meanwhile there are some cool backing vocals courtesy of Nick Allaire. Available for pre-order at the link above, "The Crucible of Sin" is a lyrically-strong (hard & heavy) power metal recording with strong lead vocals, great guitar solos, a slick rhythm section, and inspired songs that will make you want to wave the banner of true heavy metal for all to see!! This is honest to goodness heavy metal that has been made possible thanks to hard work & dedication of true heavy metal maniacs. For more information on this heavy/power metal band be sure to check out AxMinister's Facebook page.

Saturday Single: Fast Romantics-"Why We Fight"

Light Organ Records / Postwar Records
2017

Toronto indie-rockers Fast Romantics, lead by vocalist/guitarist Matthew Angus and featuring the talents of  Jeffrey Lewis (bass), Kirty (vocals, acoustic guitar, synth), Kevin Black (guitars), Lisa Lorenz (keyboards) and Nick McKinlay (drums), have recently-released the reflective single, "Why We Fight". As can be witnessed below (in what is, admittedly, a very clever lyric video!), the three-minute song is a catchy little gem (or is it anthem?) that sports a pretty powerful message. Available for download on iTunes (which is where I grabbed it), "Why We Fight" is scheduled to appear on the group's forthcoming album.

My Hollow-On Borrowed Time

Self-Release/Independent
2015

Due to drop on July 31st (and more than a little likely to explode on contact when it does!), "On Borrowed Time" is the latest release from Toronto, Ontario's My Hollow and as suggested by it's sweet art-work it has all the subtlety of two-ton anvil slamming down on a set of pearly whites! It follows the same set of blue-prints that this (highly-regarded) band laid out on their 2012 debut EP, "Cold Dark Days", and that of course means more heavy & harsh metal from a group that is all at once progressive and groovy as F**K! You can actually hear the wicked raw title track at the bandcamp link posted above, but perhaps a word of caution is in order before you head that way. As it's over five minutes long this album's aggressive opening title track is a stone-cold beast and a blood-crazed one at that! And just like you would do when faced with any wild animal you don't want to turn your back on it! Because if you do make that mistake with the ferocious title track "On Borrowed Time" it will tear you to shreds! And to think that is just ONE of the album's fierce new numbers! Yep, you are going to want to pre-order this one so why not just stop what you're doing and take care of that business now? Personally I can't think of any good reason why you wouldn't want to pull that trigger.

Blind Race-Come And Get It EP

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Blind Race is a Toronto, Ontario hard rock/alternative metal band that was co-founded by brother's
Costas and Stelio Kentros (guitars & drums/percussion respectively). Officially this band came into being in 2007 although prior to that (2005 to be exact) there was already demo material recorded. In fact there was enough music recorded for two EPs which is how this Canadian act evolved from a studio-only project into a full-pledged band that has already shared the stage with the likes of Breached, West Memphis Suicide, Left Turn City, Rise For Order, All But Over, Down In Ashes, Last Bullet, Polarity, Affinity, Kodessa, Revmatic, The Standstills, Rebel Hero, On The Verge, Sumo Cyco, Raised Emotionally Dead, Burning The Day, The Joy Arson, The Rabid Whole, Asleep Behind The Flame, Fallen Heirs and The Unchained! And that's just to name some of the group's that Blind Race has performed with since stepping out of the studio and onto the stage! The upcoming "Come And Get It" is actually the group's second overall EP and Blind Race's third release since first appearing on the scene with the 2008 LP "Seeing Red". Initially starting out as a four-piece, "Come And Get It" is the first recording to feature Blind Race's expanded line-up. Besides Costas and Stelio Kentros the new EP "Come And Get It", which incidentally is due out November 18th and can be pre-ordered at the bandcamp link below, features lead vocalist Tommy Geraldes, bass guitarist Mike Ferraro and keyboardist Joannie Cotten. If I had to take a stab in the dark I would say that Joannie Cotten is the latest musician to join Blind Race. But, seeing as this is my first sampling of this Canadian band such information is really neither here nor there when it comes to the 5-track EP on hand. If you are curious though here's what this bunch looks like:

