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• HYPERSPACE METALFEST Announces 2025 Lineup w/ ENFORCER, PLANESWALKER, GLYPH, LUNAR, SOLARUS, TYLOR DORY TRIO and More!

  Aug 27, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  HMF 2025 Lineup Spotify Playlist - https://spoti.fi/3T4kU2p​

  Canada's premier melodic and power metal festival HYPERSPACE Metal Fest returns for its 6th edition after another year of crowd-pleasing epic fun in Vancouver, BC. Being hosted at The Cobalt (April 10 &11th) and The Rickshaw Theatre (April 12th), the 2025 lineup will feature headliners ENFORCER, PLANESWALKER, GLYPH along with Lunar, Solarus, Tower Hill, Luminator, Tylor Dory Trio, Heyoka's Mirror with more to be announced.

  Festival organizer Joey Hockin of Journeyman Productions adds:

  "It's finally time to reveal Hyperspace Metal Festival VI! We were a little later announcing this year because we want to make sure we're bringing you the same quality you've come to expect. And on that, I think we've delivered! The full lineup will be announced in the fall. Hope to see you next April!"

  Headlining Saturday, April 12th at The Rickshaw Theatre, Sweden's ENFORCER have proved themselves both live and on record, they stake their place amongst the world’s most renowned heavy metal bands since first forming in 2005. They have toured the world over, playing the biggest festivals and garnering a global fanbase. Their latest sixth studio album Nostalgia (released May 2023 - Nuclear Blast), features 13 heavy metal anthems and throws ENFORCER back to their speed metal roots. Fusing extreme guitar riffing with catchy stadium choruses, ENFORCER is out to conquer the world.

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  Headlining Friday, April 11th, and returning for their second time at HMF, the duo known as PLANESWALKER features Jason Ashcraft (Helion Prime) and Sozos Michael (Gloryhammer, ex-Helion Prime) present Magic the Gathering-inspired Power Metal. They recently released their latest single "Compleated" and were joined by Carlos Alvarez (ex-Power Theory, Behölder, Shadowdance) on bass and Stefanos Meletiou (The Zilla Project, Private Garden).

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  Headlining Thursday, April 10th, the Pacific Northwest's Glyph, is not just a heavy metal band, they are a crew of intergalactic mercenaries escaping a dying planet in their spaceship, the VSS Dragonlord. Clearly, Glyph isn’t just writing songs, they’re building worlds and they bring it forth in their latest album "Honor, Power, Glory" released this past March.

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  Also featured on this year's 2025 lineup and making their first HMF appearance and performing for the first time ever, Lunar is a progressive metal project from California that features members from Witherfall, Helion Prime, Planeswalker, Novareign, Mokili Wa, Nordic Frost, Outloud, Double Vision. Their fourth and latest album “The Illusionist” features guests Jørgen Munkeby (Shining), Christian Münzner (Obscura), Andy Gillion (Mors Principium Est), Taylor Washington (Paladin), Sam Vallen (Caligula's Horse), Ben Karas (Thank You Scientist), Gleb Kanasevich, and Patrick Corona.

  Meant to perform on the 2024 lineup, but forced to cancel, Tylor Dory Trio returns for 2025, they are a monstrous progressive metal unit and beloved by many in Western Canada. This live performance will be their first following a nearly seven-year layoff.

  Hailing from London, ON, Solarus, simply put, is a musical vision and ambition to bring musicians together through their shared love for music. They bring forth impressive female-fronted melodic power metal.

  Traveling from Edmonton, AB, Tower Hill delivers premium old-school heavy metal inspired by bands like Running Wild, Riot, Judas Priest, early Blind Guardian, and Helloween. Forging the best of the late 80s and early 90s German, British, and US metal scenes into a new blend of shimmering steel, Tower Hill’s riff-driven, hook-laden traditional metal will have you banging your head and singing along.

  Luminator is a fantasy power metal band from the Pacific Northwest (Tacoma, WA) and will be supporting their latest EP "On The Clouds".

  From Calgary, AB, Heyoka's Mirror is a progressive rock/metal band with international roots that was brought to life in the summer of 2015 by founding members Andrew Balboa and Omar Sultan. Their first music video “Asylum” (directed by Seth Williams), was nominated as Best Music Video by the 2020 YYC Music Awards and was released in support of their debut full-length "The Uninvited King".

