Search Results: canadian

• IVY GARDENS Live Off The Floor Sludge Rock Album "Death of Don Valley" + Canadian Tour Dates

  Aug 28, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Niagara Falls, Canada's Ivy Gardens is unveiling their lush-sounding, raw and live off the floor sludge rock storytelling album "Death of Don Valley" as they prepare to hit the road across Canada in support of its release on August 29th, 2025 via Paper Cut Recordings.

  Before it officially drops, the trio has teamed up with Bravewords for its full stream premiere, which can be heard HERE.

  The band comments on their sophomore album:

  "Death of Don Valley is the record we had inside us, but couldn’t quite articulate for several years. Musically, it’s a huge leap in a more experimental direction. It’s about death, decay, and the ultimate destruction of the world around you. Everybody knows of some sort of small natural space that gets slowly encroached upon until only a shell remains. The pond beside the highway, the wetlands behind the factory. The Don Valley in Toronto is one such natural feature, slowly tainted by industrialization until it can’t support any of the life that it used to. After touring for several years, we grew a lot as musicians, and only after really honing all of this material live for about a year, we felt we were ready to get it tracked and send it into the world. We recorded everything live off the floor, and Frank, our engineer, had heard nothing beforehand and had no idea what we actually sounded like going into it. Eventually, he asked us, 'How do you determine what becomes a 2-minute song, and what becomes a 9-minute song?' Pure instinct, Frank. Here it is."

  Formed in the unlikely crucible of a Princess Auto parking lot, Ivy Gardens began with a simple desire to shred through Rush instrumentals and explore the outer reaches of heavy music. Now, following their acclaimed first full-length "Goon" released in 2024, the band takes a daring leap into more dour, experimental terrain. "Death of Don Valley" presents a concept album steeped in decay, lyrically and sonically portraying the slow death of natural spaces like Toronto’s Don River, drowned by industry and time.

  Ivy Gardens' influences are vast, ranging from progressive icons like Rush, Yes, and King Crimson to sludge pioneers like EYEHATEGOD and Iron Monkey. Their sound blends elements of stoner metal, sludge, math rock, and progressive rock, creating an unpredictable listening experience that takes the listener through a series of emotional and sonic landscapes.
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  Fans can expect a live experience unlike any other as Ivy Gardens is hitting the road for a cross-Canada tour in kicking off on August 29th in St. Catharines, ON, and will wrap up in Victoria, BC on October 25th (dates listed below).

  "Death of Don Valley" (out August 29th) is available for pre-order at https://ivygardens.bandcamp.com/​

  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/1TBuI2vFSltCNhiHdHnz01​

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  Ivy Gardens - Live or Die Tour:​
  Aug 29 - St. Catharines, ON - Warehouse Concert Hall
  Aug 30 - Toronto, ON - Monarch Tavern
  Sept 5 - Kitchener, ON - The Golden Apple
  Sept 12 - Windsor, ON - Phog Lounge
  Sept 13 - Sarnia, ON - AJs Bar
  Sept 14 - London, ON - Grogettes Living Room
  Sept 18 - Halifax, NS - Radstorm
  Sept 19 - Sydney, NS - Daniels Ale House
  Sept 20 - Charlottetown, PEI - Babas Lounge
  Sept 21 - Moncton, NB - Generator Show
  Sept 25 - Woodstock, NB - Montieth Manor
  Sept 26 - Montreal, QC - Turbo Haus
  Sept 27 - Quebec City, QC - Sonum
  Oct 9 - Barrie, ON - CW Coops
  Oct 10 - Sudbury, ON - Townhouse Tavern
  Oct 11 - Thunder Bay, ON - Black Pirates Pub
  Oct 12 - Winnipeg, MB - Bulldog Event Center
  Oct 16 - Regina, SK - The Cure Kitchen and Bar
  Oct 17 - Saskatoon, SK - The Black Cat
  Oct 18 - Calgary, AB - Palomino
  Oct 19 - Edmonton, AB - Blak Bar
  Oct 23 - Kelowna, BC - Dunnenzies
  Oct 24 - Vancouver, BC - Black Alley
  Oct 25 - Victoria, BC - Fernwood Community Center

  More info: Facebook.com/ivygardensband | Instagram.com/ivygardensofficial

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• DOLL “Better Days, Different Times” EP Completes Their Triumphant Return

  Jul 17, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Canadian alt-rock powerhouse Doll is now streaming “Better Days, Different Times”, their first new collection of material since 2011's “The Ragdoll Diaries”. The EP represents not just a return to form but a significant evolution for the Ottawa-based band that has expanded their sonic palette while maintaining their core identity. They share their excitement:

  “With this album, we wanted to pull listeners in closer to what’s top of mind to us, our values, our experiences. It’s not just something to hear; it’s something to sit and listen to. It’s less about the volume this time, more about the weight behind the lyrics.”

