Search Results: toronto

• DAWN VALLY Unleash Jailhouse Rage with New Single “Graves” Off Forthcoming EP Out In 2026

  Oct 10, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

   

  Canadian metalcore outfit Dawn Vally has dropped their latest single, “Graves,” a punishing, raw track that marks a new chapter in the band’s evolution. Formed in 2007 by twin brothers Jeff (bass) and Joe Bartolo (drums), Dawn Vally has built a reputation for delivering aggressive, high-intensity music that blends metalcore and deathcore with fearless originality.
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  ​“Graves” is the second single from the band’s upcoming EP, slated for release in early 2026. It’s also the first recording to feature new vocalist Zac Emmons, formerly the guitarist of hardcore band Pound Of Flesh. Zac joined the band earlier this year, bringing a visceral lyrical style rooted in personal experience.

  “Graves lyrically is a song about betrayal and the emotions that come with it. I went into a dark place in my mind to get the words,” says Zac.
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  Musically, “Graves” builds on the foundation laid by their previous album, "Blueprints of the 416," but pushes the intensity even further. With punishing breakdowns and relentless energy, the track is already being hailed as Dawn Vally’s heaviest release to date.
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  The single’s artwork, created by Paul Padgett of Eightfold Visuals, features a horror-tinged jailhouse setting that perfectly complements the song’s themes of emotional confinement and rage.
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  ​Dawn Vally’s sound is a collaborative effort, shaped by the eclectic influences of its members. While metalcore and deathcore dominate, the band draws from jazz, classic rock, and hardcore to create a sonic landscape that’s both brutal and nuanced. Guitarist Antonio Bratta, a classically trained musician with a jazz background, adds a unique layer to the band’s dynamic compositions.
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  With plans to expand their reach across Canada in 2026, Dawn Vally is preparing for tours both out west and east. Their live shows promise the same raw energy and sonic devastation that fans have come to expect.

  For fans of Whitechapel, Parkway Drive, BMTH, and Hatebreed, Dawn Vally is a band that doesn’t just play metal; they live it.

  “Graves” is now streaming on all major platforms, along with its music video filmed and created by Brett and Hayley Wright, who have worked with other artists such as LÜZR, Seagrave, and CRUELINTENT.

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://ampl.ink/ezq3P​

   

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

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• HOG MEETS FROG - New Single “The Urbanizer” Ft. Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson, Joe Satriani) + Canadian Tour & Loud As Hell Open Air Fest

  Jul 16, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Austrian avant-funk-prog-metal trio Hog Meets Frog have dropped their most ferociously surreal single to date: “The Urbanizer” (You Know Where The Flowers Have Gone), featuring world-renowned drummer Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson, Joe Satriani). The track arrives ahead of the band’s first-ever Canadian tour (dates listed below), which includes a performance at the Loud As Hell Open Air Festival in Drumheller, Alberta, on August 3rd.
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  Lyrically dystopian and musically unhinged, “The Urbanizer (You Know Where The Flowers Have Gone)" is a darkly groovy critique of ecological collapse and unchecked urban sprawl—told from the perspective of the “urbanizer” himself, a concrete deity paving over the planet.
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  The track’s artwork, created by Attila Zolt Tornyi (LaMañana), features a golden skull in a desolate concrete wasteland—symbolizing the “concrete gold” of speculative real estate and the sunless future it casts.
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  Bassist and band storyteller Peter ’PETZ’ Schwabl comments on the single:
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  ​"We have featured on the tune 'The Urbanizer' drummer Marco Minnemann (The Aristocrats, Steven Wilson, Joe Satriani), which is a great honour for us. A mutual friend brought us together – thanks, Alan!! The song's main riff was written many years ago, and a few years later, the first four verses and thus the character of the urbanizer emerged. Over the years, however, it has become clear that society isn't getting to grips with the issue; rather, the effects of human actions, which have been driving global warming for decades, are increasing in a lot of areas. Why? Well, some deny ecological changes out of fear, some out of greed, and still others just to show that they're 'against the system’ – whatever that means. Precisely because of the subject matter, the song is one of those that even we couldn't make into a particularly funny song... but, hey! Let's just say that HOG MEETS FROG also has a dark side."​
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  Listen to “The Urbanizer” (You Know Where The Flowers Have Gone) ft. Marco Minnemann is now on all major streaming platforms.

  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/2JBo93Ad2S7uD46tInWG8F​

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  Performing in Canada for the first time, Hog Meets Frog is excited to be showcasing in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montreal, as well as performing at one of Canada’s loudest and most extreme metal gatherings, Loud As Hell Open Air Festival, which also includes Revocation, First Fragment, Insurrection, and Gorgatron.
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  ​“Don’t expect anything. Just experience it. You’ll see three guys throwing sounds around, sometimes wearing masks, telling stories. The rest forms in the head of the beholder,” adds Petz.

