Search Results: alberta

• DEVOLVER's New Music Video “Wraiths” Captures The Camaraderie of Fans Under The Alberta Sky

  Nov 14, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  L-R: Jayde Penner (guitar), Bevin Booth (drums), Jaylen Elias (bass), Devin Babcock (guitar), Chris Brown (vocals)

  Photo Credit - Heidi Robertson

  Grande Prairie, Canada’s own metal force, Devolver, has dropped a powerful new music video for “Wraiths,” a standout track from their latest album "Non Compos Mentis." Filmed during an intimate album release show at Grain Bin Brewing, the video captures the raw energy and camaraderie of a night that brought 150 fans together under the Alberta sky, immortalizing a night of celebration, community, and crushing riffs.
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  ​“We knew we wanted to do something special. So we had our friend Mike Evans film the show. This music video is for all the people who were there celebrating with us, making it such a special night,” adds the band.
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  ​“Wraiths” is a groove-driven, straight-ahead metal track with thrash undertones and a nod to classic rock and metal. Lyrically, it explores themes of mysticism as a bridge to connect with lost loved ones, an emotional depth that complements its sonic punch.

  Formed in 2015 by guitarist Devin Babcock and drummer/producer Bevin Booth, Devolver has grown from a side project into a full-fledged metal powerhouse. With the addition of Jayde Penner (guitar), Chris Brown (vocals), and Jaylen Elias (bass), the band’s sound has matured into a collaborative blend of Gothenburg-style melodic death metal and early 2000s metalcore.
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  Their new album, produced by metal heavyweight Mark Lewis (Trivium, Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder), marks a seismic shift in their sound.

  “This is what the five of us sound like collaborating as a unit. Mark helped us push this thing over the edge,” adds the band.

  
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  The album’s artwork, created by legendary artist Travis Smith (Opeth, Megadeth), is a chilling visual interpretation of the true story behind the title track. It depicts Devin Babcock’s ancestor, Amos Babcock, who in 1805 committed a gruesome murder in Shediac, New Brunswick, during a religious frenzy. The haunting image of Amos in the snow, surrounded by the eyes of his nine children, adds a historical and emotional weight to the album’s narrative.
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  ​Devolver’s connection to their hometown runs deep. They partnered with Grain Bin Brewing to create “Brews of the Maw,” a blackberry and blood orange pale ale named after their track “Jewels of the Maw.” And for fans of Magic: The Gathering, the band has hidden lyrical nods throughout the album, including a track titled “Deathtouch.”

  Recommended for fans of In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, Killswitch Engage, and As I Lay Dying, "Non Compos Mentis" is a bold leap forward, each track a chapter in a larger emotional and sonic narrative.

  "Non Compos Mentis" (released Aug 22nd) is available at the following links:

  Bandcamp - https://devolvermusic.bandcamp.com/​

  Spotify for Playlist Add - https://open.spotify.com/album/3eeLxBrxx55QvIm3EnahLm​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Deathtouch – 3:55
  2. New Blood – 3:14
  3. Jewels of the Maw – 3:30
  4. Wraiths – 3:20
  5. At Any Cost – 3:40
  6. Non Compos Mentis – 3:53
  7. Merciless Storm – 3:56
  8. Suffocating Syndrome – 3:36
  9. Dehumanize – 3:47
  Album Length: 32:55

  Band Lineup:​
  Chris Brown - Vocals
  Devin Babcock - Guitar (lead)
  Jayde Penner - Guitar (rhythm)
  Bevin Booth - Drums
  Jaylen Elias - Bass

  More info: https://linktr.ee/devolverab​

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• JULIET RUIN Unleashes A Fierce Fusion of Vulnerability and Power w/ New EP "Regime" + Alberta Tour Dates

  Oct 24, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Edmonton, AB, Canada's Juliet Ruin returns with their most emotionally raw and sonically ambitious release to date: the "Regime" EP, now available on all major streaming platforms. To celebrate, the band is hitting the road with a series of EP release shows across Alberta (listed below), bringing their signature blend of chunky riffs, soaring melodies, and studio-tight vocals to fans across the province.
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  ​“Regime” marks a new chapter for Juliet Ruin. Formed in 2015 from the ashes of Fiction of Fate, the band has spent the last decade refining its sound, a genre-fluid fusion of groove, metalcore, and pop sensibility that’s as powerful as it is vulnerable. With five tracks that range from introspective to explosive, "Regime" dives deep into mental health, personal growth, and social reflection.