  Hyperspace Metal Festival VI - April 10th - 12th.​
  One-day passes and three-day passes are available at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/hyperspace-metal-festival-vi-tickets-1000996957847​

  Facebook Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/1637280440385808​

  To follow updates for Hyperspace Metal Festival 2024, please visit the following links:
  ​Facebook.com/HyperspaceMetalFestival​
  ​Instagram.com/HyperspaceMetalFestival​

  Over the five editions of Hyperspace Metal Festival, bands from all over the world have come to play power, prog, melodic death, and speed metal on the Canadian West Coast. The festival has presented lineups that have included performances by Týr, Flotsam and Jetsam, Skelator, Trollfest, Aether Realm, Exmortus, Striker, Riot City, Into Eternity, Witherfall, Planeswalker, Iron Kingdom, Helion Prime, Ravenous, Crimson Shadows, West of Hell, Judicator, Odinfist, Tanagra, Scythia, Greyhawk, The Order of Chaos, Red Cain, and many more.

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• THE CONVALESCENCE Announces "No Survivors Tour Part 2" w/ Casket Robbery, Ignominious, Voraath, Green Jelly, The Bunny The Bear On Select Dates

  Aug 27, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Blending black metal/horror theatrics with intense death metal style blast beats and shredding guitar along with brutal slamming breakdowns and catchy melodies, Toledo, OH symphonic deathcore band The Convalescence unleashed their latest album entitled "Harvesters Of Flesh And Bone" this past November on Cleopatra Records.

  Featuring 11 tracks of relentless brutality, each song is its own short horror story. For this record, The Convalescence really wanted to continue down the path of what they've done on past releases "This Is Hell" and "Monument Of Misery" but also experiment with some new ideas while still bringing everyone the gore-filled lyrics and bloodthirsty riffs that their fans expect. After 2 years of work on the full-length, The Convalescence expects "Harvesters Of Flesh And Bone" will be received well by the fans. The album features guests Scott Ian Lewis (Carnifex) and Ricky Myers (Suffocation) and was produced and mixed by Jason Suecof (The Black Dahlia Murder, Carnifex, Deicide, Job For A Cowboy) plus mastered by Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy).

  In support of the full-length, the band toured across the USA and Canada with dates with Obituary, King 810, Green Jelly, Monochromatic Black, Sea of Trechery, and more, earlier this summer. They now continue this Fall, with"No Survivors Tour Part 2" with support on select dates from Casket Robbery, Ignominious, and Voraath. The tour will also be supporting Green Jelly & The Bunny The Bear on select dates. (dates listed below).

  Filthy, brutal, and symphonic, The Convalescence is not to be missed! All tickets are available at tconband.com.

  "Harvesters Of Flesh And Bone" is available from Cleopatra Records at the following links:

  CD / Vinyl - https://www.indiemerchstore.com/collections/the-convalescence​

  Digital - https://orcd.co/theconvalescence_harvesters

  The Convalescence "No Survivors Tour Part 2"​

  Tickets are available at https://tconband.com​

  Oct. 5 - Toledo, OH @ The Ottawa Tavern w/Green Jelly
  Oct. 6 - Lakewood, OH @ The Foundry Concert Club w/Green Jelly
  Oct. 7 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Hard Rock Cafe
  Oct. 8 - Hartford, CT @ The Webster Underground
  Oct. 10 - Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz
  Oct. 11 - Mechanicsburg, PA @ Lovedraft's Brewing Co.
  Oct. 12 - Raleigh, NC @ Chapel Of Bones
  Oct. 13 - Charlotte, NC @ The Neighborhood Theatre
  Oct. 14 - Nashville, TN @ The End
  Oct. 15 - Louisville, KY @ Zanzabar
  Oct. 16 - Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle
  Oct. 17 - New Haven, IN @ Carl's Tavern
  Oct. 18 - Detroit, MI @ Harpo's Concert Theatre
  Oct. 19 - Madison, WI @ The Annex
  Oct. 20 - Sioux Falls, SD @ Bigs Bar
  Oct. 22 - Saint Paul, MN @ Turf Club
  Oct. 23 - Des Moines, IA @ Lefty's Live Music
  Oct. 24 - Bloomington, IL @ Nightshop
  Oct. 25 - Battle Creek, MI @ The Music Factory
  Oct. 26 - Bedford Park, IL @ Hell Over Midway w/The Bunny The Bear

  For more info:​
  ​http://tconband.com​
  ​https://www.facebook.com/theconvalescence​
  ​https://www.instagram.com/theconvalescenceofficial​
  ​https://twitter.com/tconband

