Search Results: montreal

• LIVA Unveils Epic Orchestral Metal Music Video For “Samson & Dalila I” Off New Album “Ecce Mundus”

  Oct 29, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Liva, the pioneering Canadian metal band known for their unique fusion of classical and heavy metal, has released a captivating music video for “Samson & Dalila I”, from their latest album “Ecce Mundus” released on CD in November 2023 and digitally January 2024. The band's fourth full-length marks Liva's triumphant return to its roots, featuring medieval poetry and Latin texts set against a backdrop of majestic orchestral metal. The album explores timeless themes from antiquity, including the glory of Rome, the tale of Samson and Delilah, and enduring human flaws such as greed, corruption, and hypocrisy. Vocalist/guitarist Pier Carlo Liva comments on the single:

  “This is the flagship song of the album. This song has all the elements that are to be found in the Liva style. It’s about the old story of Samson & Dalila. To avenge her people, Dalila cuts off Samson's hair, thus weakening him."

  The “Samson & Dalila I” video is a visual feast that complements the band's expansive sound, featuring more developed orchestrations and heavier guitar parts than ever before. It offers fans a glimpse into the lyrical experience and otherworldly atmosphere that defines Liva's music.

  Formed in Sherbrooke, Québec in 1997, Liva has been at the forefront of blending classical music with metal in Canada. The band's unique sound features extensive sonic explorations, grandiose orchestrations, and powerful vocal performances that transport listeners to another world. They are recommended for fans of Therion, Nightwish, and Leaves’Eyes.

  Their latest album “Ecce Mundus” was released on CD on November 17, 2023, and digitally on January 12, 2024, via Stoke Records with distribution by Outside Music (Canada) and Orchard (US).

  CD and digital - https://livametalband.bandcamp.com/​

  CD - https://www.livaband.com/merch/​

  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3NyGqcp

  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. De avaritia et luxuria mundi – (9:30)
  2. Materiae summa - (6 :33)
  3. Ecce mundus demundatur - (5 :06)
  4. Sunt – (3 :34)
  5. Samson & Dalila I – (5 :29)
  6. Samson & Dalila II – (5 :19)
  7. Obscura – (7 :31)
  8. O Roma nobilis – (6 :57)
  9. Silence – (6 :04)
  Album Length: 55:51

  Liva is:​
  Pier Carlo Liva (tenor vocal, death vocal, guitars, electronics)
  Nadine Guertin (soprano vocal)
  Martin Tremblay (bass)
  Claude Lacroix (drums)

  More info: Livaband.com | Facebook.com/www.livaband | Instagram.com/livametalband​

  -30-

  "There are fewer rules in metal nowadays, and fellow Francophones Liva have taken the ones that remain and stomped them to dust. The mix is raw and yet warm. The hook finds you it won’t let go. 8/10" - Brave Words (Ecce Mundus)

  -« (…) le compromis parfait entre puissance et mélodie. Un voyage au travers de sonorités lointaines et saisissantes. Le groupe a apporté un soin particulier à créer une atmosphère enivrante. Tout simplement splendide, transcendé. Il est évident que Liva est un groupe au potentiel énorme. Sublime ! » 9/10, Rock Hard (France) (Ecce Mundus)

  ”This is a fantastic album. Highly recommended.” Powerplay Magazine (Ecce Mundus)

  ​
  --
  ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
  Jon Asher - Music Publicist
  #.514.581.5780
  jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
  Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
  Instagram @AsherMedia
  Tweet @AsherMedia

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• BornBroken Unleashes Poetic Death/Thrash Metal Video For “Am I Invisible” Directed by The Agonist's Chris Kells

  Oct 25, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  Canada’s BornBroken recently released their third album “Am I Invisible” this past September and to keep the momentum up, they are now releasing the music video for the title track directed by Chris Kells of The Agonist. This pummeling display of death and thrash metal complements the visceral and provocative lyrics the band members work hard to craft. They share their thoughts:

  “We wanted to use our music to call for unity and empathy. This album is not just a collection of songs; it’s a message, a call to action for anyone who feels unheard or unseen. We’ve always aimed to create music that tells a story, and ‘Am I Invisible’ is our most ambitious story yet. The themes of invisibility, isolation, and resilience are universal, and we wanted to convey them through powerful lyrics and compelling music.”

  For BornBroken, each track brings out different emotions, from the stress and monotony captured in “7 Mondays” to the introspective nature of “Will You Remember”. Songs like “Age of Anger” address the division and intolerance we see every day. The band goes on to express gratitude to their current fans for their unwavering support and hope that the albums resonate deeply with them.