  
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  From the eerie introspection of “Poems By a Poltergeist” to the title track’s blazing demand for empathy and justice, the EP masterfully fuses crushing breakdowns with infectious pop sensibilities. Jess Fleming delivers her most emotionally exposed performance to date, pulling lyrics directly from her personal journals and infusing each scream and melody with unfiltered intensity. Standout tracks include “Reactance Theory,” a sharp dive into resistance and impulse shaped by social psychology; “Chrysalis,” a symbolic passage through depression and personal rebirth; “The Art of Being Wise,” a tender goodbye to fractured relationships; and “Regime,” the EP’s most sonically aggressive piece, a fervent call for compassion in a fractured world.

  “The Regime EP came together from our collective frustrations and personal struggles over the past few years. It challenged us creatively and emotionally, and we’re proud of the balance we struck between heaviness and vulnerability. Some tracks are heavier than we imagined, some more pop-like than expected, but all of it is authentically Juliet Ruin,” adds the band.

  
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  The EP’s cover, designed by longtime collaborator Feen Murray, features abstract skulls and hearts, symbolizing the tension between emotionality and overthinking. It’s a visual reflection of the EP’s lyrical depth and sonic duality.
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  ​Juliet Ruin will be performing a series of EP release shows across Alberta, joined by fill-in bassist Dale Myroniuk (Dahlmers Realm, Breaking the Silent). Known for their high-energy performances and tight vocal execution, the band promises a live experience that’s as intense as the studio recordings.

  EP Release Show Dates:​
  Oct 25 - Edmonton, AB - Dive Bar
  Nov 1 - Medicine Hat, AB - Mainliner Pub
  Nov 7 - Lloydminster, AB - Cheers Live
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  ​"Regime" is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and all major platforms.

  Bandcamp - https://julietruin.bandcamp.com/

  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/0LzQEj2OzZFCGRQnXBlY7q

  More info:

  https://www.facebook.com/julietruinband

  https://www.instagram.com/julietruin

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• LOUD AS HELL OPEN AIR FESTIVAL Opens Band Submissions For 2026 Line Up - Camping & Extreme Music In Alberta's Badlands

  Sep 30, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  

  Set against the rugged backdrop of Alberta’s badlands, where sculpted sandstone, wind-carved hoodoos, and sweeping canyons dominate the landscape, Canada’s most decibel-breaking extreme music gathering, the Loud As Hell Open Air Festival, returns for its 14th edition in 2026. From July 31st to August 2nd, Drumheller’s Dinosaurs Down Stampede will erupt with the ferocity of rising Canadian and international metal acts, roaring through the heart of the nation’s largest dinosaur fossil beds.

  Band submissions for the 2026 edition officially open on October 1st and will be accepted until October 31st. This is your band's chance to join one of the loudest and most brutal festivals in Canada, where underground talent meets prehistoric fury.

  Bands interested in performing can apply at the following link: https://loudashell.ca/​

  Early Bird tickets go on sale December 1st, 2026. Don’t miss your chance to lock in the loudest weekend of the summer at a killer price. Get ready for prehistoric heaviness and decibel-shattering performances in one of Canada’s most surreal landscapes. Loud As Hell is coming… and it’s going to be louder than ever.

  The 2025 edition of Loud As Hell delivered three relentless days of headbanging, moshing, and pure metal chaos, featuring over 40 bands from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Acts like Revocation, Insurrection, First Fragment, Gorgatron, Filth, Opal in Sky, Judicator, Beguiler, Gore Pig, Spit On Your Grave, Hazzerd, Cyborg Octopus, and Thirteen Goats tore through the badlands with crushing performances. The festival even hosted a heavy metal wedding, adding a unique twist to the weekend’s sonic carnage.

  LAH 2025 Lineup Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3cu3CgEX8n2g2MQbADNJmg

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  Since launching in 2012, Loud As Hell Open Air Festival has cemented its place as a cornerstone of Canada’s extreme music scene, showcasing hundreds of bands from across the country and around the world, save for a brief pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, the festival has hosted heavyweights like Beyond Creation, Striker, Green Jelly, The Convalescence, Jungle Rot, Narcotic Wasteland, Into Eternity, Goatwhore, Fit for An Autopsy, Archspire, Unleash The Archers, Protest the Hero, AngelMaker, and many more, drawing metalheads from coast to coast for a weekend of sonic devastation.