  Hog Meets Frog - The Urbanizer Greening Tour 2025
  ​July 26 - Schwarzach, Austria - Tauerngold Festival
  July 30 - Ottawa, ON - Avant-Garde Bar
  Aug 1 - Toronto, ON - The Rockpile
  Aug 3 - Drumheller, AB - Loud As Hell Open Air Festival w/ REVOCATION, FIRST FRAGMENT, FILTH, INSURRECTION, GORGATRON, OPAL IN SKY, and more!
  Aug 6 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar
  Sept 6 - Schwaz, Austria - Woodlight Festival
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  ​About:​
  Formed after a “musical abstinence” by a copywriting drummer and a lyricist bassist “pregnant with a riff,” Hog Meets Frog was born from a story about a hog and a frog having… fun. Their sound? In their own words: “Freaky-fuckin’-SQUEAQUACK-music.”
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  The band’s writing process is as unpredictable as their music—riffs born on subways, lyrics conceived in showers, and stories inspired by overheard conversations, political absurdities, and the slow-motion collapse of the natural world.

  For more info: Hogmeetsfrog.com | Facebook.com/hogmeetsfrog | Twitter.com/hogmeetsfrog | Instagram.com/hogmeetsfrog | Tiktok.com/@hogmeetsfrog

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• WOODHAWK Announces Cross-Canada Tour For New Album “Love Finds a Way” Out Now! + LOUD AS HELL OPEN AIR FEST w/ REVOCATION, FIRST FRAGMENT and more!

  Jul 9, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  After five years of anticipation, Calgary’s stoner groove rock trio Woodhawk announces they will be hitting the road this August through October for tour dates across Canada (dates listed below). The show dates are in support of their latest and third album, "Love Finds a Way," released on June 6th of this year via Grand Hand Records. Fans can expect a high-energy set packed with new material and favorites from their discography that will be delivered with the raw power and passion.

  Their most personal and powerful release to date, their new full-length album, "Love Finds a Way", marks a turning point for Woodhawk. Demonstrating their evolution from early stoner rock roots into something more emotionally complex while maintaining the infectious grooves and memorable hooks that have defined their sound.

  "Love Finds a Way" explores themes of darkness, healing, and hope, while still delivering the infectious hooks and thunderous riffs fans have come to expect. With contributions from longtime collaborator Jesse Gander on synth, the band expands their sonic palette without losing their edge. The trio of Turner Midzain (guitar/vocals), Mike Badmington (bass), and Kevin Nelson (drums) poured five years of growth, struggle, and creative evolution into this record.

  “We are over the moon to get this album out. Love Finds a Way is easily the hardest we have worked on an album to date. We poured our heart and soul into this one. It really is a journey of getting out of the darkness and into the light. Check in with your friends and loved ones. Hug the ones you love. Be nicer to each other. Love will always prevail and be stronger than anything else. After 10 years of being a band, I feel like we are still just getting started!” adds the band.

  After a decade together, Woodhawk is proving they’re just getting started. "Love Finds a Way" is more than an album; it’s a statement of resilience, connection, and the enduring power of rock.

  Recommended for fans of The Sword, Red Fang, and Thin Lizzy, the album is a dynamic journey from start to finish, balancing soft and heavy, slow and fast, light and dark.
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  ​Album order (out June 6th): https://woodhawk.bandcamp.com​

  Spotify - https://bit.ly/44veRdv​

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  In additional news, Woodhawk will be performing on day three of this year's LOUD AS HELL OPEN AIR FESTIVAL on August 3rd in Drumheller, AB alongside Revocation, Cyborg Octopus, Beguiler, Thirteen Goats, Famous Strangers, and more! Full details on LAH can be found at www.loudashell.ca.

  Show Dates: ​
  Aug 3 - Drumheller, AB - Loud As Hell Open Air
  Aug 27 - Calgary, AB - Ship & Anchor
  Aug 28 - Lethbridge, AB - The Owl Acoustic Lounge
  Aug 29 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
  Aug 30 - Winnipeg, MB - Side Stage
  Sept 2 - Windsor - Phog Lounge
  Sept 3 - Hamilton, ON - Club Absinthe
  Sept 4 - Ottawa, ON - House of Targ
  Sept 5 - Montreal - Turbo Haus
  Sept 6 - Toronto, ON - The Monarch
  Sept 7 - Kingston, ON - The Mansion
  Sept 9 - Oshawa, ON - The Atria
  Sept 10 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Soo Blaster
  Sept 11 - Thunder Bay, ON - Black Pirates Pub
  Sept 12 - Brandon, MB - The 40
  Sept 13 - Saskatoon, SK - Black Cat Tavern
  Sept 25 - Kelowna, BC- Jackknife Brewery
  Sept 26 - Vancouver, BC - Green Auto
  Sept 27 - Victoria, BC - Lucky Bar
  Oct 10 - Red Deer, AB - The Vat
  Oct 11 - Edmonton, AB - The Aviary