  Every track on this record was handpicked because it struck something deep in Doll. Some songs come in softer, quieter moments. But don’t let that fool you, the weight is still there. The message is still dark, still heavy.

  The EP maintains the band’s commitment to authentic expression and therapeutic songwriting. Each track emerges from genuine experience and emotion, continuing the band’s tradition of using music as both personal processing and connection with listeners who share similar struggles.

  “Better Days, Different Times” marks not just Doll’s return from the dead, but their emergence as a more complete artistic entity. The EP proves that time away has served to deepen rather than diminish their creative impact, offering both longtime fans and new listeners a compelling entry point into the band's evolved sound. They are recommended for fans of Nobro, SoftCult, Amyl and the Sniffers, and The Pretty Reckless.

  Listen to the EP's full stream premiere on GhostCultMagazine HERE.

  EP-pre-order (out July 18th) - https://doll.bandcamp.com/​

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  More info: https://www.facebook.com/dollband

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• HARVESTED Announces New Album “Dysthymia” With Devastating Music Video “Harvested”

  Jun 12, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Canadian death metal quartet Harvested is proud to announce their new album “Dysthymia”, set for release on August 1st, 2025. The nine-track record showcases the band's evolution from their 2022 demo debut, delivering a devastating blend of technical death metal, brutal death metal, and old-school stylings. The album announcement comes alongside a music video for the record's opening track, “Harvested”, offering fans their first glimpse into the dark psychological landscape that defines “Dysthymia”. The band comments on the track:

  “The single represents what the band is about. The old-school death metal influences and the dark realities of mental illness put someone through a tortured experience. This was the first song we worked on for this album and played live, which set the bar for the remaining material. We realized that we were onto something special, and the sheer brute force of the track compelled us to make our current music video.”

  ‘Harvested’ maintains the brutality from the demo but shifts toward exploring the psychological aspects of mental illness rather than relying solely on gore. It's heavier, more aggressive, and showcases the band’s musical abilities in ways they've never presented before.

  Recorded over nearly three years, “Dysthymia” features the core lineup of Mitchi Dimitriadis (guitars), Adam Semler (vocals), Eric Forget (bass), and Jacob Collins (drums). The album was produced by Harvested with mixing and mastering by Joe Lyko of Darkmoon Productions, achieving a modern sound while staying rooted in the foundational elements of death metal.

  Recommended for fans of Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, and Dying Fetus, Harvested has crafted an album that is both technically proficient and devastatingly brutal.

  Watch and listen to the first single and music video "Harvested" via its premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.

  Spotify pre-save - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/harvested1/dysthymia​

  Album pre-order (out August 1st) - https://harvested.bandcamp.com​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Harvested (3:28)
  2. Repressed Neurosis (3:32)
  3. Unending Madness (3:21)
  4. Synaptic Confusion (3:30)
  5. Designed Dilemma (3:18)
  6. Gathered and Deluded (3:00)
  7. Voices of the Void (3:16)
  8. Unanchored (3:51)
  9. The Infestation (4:36)
  Album Length: 31:55

  More info: Facebook.com/harvested666 | Instagram.com/harvestedband

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• MARBLE GHOSTS Unleash “Distance Between” A Blistering Anthem For Divided Times Off Sophomore EP "The Greatest Divide" Out April 2025

  Jan 10, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Marble Ghosts, the Canadian boundary-pushing ensemble known for their distinctive blend of metal, grunge, and punk influences, has announced their highly anticipated second EP “The Greatest Divide” set for release in April 2025. The band comments on the first, explosive single “Distance Between”:

  “From the opening lyric of the EP, “Here we are in the greatest divide”, the songs explore the ever-growing rift between almost every part of modern-day society. From the rich and the shrinking middle class to widening gaps in political and religious ideologies, the EP was inspired by our reality.”

  Musically, the single shows off its punk-metal roots, never relenting from beginning to end. The biting rapid-fire verses meet the band’s characteristic soaring choruses. The band shows off its guitar chops with a blistering solo that perfectly matches the song’s energy. The song crescendos with another feverish solo over top desperate screams.

