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• VORTEX Announces "Symphony for the Dead" Eastern Canadian Tour w/ France's XAON - (ON, QC, NB)

  Jan 14, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  VORTEX Announces "Symphony for the Dead" Eastern Canadian Tour w/ France's XAON - (ON, QC, NB)

  Rimouski, Quebec's Vortex announces they are pairing up with France's XAON for an eastern Canadian tour this coming April followed by European dates in October and November.

  Entitled "Symphony For The Dead Tour", the Canadian edition of shows will kick off in Montreal, QC on April 15th and see both bands perform 10 dates across Quebec, Ontario, and New Brunswick with support on select shows from Omnivide, Strigampire, Ulfhednar, and Burning Attic (dates listed below).

  The tour will also be in support of VORTEX's next release for 2025, a new 5-song EP to follow their third studio album “The Future Remains In Oblivion” released in 2023. That info will be revealed in the coming weeks.

  Symphony For The Dead Tour - Vortex + XAON (QC, ON, NB)​
  April 15 - Montreal, QC - Le Petit Campus ***
  April 16 - Edmundston, NB - Ateepic *
  April 17 - Saint John, NB - Haven Music Hall and Cafe *
  April 18 - Moncton, MB - Xeroz *
  April 19 - Rimouski, QC - Coop Le Paradis *
  April 22 - Ottawa, ON - The Rainbow
  April 23 - Drummondville, QC - La Ste-Paix ****
  April 24 - Quebec City, QC - L'Anti ****
  April 25 - Saguenay, QC - Microbrasserie Port-Alfred
  April 26 - Trois-Rivieres, QC - L'Entite **
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  * Omnivide
  ** Strigampire
  *** Ulfhednar
  **** Burning Attic

  About Vortex:

  Vortex is a symphonic Death Metal band from Quebec, Canada, and is comprised of seasoned musicians with an abundance of studio and live experience. Their masterful lyric writing is equally matched with their prowess in devising riffs, and orchestrations.

  Vortex music is filled with heavy riffing and melodies, technical vocals, and epic soloing. They will transport the listener into a new world and are recommended for fans of Lorna Shore, Shadow of Intent, Dimmu Borgir, and Fleshgod Apocalypse.

  In June 2023, Vortex released “The Future Remains In Oblivion”, their third epic concept album set to aggressive and beautiful orchestral melodic death metal with hints of black metal. Each song on the album is one chapter in their well-written sci-fi tale and there is a build-up in intensity and emotion that goes along with the storyline and the lyrics as you traverse the album. VORTEX is gearing up to release a new 5-song EP and hit the road in 2025 alongside the talented band XAON. They will be supporting each other on a tour across Canada in April 2025 and Europe in October-November 2025.

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  For more info (Official Website, Socials, Videos, Bandcamp, Spotify, Apple Music): https://linktr.ee/vortexband​

  About XAON:

  XAON. An elusive name born in the Alpine Might. Never quite fitting in any of the numerous galleries metal has to offer, drifting through the extremes whilst juxtaposing finesse and vehemence from an unworldly orchestra, endlessly exploring the vast echoic gloominess of the human mind.

  In only a few short years, the combo has managed to step foot on 3 continents through the release of their debut album “The Drift”, notably across Europe with gothic metal monsters SIRENIA and folk metal legends TYR, in Japan with OBSCURA and ARCHSPIRE, in the US with THE VEER UNION, and sharing the stage in festivals across Europe with bands such as MEGADETH, TESTAMENT, EXODUS, GOJIRA, PARADISE LOST, ELUVEITIE and many more. In 2019, XAON came back with their critically acclaimed 2nd album “Solipsis” and raged across Europe with SEPTICFLESH and KRISIUN and distinguished themselves as an extremely powerful live act.

  On July 1st, 2022, XAON released their new magnum opus, “The Lethean”, bringing the band’s grandiose aggressiveness to a whole new level, pummeling their way through a cataclysmic atmosphere while reaching a new majestic apotheosis. This record got them to play at the mighty WACKEN OPEN AIR 2023.

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  More info: https://www.xaonmusic.com/​

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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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• 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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• Groovy Death INSURRECTION Presents New Album “Obsolescence”

  Sep 13, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  With over 20 years of annihilating fans across Canada and beyond, Gatineau, QC groovy and heavy-hitting death metal outfit INSURRECTION returns with their latest album "Obsolescence" on label Bam & Co. Heavy. Their first full-length in seven years, this fifth studio album represents a culmination of everything they’ve worked on over 2 decades, with both familiar (original) faces, as well as fresh blood in the lineup. Their music often addresses social and political themes through bilingual lyrics in both English and French.

  Throughout their existence, INSURRECTION has gained a notable reputation on stage throughout Canada with tours covering coast to coast, including performances at festivals such as Montebello Rockfest, Trois-Rivières Metalfest, and Decimate Metalfest along with sharing the stage with bands like Cannibal Corpse and the Black Dahlia Murder.

  The concept of “Obsolescence” is reflected throughout the album, and the band took things a step further by ending the record with a 3-song trilogy called The New Uprising. The trilogy which includes sub-themes of demagogy and elitism, as well as reflections on the death penalty, tells the cryptic story of a robotic uprising that is actually a metaphor for the rise of political extremism in the world.

  One easter egg that long-time INSURRECTION fans may notice is that, like many of their other albums, The Obsolescence starts with the final notes from their previous 2017 album, "Extraction".

  The band comments on "Obsolescence":

  "We think people are going to really enjoy the mix of the sound they’ve come to know and love alongside some new ingredients. 'Obsolescence' brings together both people who have been in the band for 20+ years, and people who have only recently joined. It gives the music both a familiar and a fresh sound that we’re really excited to share. Some songs are going to be immediate fan-favourites, and others we think are really going to grow on people. Ultimately, we want people to have fun. The band is sort of like an onion, in that there’s something immediate there that’s fun, catchy, and of course, heavy. But for people who want to keep peeling the layers back, they’ll find some unexpected harmonies, some lyrics with a deeper meaning to them. Admittedly a lot of people may also need to learn a second language (French or English) to actually understand all the lyrics. Ultimately, there’s something there for everyone. If you want to just rock out and have fun, you’ll enjoy our music. And if you want something that goes a bit deeper, you’ll also find that. "

  Recommended for fans of Misery Index, Testament, and Nevermore, "Obsolescence" will be available at the following links as of September 13th, 2024.

  CD and Vinyl album pre-order for “Obsolescence” is available at https://boutique.boiteamusique.ca/en/448-insurrection

   

  ​Show Dates:​
  Sept 28 - Gatineau, QC - Le Minotaure
  Oct 11 - Sainte-Thérèse, Qc - Le Montecristo
  Oct 12- St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC - La Boite (Festival Communion)
  Dec 6 - Drummondville, QC- Pub La Sainte-Paix

  Track Listing:​
  1. Preprogrammed – (1:04)
  2. The Gathering – (4:47)
  3. Failures of the Flesh – (3:47)
  4. Le secret des dieux – (3:33)
  5. Némésis – (3:48)
  6. Hostile Takeover – (4:14)
  7. Obsession – (1:57)
  8. Charogne – (4:24)
  9. Initiate the End – (4:12)
  10. Obsolete – (5:30)
  11. Bless the Machine – (4:46)
  Album Length: 42:07

  More info: Facebook.com/BamAndCoHeavy | Insurrectionmetal.com

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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.

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  "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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