  BornBroken delivers a no-nonsense, straight-up metal approach, they write what they want to write, with a personal approach and death metal roots. They pay homage to their influences and invite other metalheads along for the ride. They are recommended for fans of Slipknot, Chimaira, and Decapitated.

  The album “Am I Invisible” is available on vinyl and digitally at the following links:

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

  Vinyl - https://loudtrax.com/bornbroken-am-i-invisible-vinyl-74535​

  Digital Album - https://ffm.to/785376b4ad1c4c7e8b394d6c59d215c6​​

  Tour Dates:

  Oct 26 - Montreal, QC - Foufounes Electriques - info w/ Within the Ruins
  Nov 8 - Sainte-Thérèse , QC - Le Montecristo - info - w/ Buffalo Theory, Thrash La Reine

  Track Listing:​
  1. Time Pays No Respect - 5:04
  2. Am I Invisible - 3:54
  3. Will You Remember - 4:03
  4. How Strong You Are - 4:41
  5. Conflicting Lies - 5:09
  6. Scabs & Scars - 3:36
  7. 7 Mondays - 4:00
  8. Fold - 6:30
  9. Age of Anger - 5:23
  10. The Day I Die Inside - 5:07
  Album Length: 47:31

  BornBroken Album Lineup​
  Mike Marino (Bass)
  Michael Decker (Vocals/ All Guitars)
  Carlos Ojeda (Drums)

  BornBroken live and Official New Lineup​
  Mike Marino (Bass)
  Michael Decker (Vocals/Guitar)
  Carlos Ojeda (Drums)
  Rob Henx (Lead Guitar) Newest member after recording

  More info: BrokenMusic.ca | Facebook.com/BornBroken | X.com/bornbroken | Instagram.com/bornbrokenofficial

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• WACKEN METAL BATTLE CANADA Opens Band Submissions For 2025 Battles - One Band To Rule Them All & Play Wacken Open Air

  Oct 8, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

   

  WMBC Trailer - https://youtu.be/b55Fh5Vo64k​

  Spotify - 2024 WMBC National Finalists Playlist HERE.

  One Band To Rule Them All! Wacken Metal Battle Canada is proud to announce its return for 2025 battles nationwide for one independent band to be crowned champion and perform at one of the world's most prestigious and largest already sold-out metal festivals Wacken Open Air (July 30th – August 2nd) (Attendance of over 80,000 people in Wacken, Germany for over 30 years).

  Unsigned bands ONLY can apply. Please fill out your information at the following link (please select Canada and then the City that your band would like to perform in) - https://www.metal-battle.com​

  (Band Submissions open from October 8th - November 20th, 2024)

  The 2025 WMBC champion will receive the following:
  - A slot at the 2025 Wacken Open Air Festival.
  - Full professional backline provided.
  - $1,000 CAD towards flights to Germany.
  - VIP camping at the festival.

  2025 Canadian battles will be taking place in the following cities listed below, with the national final being hosted in Vancouver, BC during May (date and venue to be determined):

  Canadian Battle Cities:​
  Vancouver, BC
  Vancouver Island, BC
  BC Interior
  Edmonton, AB
  Calgary, AB
  Toronto, ON
  Hamilton, ON
  Ottawa, ON
  Montreal, QC
  Quebec City, QC

  The 2024 WMBC national final was held in Edmonton, AB at The Starlite Room on May 25th and witnessed regional winners Arrow In The Quiver (Vancouver, BC), Infrastrvctvre (Calgary, AB), Age of Ashes (Edmonton, AB), Beguiler (Toronto, ON) and Red Raven Chaos (Montreal, QC) along with special guest headliners NECHT (Calgary, AB - 2023 National Finalist).

  The night was MC'd by Gord Alexander (Tessitura, Tides of Kharon) and judged by an industry panel that included JJ Tartaglia (Wacken Metal Battle Canada, Boonsdale Records, Skull Fist, Thunderor - Toronto, ON), Luc Lainé (CFLX 95,5 FM - Alerte Metallique - Sherbrooke, QC), Dan Cleary (Striker), Kim Aebly (The Invisible Orange, Vancouver, BC), Dana Zuk (Dana Zuk Photography - Edmonton, AB), Jon Asher (Asher Media Relations - Montreal, QC), Nancy Barnes (Big Nate Productions - Calgary, AB), Celestia Scarlett (Owner/Artist Manager - The Celestial Agency- Calgary, AB) and Steve DC (Strigampire - 2023 National WMBC Winner - Trois-Rivières, QC).