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• FREYA’s Intoxicating Blend Of Hardcore And Thrash Bubbles Over In “Blood Thirst”

  Aug 23, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Freya, the veteran hardcore/metal band hailing from Syracuse, USA, is set to drop their newest single “Blood Thirst”. This powerful track showcases the band's unique blend of hardcore intensity and thrash metal fury that they have been perfecting for over two decades. The single is a straightforward banger, drummer Ethan D. Henry comments on the track:

  “I’m not vegan or anything but I was just thinking of this concept of some trophy hunters entering the forest killing and taking what they wanted and leaving the corpses of their victims to rot. I imagined a grizzly bear being fed up finding rotten deer, turkey, and whatever else on his daily trek. Full of rage, he is forced to fight back and chase the men out of the forest. Like Batman haha. But a pissed-off grizzly bear.”

  Drawing inspiration from the hard-hitting, old-school hardcore vibe of bands like Biohazard, the song opens with a memorable riff that immediately grabs the listener's attention. As the track progresses, Freya seamlessly shifts into a thrash metal assault reminiscent of Slayer, showcasing the band's ability to blend genres with precision and intensity.

  Henry also comments that he wanted this track to crank and hit hard, “it's about capturing that raw energy that makes hardcore and thrash so powerful”. “Blood Thirst” will appeal to both hardcore and metal fans alike, especially those with an interest in Earth Crisis, Terror, and Hatebreed.

  Listen to “Blood Thirst” below.​

  “Blood Thirst” is available for pre-save at https://bfan.link/blood-thirst and will be on all digital platforms as of August 23rd, 2024 via Upstate Records.

  More Info: Upstaterecordsny.com/freya | https://linktr.ee/freyaband315

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• MASSIVE SCAR ERA Collaborates w/ ENTHEOS' Chaney Crabb To Give A Voice To Recent Egyptian History w/ Single “School Girls”; New EP “Assyad” Out Oct 2024

  Aug 23, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  ft. guest musicians Simon McKay (The Agonist), Frédérick Filiatrault (Unexpect, Vvon Dogma I), Salem Atallah, Muhammed Abouzeid, Chaney Crabb (Entheos)

  L-R - Cherine Amr | Chaney Crabb

  Massive Scar Era, the visionary Egyptian/Canadian metal project led by Cherine Amr, is thrilled to announce the release of their new single “School Girls | بنات المدرسة”. This track, featuring the dynamic vocals of Chaney Crabb from Entheos, is the lead single from their upcoming EP, “Assyad”, set to drop in October 2024. With “School Girls”, Massive Scar Era breaks genre boundaries again, blending progressive rock, post-grunge, Egyptian music, and metal into a captivating sound that resonates deeply with fans worldwide. Amr comments on the unique track:

  “‘School Girls’ represents a dialogue between the Mu’allima (teacher) spirit, brought to life by Chaney’s voice, and the outside world. The chorus is adapted from the traditional Zar song “Banat el Madrassa," reflecting a significant era in Egyptian society and feminism. It highlights the pursuit of higher education by middle and upper-class women in the 1950s, symbolizing their aspirations and empowerment. The Mu’allima serves as both a guide within the female Zar realm and a social archetype.”

  Amr, the creative force behind Massive Scar Era, has dedicated years to studying Egyptian Zār traditions, weaving this deep cultural understanding into her music. Zār is a cult of possession in which ritual incorporates music and dance. Zar aims to establish a state of reconciliation between the individuals and the possessing spirits (Asyad) that inhabit their bodies and are believed to be the cause of illness.

  For this EP, Amr received invaluable support from the community and cultural consultant, Dr. Kawkab Tawfik, who introduced her to Zar Abou El-Gheit, led by the master Zar musician, Muhammed AbouZeid. Muhammed invited Amr to attend one of their ceremonies held for a patient at his home in the village of Abou El-Gheit, a couple of hours outside Cairo, Egypt. They formed an immediate connection there, and Muhammed was instrumental in deepening Amr's understanding of Zar songs.

  Amr later invited Muhammed and his bandmate Salem to Montreal, where we engaged in daily songwriting workshops. Joining them were metal musicians Simon Mckay (the drummer of The Agonist) and Frédérick Filiatrault (bassist of Vvon Dogma I, Unexpect) for a month-long residency. Amr worked closely with Simon, recording the Zar songs played by Muhammed and Salem on a DR-70 Tascam. Amr would then take these recordings home to develop the songs further, sometimes sending Simon rough versions with unquantized drumlines or even without any drumlines. Simon would then rewrite the drumlines and occasionally assist with the guitar arrangements. The next day, they would reunite in the studio to share and refine their ideas. This process, which they repeated five days a week, was truly collaborative.