  In 2026, Loud As Hell returns for its 14th edition, presented by Loud As Hell Productions, Jurassic Ink Custom Tattoo, Prairie Fire Events, and Asher Media Relations. Renowned for delivering one of the most punishing lineups in Western Canada, the festival promises another unforgettable experience packed with crushing performances, freak shows, burlesque acts, clinics, vendors, and yes, dinosaurs. Loud As Hell isn’t just a festival. It’s a full-throttle celebration of metal mayhem.

  More info:
  ​LoudAsHell.ca​
  ​Facebook.com/LoudAsHellFestival​
  X: @LoudAsHellFest
  Instagram: @LoudAsHellFestival
  ​Social Media Hashtags #LAHXIV, #LAHOA, #LAHOA2026

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• THE FIXER's New Single Is An Anthem To Break Free “It Will End Tonight” + "Ugly Knots Tour" with TEKNOSIS Across Central Canada (QC/ON/MB/SK/AB)

  Sep 11, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Following the raw emotional power of their 2023 debut album "Your Lie," released via Worm Hole Death Records, genre-defying metal outfit The Fixer returns with a new single, “It Will End Tonight”, as they gear up for a tour across five Canadian provinces, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta with fellow Thunder Bay comrades TEKNOSIS this coming October (dates listed below).

  Performed live as a set closer, the single has already become a fan-favourite and now finally gets its official release. Written with live performance in mind, “It Will End Tonight” channels the band’s roots in hardcore, screamo, and punk, while weaving in their signature industrial and gothic textures. Drawing sonic inspiration from acts like Alexisonfire, Holly Springs Disaster, Rammstein, and Type O Negative, the single delivers a raw, melodic intensity that captures the cathartic energy of The Fixer’s live shows.
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  Lyrically, the song explores the painful clarity of realizing a situation won’t change, no matter how tightly you hold on. It’s about the strength it takes to walk away when staying only causes more harm.

  “We’ve always written from a heartfelt lens. This track is no exception. It’s about fighting through darkness with love, and we think fans who connect with our emotional honesty will resonate deeply with it,” says the band.
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  The single’s artwork, created by Vicki Nerino, reflects this fiery emotional core, an elemental reinterpretation of The Fixer’s logo, inspired directly by the song’s intensity.

  For fans of emotionally driven metal with theatrical flair, this tour is not to be missed. “It Will End Tonight” is just the beginning of what promises to be a transformative new chapter for The Fixer.
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  Listen to “It Will End Tonight” via its premiere on Bravewords HERE.

  The Fixer hits the road with fellow Thunder Bay heavyweights Teknosis for the Ugly Knots Tour, a cross-Canada metal blitz that promises to be nothing short of explosive. Fans can expect new material, revived deep cuts, and the kind of emotionally charged performances that have become The Fixer’s trademark.

  "Touring is something we all look forward to in The Fixer. The most rewarding part of being in a band is seeing people connect with something you’ve created, and our favourite way to do that is in the live setting. We will be heading out with fresh songs, as well as bringing a couple of songs back into the set that we haven’t played in some time. Similarly, we are excited to be playing some places we haven’t played before and some of the first places we ever played outside of our hometown," says Vic Sin, Guitar - The Fixer

  “We are incredibly pleased with our first EP, ‘Return to Civilization’. These 5 songs are the perfect introduction to the sound of Teknosis. Fans of all genres of metal will enjoy our hybrid of metal genres. We are now beyond thrilled to be bringing these songs and more on tour this October with The Fixer,” adds bassist Travis Doggett - Teknosis.

  Ugly Knots Tour 2025 - The Fixer, Teknosis
  ​Oct 2 - La Sarre, QC - La Brute du Coin *
  Oct 3 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar *
  Oct 4 - Espanola, ON - Shorty's *
  Oct 9 - Fort Frances, ON - Pink Parasol Tea Room
  Oct 10 - Brandon, MB - The 40
  Oct 11 - Prince Albert, SK - Studio Q
  Oct 12 - Edmonton, AB - The Rendezvous
  Oct 13 - Calgary, AB - Pin Bar
  Oct 14 - Lethbridge, AB - The Slice
  Oct 15 - Moose Jaw, SK - Chillers
  Oct 16 - Saskatoon, SK - Green Room
  Oct 17 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
  Oct 18 - The Pas, MB - The Wescana Inn
  Oct 19 - Winnipeg, MB - Osborne Taphouse
  Oct 31 - Thunder Bay, ON - The Hunger 18 (Downtown-wide Hallowe'en Festival)
  * = without Teknosis

  About Teknosis:

  Formed out of pure love for metal. Teknosis has quickly evolved into a tight, aggressive unit with a shared vision: to make heavy music that hits hard and leaves no room to breathe. Set to ignite stages across the country this October, Teknosis is bringing their relentless live energy to fans in support of their acclaimed 2024 EP "Return to Civilization", a five-track barrage of groove-laced hardcore and death metal influences. It's a compact, violent sonic explosion that lyrically channels frustration and isolation from lockdowns, with themes ranging from societal collapse to personal survival.