 OK, now the we have that out of the way let's tackle this 16 + minute release. Produced by Mike Langford (Evans Blue, Parabelle, Charlie Hope, Rains, Hawksley Workman, Sloan, Ian Thornley, Jeff Martin, Crash Karma, Art Of Dying, Shiloh, Dane Hartsell, Rex Goudie, and Tupelo Honey) and mastered by Chris Crerar at Toronto's Metalwork Studios, "Come And Get It" isn't exactly what it appears to be at first. Very much in tone with the kind of great movies where a twist comes from out of nowhere to wrap everything up perfectly this EP starts out one way before going BANG! and turning the tables on you. Without giving away too many "spoilers" here opening track "Hypocrite" and then it's follow-up, "Come And Get It" are straight out of the playbooks of bands like Godsmack, Pantera, Slipknot, Disturbed and Five Finger Death Punch. So much so in fact that I swore I had this album pegged for what it was and that the track "Hopeless" would live up to it's name! But then "Hopeless" actually started and it showed a completely different side of Blind Race. The thing is "Hopeless" has a real Pearl Jam vibe going for it and while that would normally be a bad thing for me (as I honestly loathe Pearl Jam and all!) here on this EP it is amazing! "Truth Or Dare" is next where the band tackles "Black"-era Metallica by way of Stone Sour and while lead vocalist Tommy Geraldes shows off his versatility on the mic Costas Kentros shows off his solid skills as a guitarist. The pair even goes acoustic on the short, but sweet "Gone"! And here I was thinking that I could easily pigeonhole this band! Silly me! In closing this is one "new" band worth checking out and you can do that by heading either here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blind-Race/7691919182 or over here: http://www.blindrace.net/online/ And if I haven't already said it then I must do it now. Collectively the members of Blind Race do a bang up job of complementing each other on their latest release and if they can continue to grow as a band and mature as songwriters then who knows just how far they could get! It's going to be interesting seeing what comes next for Blind Race, but in the meantime you can pre-view and pre-order this EP at this location:

http://blindrace.bandcamp.com/album/come-and-get-it

The Rough Boys-Blood, Booze, And Gasoline

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Now, let me see if I have this straight. What we have here is a Toronto three-piece band that is named after a Neil Young lyric ("All those rough boys, playin' that rock and roll") and sounds an awful lot like Motörhead stone cold drunk on late seventies/early eighties punk (both English and American thank you very much). Is that it? If so then count me in! Formed in the village of Parkdale and with two other releases to their name so far (2011's "Spithead" and 2012's "Speed"), The Rough Boys is lead by bassist/vocalist Tom Gervais and on their third EP, "Blood, Booze and Gasoline" the band can simply do no wrong! And all of that starts the moment you crank up and rock out to opener "Before The Devil Knows I'm Dead"! Existing in that grey area where punk, bluesy rock and roll, hard rock and heavy metal/thrash all join together for a keg of cheap beer and greasy pizza this "North of the border" act has shared the stage with Cauldron, Fuck the Facts, Axxion, Midnight Malice, Adrenechrome and Saigon Hookers and if this Summer-time release has anything to say about it then plenty of headlining shows should be forthcoming for The rough Boys from this point forward! "Blood, Booze, And Gasoline" is four tracks of street-worthy/dive bar appealing heavy metal punk n' roll with a total run-time of 12:42 and if number's like the title track , "Hogtown" and "May Two Four" don't get you up and on your feet then someone better call the coroner because friend you must be dead!

Just some good old boys!