  The EP and the single are recommended for fans of Alter Bridge, Shinedown, and Saint Asonia.

  Listen to "Distance Between"

  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/40D2I4h

  Marble Ghosts' sophomore EP "The Greatest Divide" will be released on April 4, 2025

  Bandcamp pre-order - https://marbleghosts.bandcamp.com/​

  Album Artwork by:​
  Marble Ghosts font: Crossfade Productions
  EP cover art: Edith Fluet

  Track Listing:​
  1. Distance Between (3:38)
  2. Eat the Rich (4:16)
  3. Trafficked (The Devil Inside) (4:19)
  4. Gloom (4:24)
  5. Osmium (4:48)
  EP Length: 21:26
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  ​Band Line Up (EP)​
  Dylan Gunnell - Lead Vocals and Lyrics
  Adam Hansen - Guitar
  Paul R. Champagne - Bass
  Jer Renaud - Drums
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  ​Band Line Up (Live)​
  Dylan Gunnell - Lead Vocals
  Adam Hansen - Guitar and Backing Vocals
  Paulo Ferraz - Bass
  Jer Renaud - Drums

  More info: Facebook.com/marbleghosts | Instagram.com/marbleghostsofficial

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• Kelowna's SWEETBEAST Unveils Sludgy Stoner Video "Illusion" ft. Space Queen; Debut Album "Illusions" Out Feb 21st, 2025

  Jan 9, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Hailing from Canada's Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, BC, SweetBeast is gearing up to make its debut full-length "Illusions" heard by the masses this coming February 2025. Unshackling the first single "Dream Eater" this past November, they are offering the next glimpse into their pressurized sludgy psychedelic stoner rock with their new music video for "Illusion", which features vocal harmonies done by the lovely ladies of Vancouver trio Space Queen.

  The album's closing track, "Illusion" captures the essence of awakening and self-discovery, with fuzzed-out guitars and emotional guitar solos that drive the message home. Space Queen's vocal harmonies elevate the song to new heights, creating a rich tapestry of sound that invites listeners to explore the depths of their realities. With its haunting lyrics and dynamic instrumentation, “Illusion” serves as both a rallying cry and a moment of introspection.

  The band comments on the making of the song:

  "We laid down this entire album, live off the floor, in just 2 days. Now of course there were a few overdubs that we plugged in during that weekend but by the end of the 2 days, all that was left was the mixing and mastering. We also added some special treats post-production that made the songs really pop, like vocal harmonies in the song “Illusion” done by our friends in Space Queen, and a few studio effects for added flavor. When we told the studio what we had planned to accomplish that weekend they thought we were crazy, and said it’s usually at least a week of studio time to get all those songs laid out. But we got it done and couldn’t be happier with the results."

  Watch and listen to "Illusion" ft. Space Queen via its premiere on DoomedAndStoned HERE.

  Digital pre-save - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sweetbeast/illusion-feat-space-queen-single​

  SweetBeast's first studio album "Illusions" is a sonic exploration of shifting realities, blending heavy, distorted riffs with introspective lyrics. It invites listeners to journey inward and outward, reflecting the complex relationship between mind, sound, and reality. The record leans heavily on low-tuned guitars, swirling effects, and a tight rhythm section that creates a dense, atmospheric sound. There’s a hypnotic groove throughout, with moments of psychedelic exploration, where riffs evolve into mind-bending progressions. The songs fluctuate between creative riffs and light, airy melodies that offer a contrast, pushing the boundaries of stoner rock.

  Recommended for fans of Queens Of The Stone Age, All Them Witches, Kyuss, and Alice In Chains, SweetBeast's album “Illusions” is due out on February 21st, 2025 from Humalien Records, and will be available for pre-order at https://sweetbeastrock.bandcamp.com/​

  First Single - “Dream Eater” - https://youtu.be/ErLKQGlu8Qk

  Digital - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sweetbeast/dream-eater​

  Track Listing:​
  1. 70/30 - 7:57
  2. Thunder - 4:01
  3. Dream Eater - 5:29
  4. Midnight - 4:38
  5. Plastic People - 6:41
  6. Illusion ft. Space Queen - 11:26
  Album Length - 40:12

  More info: SweetBeast.ca | Facebook.com/SweetBeastFuzz | Instagram.com/sweetbeastfuzz | Tiktok.com/@sweetbeastfuzz

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