  With ambient samples bridging each track, Teknosis will be a visceral live experience as they deliver a seamless, high-impact set that’s organic, heavy, and hypnotic.

  “We still believe in live amps and drums straight to the cochlea. It’s all about maximum intensity. A sonic experience that’s as brutal as it is addictive," says bassist Travis Doggett.

  Fans can expect new singles starting in Fall 2025, leading up to a full-length album in late 2025 or early 2026. The October tour will feature tracks from "Return to Civilization" alongside unreleased material, giving audiences a taste of what’s to come.

  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Cu2jRvDUKvEZdqJd5QjwJ​

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  ​More Info:

  ​https://www.facebook.com/TheFixerBand | https://www.instagram.com/thefixercanada | https://www.tiktok.com/@thefixercanada​

  ​https://www.facebook.com/teknosismetal | https://www.instagram.com/teknosis.metal/

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• DEVOLVER Unveils New Album "Non Compos Mentis" Produced by Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, Trivium, DevilDriver, Black Dahlia Murder)

  Aug 22, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Grande Prairie, Canada's rising metal outfit Devolver, returns with a vengeance, announcing the release of their sophomore album, "Non Compos Mentis", out August 22nd, 2025. Produced by genre heavyweight Mark Lewis, whose credits include Whitechapel, Trivium, and DevilDriver, the album marks a seismic evolution in Devolver’s sound, melding Gothenburg-style melodic death metal with the raw intensity of early 2000s metalcore.

  Formed in 2015 by guitarist Devin Babcock as a creative outlet for material that didn’t fit his previous band, Devolver has grown into a five-piece force of nature. With members also active in the local project Dog Poison, the band’s roots run deep in the underground scene.

  "Non Compos Mentis" is more than an album; it’s a visceral listening experience. The album features a refined tracklist culled from over 20 demos, each song built collaboratively from riffs and skeletons crafted by guitarists Devin Babcock and Jayde Penner, resulting in a relentless, emotionally charged journey that’s both technically precise and soulfully raw.

  The album’s haunting title track, "Non Compos Mentis", draws from a chilling true story: the 1805 murder of Amos Babcock’s sister in a religious frenzy, an ancestor of Devin Babcock. The artwork was created by legendary metal illustrator Travis Smith (Opeth, Avenged Sevenfold, Soilwork), depicting Amos bloodied in the snow, surrounded by the ghostly eyes of his nine children. It’s a visual as disturbing as the story it tells, and a testament to the band’s commitment to storytelling through music and art.

  The band comments on the album's release:

  “We think Non Compos Mentis will be embraced by fans of our first album; it’s a huge evolution of our sound. Our first album was a passion project for Devin, but this record is what the five of us sound like collaborating as a unit. The razor-sharp production from Mark Lewis helped us push this thing over the edge, into something we think people will grab onto. We want to give people the feeling we felt when we first heard our favourite bands, and the albums that made us fall in love with music."

  With each track on the album as a chapter in a larger emotional and sonic narrative, Devolver's "Non Compos Mentis" represents a bold leap forward and is recommended for fans of Swedish melodic death metal and classic metalcore. Think the melodic brutality of In Flames and Dark Tranquillity, fused with the punch of Killswitch Engage and As I Lay Dying.

  "Non Compos Mentis" is available at the following links:

  Album order (out Aug 22nd) - https://devolvermusic.bandcamp.com/​

  Spotify for Playlist Add - https://open.spotify.com/album/3eeLxBrxx55QvIm3EnahLm​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Deathtouch – 3:55
  2. New Blood – 3:14
  3. Jewels of the Maw – 3:30
  4. Wraiths – 3:20
  5. At Any Cost – 3:40
  6. Non Compos Mentis – 3:53
  7. Merciless Storm – 3:56
  8. Suffocating Syndrome – 3:36
  9. Dehumanize – 3:47
  Album Length: 32:55

  Band Lineup:​
  Chris Brown - Vocals
  Devin Babcock - Guitar (lead)
  Jayde Penner - Guitar (rhythm)
  Bevin Booth - Drums
  Jaylen Elias - Bass

  More info: https://linktr.ee/devolverab

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