  Track Listing:​
  1. Grave Shaker – 4:41
  2. Strangers Ever After – 4:24
  3. Truth Be Told – 7:21
  4. White Crosses – 6:10
  5. The Unholy Hand – 5:21
  6. No Place For Hate – 5:18
  7. Love Finds a Way – 6:16
  8. Relapser – 4:52
  9. Killing Time – 8:37

  Woodhawk is:
  Turner Midzain – Guitar & Vocals
  Mike Badmington – Bass & Vocals
  Kevin Nelson - Drums

  More info:​
  ​https://www.woodhawkriffs.com​
  ​https://www.instagram.com/woodhawkriffs​
  ​https://www.facebook.com/woodhawkriffs

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• THUNDEROR Debut Their Self-Titled Rock Opera Musical At TORONTO FRINGE FESTIVAL (July 3-12)

  May 21, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  From 2x JUNO-nominated musician/writer JJ Tartaglia comes ‘THUNDEROR’, an epic rock opera musical (in the vein of Bat Out Of Hell, Rock Of Ages) but with a fresh soundtrack of original anthems. Featuring the actual live band and a star-studded cast, THUNDEROR tells a tale of adventure and romance in the face of mortality, hearkening back to the glory days of arena rock, wild and restless, as a young group of would-be rockers head out on an impromptu adventure in a time of danger and hope.

  
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  Presented as part of the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival, the 75-minute show will see a run of 5 dates at VideoCabaret’s Deanne Taylor Theatre in Toronto, performed in the unconventional format of ‘In The Round’ for an intimate and exclusive experience.
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  ​“I guess I’m giving my heavy metal dreams a makeover,” says JJ Tartaglia. “It’s been a crazy undertaking, but I’m absolutely stoked about the show we’ve created. I’m truly blessed to have such an amazing cast and team. Expect an unconventional take on musical theatre! In my mind, it combines the best of both worlds, and I hope that it’ll be enjoyed by all.”

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  The musical score will debut unreleased material from Thunderor’s upcoming concept album ‘Bleed For It’ to be released this fall. Besides the live band of JJ Tartaglia (vocals/drums), Jonny Nesta (guitar) and Anthony Pannozzo (keys), the production is directed by Liam Eric Dawson (director shadow Come From Away), assistant directed by metal concert photographer Rae Chatten, choreographed by Kristen Pepper (Kinky Boots, Cabaret), and features a veteran cast comprising of Georgia Grant (A Streetcar Named Desire), Jamie Elliott (Shrek The Musical), Tristan Hernandez (Rock Of Ages, Peter Pan), and Stephen Flett (Miracle On 34th Street, Hamlet).

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  ​Boonsdale Records presents: THUNDEROR​
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  ​5 shows as part of the 2025 Toronto Fringe Festival​
  ​Thu 3rd July – 9:45 pm
  Sat 5th July – 7:45 pm
  Mon 7th July – 4:00 pm
  Fri 11th July – 4:00 pm
  Sat 12th July – 5:45 pm​
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  Writer, Musical Director: JJ Tartaglia
  Director: Liam Eric Dawson
  Assistant Director: Rae Chatten
  Choreographer: Kristen Pepper

  Starring​
  JJ Tartaglia (as Bowen)
  Georgia Grant (as Kenzie)
  Jamie Elliott (as Sheenah)
  Tristan Hernandez (as Silverman)
  Stephen Flett (as Brother Nuckett)
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  ​Band​
  JJ Tartaglia (Drums/Vocals)
  Jonny Nesta (Guitar)
  Anthony Pannozzo (Keys)
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  ​Venue
  ​VideoCabaret – Deanne Taylor Theatre
  10 Busy St, Toronto, ON​
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  More information and tickets are available as of June 4, 2025, at https://www.fringetoronto.com

  Appreciated by fans of Judas Priest, Van Halen, and Saxon, Thunderor's releases are available via Boonsdale Records.

  CD – https://thunderor.bigcartel.com​

  ​Spotify

  For more info:
  ​Facebook.com/ThunderorOfficial​
  ​Instagram.com/thunderor_official

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• DEREV Release Debut Album "Troubled Mind" + Cross-Canada Tour Dates (QC/ON/MB/SK/BC)

  Mar 26, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Toronto, Canada's Derev is proud to release their first full length, "Troubled Mind", now available as of March 26th on digital platforms (links below).

  The follow-up to their 2021 debut EP "Leap of Faith," “Troubled Mind” takes a deep dive into the intricacies of the human psyche, addressing a spectrum of mental health issues with each track, ranging from temporary mental instability to more severe conditions such as schizophrenia, cognitive immobility (a fixation on the past), and depression stemming from loss.

