Mortillery-Origin of Extinction

Napalm Records
2013

If you ever hear someone complain that real thrash is dead be sure to point them in the direction of Canada's Mortillery. "Origin of Extinction" is pure thrash. No additives or artificial ingredients to be found here. I first heard of this band when I covered their "Murder Death Kill" album. While that album was good this new LP finds the band making huge strides. If you want to hear proof then simply listen to the album's instrumental  opener, "Battle March", where the band goes full-steam ahead into technical thrash that wouldn't be out of place on either "Ride The Lightning" or "Master Of Puppets". From there the band ends up going all in. In doing so the band, lead by the talented Cara McCutchen, ends up finding their own voice in a overcrowded field of imitators and retro thrash-loving newbies. The band still owes their existence to bands like Exodus, Anthrax, Metallica and Death Angel, but it's more like they listened to the greats, learned a few new tricks, and set about thrashing the crap out of the competition! There's no sophomore slump to be found anywhere here. One of my favorite cuts was "Seen in Death". Here you have this headbanging number that is not only thrash with all the fixings (It reminded me a bit of Slayer crossed with Lääz Rockit), but again it just comes off better then a lot that is supposed to pass for "thrash" these days. This album could end up getting passed by due to it's album art (while I dig it myself I could see others taking one look and skipping it out of fear that it was more "retro-thrash"), but that would be a tragedy. Mortillery is thrash metal for thrash metal fans and "Origin of Extinction" showcases a young band getting better with each new release. Fans of  late 80's/early 90's thrash should appreciate this album. Hopefully what this five-piece band has done on album number two will simply keep repeating on album number three, number four and so on. Don't passe this one up folks.

http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=mortillery 

Mortillery-Murder Death Kill

Napalm Records
2012

Edmonton, Alberta act Mortillery was formed in 2009, releasing a self-titled EPa year later. "Murder Death Kill" (soothing title eh?) is the band's full-length debut then and judging by the band's name, album title and album artwork you just know this is going to be heavy right? The band is lead by (ex? current?) Minax front lady Cara McCutchen and play plain and simple, yet never boring mind you, thrash. Not modern thrash or really retro thrash for that matter. No, this is just "thrash". Odd way to put it I know and yet these five (Cara, another woman and three guys) play simple & effective thrash metal with more than enough grit to punish anyone who might dare oppose their sonic annihilation. For reference sake you could suggest that Exodus, Lääz Rockit, Heathen, early Death Angel, Vio-Lence, Anthrax and Forbidden helped shape their sound, but it does not come off as mere retro-worship unlike a lot of modern thrash bands. It also does not stuff any other influences into the mix like metalcore, death or black metal. It's just 10 tracks of face-ripping thrash from a band that is good, but has room to grow. This is a worthwhile pick-up if your a thrash freak no doubt. Don't fret that the band is fronted by a woman either. I'm not sure why anyone would be bothered by that anyway since more and more front women are taking the scene by storm, but I know some old-fashioned thrash fans are still put off by the thought. Me? No way and bands like Mortillery prove that thrash can sound good no matter who is behind the mic. Cara does a slamtastic (is that really a word?) job leading this young band and with some time to mature Mortillery could end up a real force to be reckoned with.

Loud As Hell News

Music publicist (and friend) Jon Asher (Asher Media Relations) sent this piece of news my way and I just had to share it. While I am not up to the task of attending it myself (old age, funds, and a lack of passport being just a few of the top reasons), Loud As Hell has a absolutely killer line-up going on and it sure sounds as if it will be one for the ages! Read on for all the details:



Western Canada's decibel breaking heavy metal festival Loud As Hell returns for its sixth consecutive year presented by Semchuk Productions, Jurassic Ink Custom Tattoo, Prairie Fire Events, and Asher Media Relations. Hosted in the Alberta badlands in Drumheller, this year's three day festival from August 4th-6th features 40 bands from across Western Canada and beyond. Ready to resurrect the roaring echoes of the dinosaurs that once ruled the area millions of years ago, the 2017 headliners Detroit tyrants BATTLECROSS will be melting the faces off headbangers and sure to stir a massive pit along with stoner rockers Vancouver's BLACK WIZARD will fellow city comrades sludge riffers BISON and Canadian 80's thrash legends AGGRESSION. The festival also includes various vendors, tattoo artists, suspension demos, guitar and drum clinics. Full line-up and set times listed below.