https://theroughboys1.bandcamp.com/album/blood-booze-and-gasoline-ep

Primalfrost-Prosperous Visions

Maple Metal Records
2014

Active since early 2012, Primalfrost is a one-man band/project from Toronto, Ontario. With Dean Arnold (ex-Will of the Ancients, ex-Lesion) being the sole member and with just one other release to the band's name (2012's EP, "Chapters of Time") "Prosperous Visions" makes the proper full-length debut from this Canadian band. At 55 minutes plus the album, which was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Thomas Ireland at Icehouse Studios in Goderich, Ontario, Canada in late August of 2013, aims at covering as much ground as humanly possibly and by the Gods of all things metal if it just doesn't accomplish that and then some! It's a toss up as to what is more amazing here. Is it the fact that Dean Arnold not only composed all of the music and lyrics on "Prosperous Visions", but handled all of the instruments, vocals, and programming or is it the overall epic feel of everything that makes it so great? "Prosperous Visions" finds Dean trekking through the untamed forests of folk metal while simultaneously embracing blackened power metal, death metal, orchestral music and symphonic metal. In Dean's Arnold's skilled hands everything bounds together nearly seamlessly and as a debut-LP one couldn't ask for more graceful and well-timed material then this!  With Dean's harsh vocals steering the music at hand into dark and uncharted waters and song-structures that beg to tell the story of a longer-established act Primalfrost (as a band) is near the top of it's game and they've only just begun! 


PS. Did I mention that Dean Arnold is only 18? I didn't? Well, he is and as good as he is now just imagine how scary it will be when he really hits his stride! Yeah.....

Where Giants Once Stood-Live Above EP

Self-Release/Independent
2014

"Live Above" is the upcoming release from Toronto metal act Where Giants Once Stood. Due for release on September 2nd and serving as the follow-up to 2013's "The Changing" (a release which garnered high praise from critics and fans alike!) this Jon Howard (Threat Signal) produced EP showcases a young band that has already found it's footing. Standing at the crossroads of thrash, melodic hardcore, classic hardcore and traditional heavy metal this Toronto act is fronted by Reshaun Page, a powerhouse of a lead vocalist whose approach to singing is nothing if not extreme!

Jordan Turnbull – Lead Guitar/Vocals,  Reshaun Page – Lead Vocals ,  Scott Major – Rhythm Guitar/Vocals , Austin Hamilton- Drums  – Photo Credit – Logan Swinkels

 

Having already shared the stage with acts such as Chelsea Grin, Veil of Maya, Iwrestledabearonce and Beartooth (among others!) this young band features a line-up destined to destroy the modern metal scene thanks to mad skills of lead guitarist Jordan Turnbull (classic heavy metal solos mix it up with thrash attacks and down in the dirty streets hardcore brutality!) and songwriting that is fresh and full of energy! You can check out the EP's tough as nails opening track, "Living In Security" thanks to it's official video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zztYBohMvjY .Then be sure to head over to the group's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/wheregiantsoncestood) so that you can follow this epic young and (if fortune smiles upon you!) see the group live in living/thrashing color!

Breached-Left Behind

Self-Release/Independent Release
2013

The Toronto rock collective known as Breached was formed back in 2010. "Left Behind", which was recorded in between Canadian and US dates of this past the spring and summer, is the third EP from Breached and follows hot on the tracks of their second EP, the acoustic release, "Revolution Sessions". As this was my first exposure to this four-piece I really wasn't sure what to expect as their description, "loud rock", doesn't give you much to go on hint-wise. Then again, the band also came packing the requisite "recommended if you like..." part that (oddly) included the likes of Alice In Chains, Incubus, Staind, Deftones and Alexisonfire. I'm not sure what was going on with that Alice In Chains one other then the fact that Breached did include a stripped-down cover version of their "No Excuses" on their last EP. Well, it's either that or whoever suggested that this band would suite fans of that Seattle band was smoking something mighty green and mighty fierce! Up front, and thrown squarely in your face so that there is no way you can miss it, there is some fairly blatant apparent Staind love going on with this bunch. Although, to be fair and all, that kind of love has been done in much worse fashion then this band is capable of pumping out and the EP's second track, "Piece By Piece", actually had me envisioning the bastard offspring of Staind and Fall Out Boy! Oh, and then there's the fact that vocalist Bobby Noakes isn't really all that bad of a band leader. His vocals suite the style of rock here and give Breached, which is actually quite melodic when they choose to be, a fair shot at evolving into something more original. Perhaps I'm being a little too rough on this band. Unlike groups like Incubus and Staind these Toronto rockers don't make me want to shove crochet needles all the way into my eardrums! So hey, that's a positive right? Right?
http://breachedmusic.com/