  After each band presented their furious rallying battle performance, the only one that stood out from the rest was crowned 2024 champion Toronto's Beguiler who moved on to perform as the only independent Canadian band at the International Battle at Wacken Open Air 2024 (July 31st – August 3rd).

  Live Full Video of 2024 WMBC National Final in Edmonton, AB - https://www.youtube.com/live/dCYiImMkzq4​

  List of previous WMBC national winners Beguiler (Toronto, ON - 2024), Strigampire (Trois-Rivières, QC - 2023), The Slyde (Toronto, ON - 2019), Centuries of Decay (Toronto, ON - 2018), Profaner (Hamilton, ON - 2016), Vesperia (Toronto, ON - 2015), Mutank (Montreal, QC - 2014), Crimson Shadows (Toronto, ON - 2013).

  Info:

  Since 2013, with a pause year in 2017 and 2020 due to COVID-19, Wacken Metal Battle Canada has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to Covid, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled. As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2025 will be the 34th edition of the festival and will be held from July 30th – August 2nd. The 2025 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Papa Roach, Gojira, Apocalyptica, Saxon, Within Temptation, Dimmu Borgir, Ministry, and many more. Details here.

  About:

  Wacken Metal Battle Canada is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among 30 other countries’ champions, and represent Canada in an international battle of the bands at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade giving independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience along with the chance to win multiple prizes.

  How it works:
  ​Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter where one band will move forward to the Canadian national final (date and city to be determined). The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2025 and compete against the winners of 29 other countries in a final global battle. All battle rounds are judged by respected local music industry representatives.

  Rules for participation: https://www.metal-battle.com/rules/​

  Links:​
  ​Metal-Battle.com​​
  ​Facebook.com/WMBCanada.official​
  ​Twitter.com/MetalBattleCan​
  ​Instagram.com/MetalBattleCanada.Official

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• BornBroken’s New Album “Am I Invisible” Brings Forth Empowering Anthems Through Life's Highs And Lows

  Sep 21, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Montreal, Canada’s BornBroken unleashes their latest album “Am I Invisible” as of September 20, 2024. The third full-length can be heard at the following links:

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

  Digital - https://ffm.to/785376b4ad1c4c7e8b394d6c59d215c6

  BornBroken members reflect on the creative journey and the deep themes explored in their new work:

  “We wanted to create something raw and real. Creating 'Am I Invisible' was an intense and rewarding process. This album is incredibly personal for all of us. We poured our hearts into every beat, every note. It’s a journey through our highs and lows.”

  Musically, “Am I Invisible” allowed BornBroken to experiment with their roots in metal and its structures. They aimed to blend heavy, aggressive riffs with melodic elements to create a dynamic listening experience. From the relentless march of time in “Time Pays No Respect” to the existential questions in the title track, every song is a piece of their collective soul and they are proud of how the extreme music complements the powerful lyrics.

  BornBroken is excited to share “Am I Invisible” with the world and invites everyone to experience the raw emotion and powerful messages encapsulated in their latest work. They are especially recommended for fans of Chimaira, Machine Head, and Slipknot.

  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Time Pays No Respect - 5:04
  2. Am I Invisible - 3:54
  3. Will You Remember - 4:03
  4. How Strong You Are - 4:41
  5. Conflicting Lies - 5:09
  6. Scabs & Scars - 3:36
  7. 7 Mondays - 4:00
  8. Fold - 6:30
  9. Age of Anger - 5:23
  10. The Day I Die Inside - 5:07
  Album Length: 47:31

  BornBroken Album Lineup​
  Mike Marino (Bass)
  Michael Decker (Vocals/ All Guitars)
  Carlos Ojeda (Drums)

  BornBroken live and Official New Lineup​
  Mike Marino (Bass)
  Michael Decker (Vocals/Guitar)
  Carlos Ojeda (Drums)
  Rob Henx (Lead Guitar) Newest member after recording

  More info: BrokenMusic.ca | Facebook.com/BornBroken | X.com/bornbroken | Instagram.com/bornbrokenofficial

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• STRIKER Unveils Music Video "Live To Fight Another Day" + Shredding North America Tour w/ Seven Kingdoms, Lutharo, Osyron

  Aug 20, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Every day is a new day! And STRIKER has a new music video "Live To Fight Another Day" to announce their upcoming USA and Canada tour dates with Floridian power metallers SEVEN KINGDOMS, Hamilton, ON's melodic metallers LUTHARO and Calgary, AB's thunderous progressive symphonic metallers OSYRON whom will support select dates.