  Offering a diverse range of sounds from mellow, calm tracks to adrenaline-pumping heavy headbangers while maintaining their distinctive progressive rock sound, enriched with Middle Eastern influences. Incorporating more prominent keyboard parts, experimenting with various time signatures, and introducing new instruments such as the Cajon, Darbuka, and electronic elements. This evolution showcases the band's innovative spirit and commitment to pushing musical boundaries.

  The band adds:

  “This album is very personal and introspective. It’s full of memorable songs and parts to listen to and digest, both from a musical and lyrical perspective. Every song tackles a different state of mind and takes the listener into their thoughts of a mental state that they can relate to. As this one marks our second official release, we think the fans will be excited about hearing what Derev still has to offer. They’re in for a crazy ride full of energetic ups and heartbreaking downs.”

  Derev was conceived after founding member and drummer Michel Karakach, after fleeing the war in the Middle East and finding refuge in Toronto, Canada, reunited with his best friend, guitarist Armando Bablanian, to turn what was once a mere childhood dream into a powerful reality.

  Derev's dynamic lineup now includes bassist Stan Komarovsky, providing the backbone of Derev's sound, and keyboardist Ran Zehavi from the progressive rock band Scalar, adding depth and complexity. Leading the live charge is frontman and vocalist Mike Symons, who has replaced previous singer Adel Saflou, whose recorded vocals are featured on "Troubled Mind".

  Recommended for fans of Opeth, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Soen, and Riverside, "Troubled Mind" is available at https://www.derevmusic.com/store (on Vinyl, CD, Tour Pass) and all digital platforms (Spotify, Bandcamp).

  In additional news, Derev is touring in Ontario to support "Troubled Mind" and will continue their road shows across Western Canada for May (listed below).

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  DEREV - Troubled Mind ON/ QC Tour​
  March 28 - Waterloo, ON - Midnight Run Café w/ Local Goblin
  March 29 - Guelph, ON - The Red Papaya w/ Jupiter Hollow, Crown For A King, and Exolithic
  April 5 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar w/ World On Alert & Vinyl Hero
  April 11 - Hamilton, QC - Club Absinthe w/ 8 Banger, Hollow Core, Bad Communication
  April 12 - Brantford, ON - Brandi’s Kitchen & Bar w/ Jupiter Hollow & Guests

  DEREV - Troubled Mind - Western Canada Tour​
  May 2 - Sudbury, ON - The Townhouse w/ Jeidei, Codos
  May 3 - Marathon, ON - Biloxys Wings and Things
  May 4 - TBA (North Western Ontario)
  May 6 - TBA (Manitoba)
  May 8 - Regina, SK - Revival Music Room w/ Fame Fatale, 66 Aces
  May 9 - Saskatoon, SK - Amigos Cantina w/ Out Of Frequency, 66 Aces
  May 10 - Edmonton, SK - Rendezvous Pub w/ Darkened Skies, Silent Script, Misplaced Intentions
  May 12 - Grand Forks, BC - 4th St. Studio w/ guests
  May 13 - Kamloops, BC - The Blue Grotto w/ Augur, Gregarious
  May 14 - Vancouver, BC - The Roxy Cabaret w/ guests
  May 16 - Vernon, BC - Longhorn Pub w/ None The Wiser, Scared Soul Empire
  May 17 - Cranbrook, BC - The York Public House w/ Phaeton
  May 18 - Calgary, AB - Verns w/ Humans As Totems, The Future Relics, Rocky Mountain Maniacs, 13 Strikes
  May 20 - Winnipeg, MB - Sidestage w/ Valley Narrow, Sunbreather
  May 22 - Thunder Bay, ON - Black Pirates Pub w/ Cycle Of Disobedience, Along The Lines, The Fixer
  May 23 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Soo Blaster w/ guests
  May 24 - Timmins, ON - Victory Tavern w/ guests

  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Buried Voice (7:23)
  2. Cyclone (5:39)
  3. Crawl Space (1:16)
  4. Room 9 (6:15)
  5. Paracusia (4:35)
  6. Tides of Time (5:59)
  7. Darker Self (5:44)
  8. Trace Within (5:01)
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  ​Album Band Line Up:​
  Adel Saflou - Vocals
  Armando Bablanian - Guitar
  Michel Karakach - Drums
  Stan Komarovsky - Bass
  Ran Zehavi - Keys
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  ​Live Band Line Up:​
  Mike Symons - Vocals
  Armando Bablanian - Guitar
  Michel Karakach - Drums
  Stan Komarovsky - Bass
  Ran Zehavi - Keys

  More info: Derevmusic.com | Facebook.com/derevmusic | Instagram.com/derevmusic | X.com/derevmusic​

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