  As Massive Scar Era continues to evolve, the release of the single “School Girls” marks a new chapter in the band’s journey, offering fans a glimpse into the rich, progressive musical experience that awaits in “Assyad”, which will be a concept record that blends Egyptian Zār songs with prog rock and metal.

  "I believe this EP will be a journey that and I think it will resonate with those who appreciate concept albums and are drawn to non-mainstream metal music. In the world of Zar, what you are curious about also becomes curious about you. Each song on this EP is inspired by a specific Zar spirit, and I’m eager to see how each listener connects with the EP, as I’m sure everyone will be drawn to different songs in their own unique way." adds Amr.

  This single “School Girls” is a testament to Amr's commitment to exploring and honoring these traditions while pushing the boundaries of modern metal music along with it being a bold statement, blending traditional Zār songs and rhythms with the raw power of metal into a unique and distinctive sound.

  Recommended for fans of Merfolk, Nawather, and Zaeer, listen to “School Girls” ft. Chaney Crabb (Entheos) at the following links:

  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4716lSP

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  Due on October 25th, 2024, "Assyad" is available for pre-order at https://massivescarera.bandcamp.com/​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Muluk al-Ardiyya | The Kings of the Earth - 4:54
  2. Abdel Salam Lasmar - 3:17
  3. Genie, Lambo - 3:17
  4. Inner Dialogue - 3:33
  5. El-Leil | The Night - 4:24
  6. Pretend - 3:43
  7. School Girls ft. Chaney Crabb (Entheos) - 3:26
  EP Length: 26:38

  More info: Facebook.com/massivescarera | Instagram.com/massivescarera

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• Canada's PRISONER Get Back To Their Heavy Rock Roots In New EP “House Of Cards” And Video “Skies are Blackened”

  Aug 21, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Prisoner is a high-energy Canadian rock band bringing you hard-hitting riffs and unmistakably tight grooves. They have their new EP “House Of Cards” out now, complemented with a video for their first single “Skies are Blackened”. The EP is a conglomeration of music with multiple elements from varying sub-genres. It bridges the gap between emotion and life experience to truly connect music to the individual. The band comments further:

  “We think the EP will be received quite well from music fans. There is something for everyone in regard to genre and song range. We have songs that we believe did not fit in an LP structure but were all great together in their own way, Thus the House of Cards EP. With anthemic themes, fast riffs, and glassy acoustic guitar, each song offers something different for your casual rock fan to die-hard thrash headbanger.”

  The band's journey began in 2016 under the name "Bad Omen," evolving into "Prisoner" with the release of the song "Prisoner of Time." The name reflects the universal experience of being constrained by various aspects of life. Frontman Murray Emery, who started the band, formed the original lineup in London, Ontario, after attending OIART for audio engineering. Following several lineup changes and a move to Los Angeles, Emery returned to Calgary and solidified the current lineup with guitarist Jeremy Hartmann, bassist Trevor Macdonald, and drummer Karl Pflug.

  Prisoner's dedication to their craft is evident in their unparalleled stage presence and their commitment to engaging with their audience. The band thrives on crowd interaction and creating an electric atmosphere at their shows. Off stage, they value connecting with fans and being part of the rock community. They are recommended for fans of AC/DC, Judas Priest, and Metallica.

  Watch and listen to the music video for “Skies are Blackened” below.

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  “House Of Cards” is now available as of August 21, 2024, on all digital platforms at the following links:

  [embed]https://open.spotify.com/album/7aH1GTnydeVOBPLcRfjW55?si=rZnNGY19QROfSvj14hO3IA[/embed]

  ​Spotify​

  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/prisoner/1617269145​

  Youtube: https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCma5RX_ENik_slc_nw5HP8A​

  Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B0019BL0QC/prisoner​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Skies are Blackened (2:42)
  2. On a Sunday (4:26)
  3. House of Cards (The Game Pt.2) (3:38)
  EP Length: 10:46

  EP Band Lineup:
  Murray Emery (Vocals/Guitar)
  Jeremy Hartmann (Guitar)
  Trevor MacDonald(Bass)
  Wes Bartram (Drums)
  Karl Pflug (Drums)

  More info: https://prisonerband.ca

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