Weekend passes are now available at pre-sale price for $79 CAD until March 1st and will increase to the regular price of $99 CAD. Weekend passes include tent camping (additional onsite charges for RV's, trailers, & motorhomes).
Tickets available at http://www.loudashell.com/tickets.

Loud As Hell - 2017 Line Up & Set Times
Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/572801856244503/ 

Friday, August 4
Cocaine Mustache (Vancouver, BC) - 12:45am
Bison (Vancouver, BC) - 11:15pm
Exit Strategy (Calgary, AB) - 10pm
Mortillery (Edmonton, AB) - 9pm
Sentient (Calgary, AB) - 8pm
W.M.D. (Calgary, AB) - 7pm
Leave The Living (Red Deer, AB) - 6pm

Saturday, August 5
Shocker (Edmonton, AB) - 12:45am
Aggression (Vancouver, AB) - 11:15pm
Planet Eater (Regina, SK) - 10pm
Tyrants Demise (Winnipeg, MB) - 9pm
Expain (Vancouver, BC) - 8pm
VX36 (Northern California) - 7pm
Neck of The Woods (Vancouver, BC) - 6pm
Shark Infested Daughters (Calgary, AB) - 5:15pm
God Said Kill (Port Coquitlam, BC) - 4:30pm
Burning Effigy (Calgary, AB) - 3:45pm
Social Arsonist (Chile/Vancouver, BC)- 3pm
Hammerdrone (Calgary, AB) - 2:15pm
Cell (Winipeg, MB)- 1:30pm
Tides of Kharon (Edmonton, AB) - 12:45pm
The Cadavor Dog (High River, AB) - 12pm
Concrete Funeral (Calgary, AB) - 11:15am
Nuclear Oath (Medicine Hat, AB) - 10:30am

Sunday, Aug 6
Battlecross (Detroit, MI) - 11:15pm
Black Wizard (Vancouver, BC) - 10pm
Galactic Pegasus (Vancouver, BC) - 9pm
Scythia (Calgary, AB) - 8pm
Nylithia (Vancouver, BC) - 7pm
Dead Asylum (Vancouver, BC) - 6pm
Altars of Grief (Regina, SK) - 5:15pm
Skepsis (Edmonton, AB) - 4:30pm
Tales of The Tomb (Edmonton, AB) - 3:45pm
Tyrant of Chaos (Lethbridge, AB) - 3pm
Slaughterhauser (Mission City, BC) - 2:15pm
Sovreign Enemy (Winnipeg, MB)  - 1:30pm
Statue of Demur (Calgary, AB) - 12:45pm
Gales of Avalon (Calgary, AB) - 12pm
Immunize (Edmonton, AB) - 11:15am
Caste of Shadows (Lethbridge, AB) - 10:30am

Loud As Hell 2017 social media hashtag is #LAH666.

Also check out Metal-Rules.com's live review of LAH 2016 here.

For more info, please visit these links:

https://www.facebook.com/LoudAsHellFestival

http://www.loudashell.com
@Loudashellfest #LAH666

Video Links: https://www.youtube.com/user/SlimBzTV

Festival Bio:

Loud As Hell Metal Festival in Drumheller, Alberta, Canada will be celebrating year 6 in 2017. As always the festival takes place over August long weekend from August 4th-6th. They always work their hardest to deliver the best lineup in the West ready to melt your face off. Featuring over 30 of the top Canadian metal bands you won’t want to miss any of it. And don't forget about their freak shows, burlesque dancers, clinics, vendors and dinosaurs!