  Striker will kick off preliminary dates with a performance at ProgPower USA in Atlanta, GA on September 4th followed by Canadian shows with Lutharo in September, and then push things into full gear in November to start the "Shredding North America Tour" in Corpus Christi, TX on November 9th and wrap up the month-long tour in Orlando, FL on December 8th (dates listed below).

  "Live To Fight Another Day" is off the shred master's new album "ULTRAPOWER" produced with Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Tallah, King 810) released this past February. The band explains the track:

  "Originally this was just a regular Striker song. Tim had the idea that we should just try turning it into a synth-wave track. It fits like a glove. We’ve always been into Synthwave but never had the guts to do it ourselves. Until now! This is our first attempt at it and we are stoked about how it turned out. This one is another track about keeping it together and taking on life one day at a time."

  Watch the video for "Live To Fight Another Day" below.

  ​

  "ULTRAPOWER" is the seventh full-length from Striker and follows their Juno Award-winning self-released record "Play to Win" (2018) unleashed on their label Record Breaking Records.

  With the band writing material since 2018, "ULTRAPOWER" is a collection of Striker tinkering and exploring new avenues. From the album's opening track "Circle of Evil", a Malmsteen-esque metal banger about secret societies and the evil dealings behind closed doors to their previously released single "BEST of the BEST of the BEST" serving up some big riffs and hockey arena vocals to "Blood Magic", which might be one of Striker's most progressive songs, taking cues from bands like King Diamond, with its unconventional structure and punctuated guitar solos. From the band delving into their obsession for late 80s AOR and pop rock with "City Calling", an ode to 1987, and bands like Toto and Kenny Loggins with their hook-powered albums. To fans experiencing the band's first attempt at a synth-wave track with "Live To Fight Another Day", this new offering sees Striker making a shredding love letter to the hard-rocking era of guilty pleasures.

  The band comments on the album:

  "Starting with the album cover, we wanted the artwork to represent how we feel as a band right now. We are an engine that is fired up and ready to roll. We’re made of metal and our circuits gleam! The album itself is an amalgamation of 5 years of writing and exploring music. With influences from AOR to Speed Metal, Hardcore to Hair Metal, Steely Dan to Deathcore, you name it, it made its way into the album. In the end with the help of Josh Schroeder’s guiding hand, we melted it all together to present something uniquely Striker. Lyrically we’ve stuck to the Striker tradition of writing montage songs for movies that don’t exist, songs about our spiraling serfdom, and lyrics about the evils that lurk in the shadows."

  "ULTRAPOWER" is available at https://www.striker-metal.com/shop/ (CD, Vinyl, Digital)

  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3SnIshu​

  

  Tour Dates:​
  Sept 4 - Center Stage - ProgPower USA - Atlanta, GA
  ​
  ​Striker, Lutharo​
  Sept 11 - La Source de la Martinière - Quebec City, QC
  Sept 12 - Piranha Bar - Montreal, QC
  Sept 13 - Overflow Brewing Company - Ottawa, ON
  Sept 14 - Lee's Palace - Toronto, ON
  ​
  ​Shredding North America - Seven Kingdoms, Striker, Lutharo, Osyron ​
  # = w/ Osyron
  Nov 9 – Boozers Rock Bar – Corpus Christi, TX
  Nov 10 – Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX
  Nov 11 – Haltom Theater – Haltom, TX
  Nov 12 – 89th Street – Oklahoma City, OK
  Nov 13 – Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
  Nov 14 – Vultures – Colorado Springs, CO
  Nov 16 – Last Exit Live – Mesa, AZ
  Nov 17 – Sinwave – Las Vegas, NV
  Nov 18 – Brick by Brick – San Diego, CA
  Nov 19 – Knucklehead – Los Angeles, CA
  Nov 20 – DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
  Nov 21 – Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
  Nov 22 – El Corazon – Seattle, WA
  Nov 24 – Jackknife – Kelowna, BC
  Nov 25 – Dicken’s – Calgary, AB #
  Nov 26 – The Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB #
  Nov 27 – The Black Cat – Saskatoon, SK #
  Nov 28 – Sidestage – Winnipeg, MB #
  Nov 29 – TBA – St. Paul, MN
  Nov 30 – Reggie’s – Chicago, IL
  Dec 1 – Sanctuary – Detroit, MI
  Dec 3 – Meadows – Brooklyn, NY
  Dec 4 – Metro – Baltimore, MD
  Dec 5 – Hangar 1819 – Greensboro, NC
  Dec 6 – The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
  Dec 7 – The Orpheum – Tampa, FL
  Dec 8 – Conduit – Orlando, FL

  More info: Striker-metal.com

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