​​Sponsors / Partners:

BC Arts Council - http://www.bcartscouncil.ca
The Green - http://www.thegreen.ca
AbsoluteUnderground - https://www.facebook.com/AbsoluteUndergroundTV
A.M.I. Clothing – http://www.okanagangear.com
Asher Media Relations – http://www.ashermediarelations.com
Askew’s Foods – http://www.askewsfoods.com/index.php
Broken Neck Radio – http://www.brokenneckradio.com
Calgary Beer Core – http://www.calgarybeercore.com
Exclaim! – http://www/exclaim.ca
Metal Master Kingdom –http://www.metalmasterkingdom.com
Metal Nation Radio – http://www.metalnationradio.com
Muninn’s Post – http://www.muninnspost.com
Ogologo – http://www.ogologo.ca
PureGrainAudio – http://www.puregrainaudio.com
Rancho Vignola – http://www.ranchovignola.com
Shuswap Insurance – http://www.shuswapins.ca
Thrash Wrestling – http://www.facebook.com/ThrashWrestling
Voets Coffee – http://www.voetscoffee.com

Blog author:  Alex Stojanovic

Armstrong MetalFest returns this year for its 11th annual edition.  This year features another stellar lineup of Canadian metal talent, along with international talent.  The festival will take place on July 12th and 13th at the Hassen Arena in Armstrong, British Columbia.  This year's edition will feature headliners Origin and Nekrogoblikon, as well as the following:

Betraying The Martyrs (Paris, France), WAKE (Calgary, AB), Entheos (Santa Cruz, CA), Within Destruction (Slovenia), Centuries Of Decay (Toronto, ON), Sentinels (New Jersey), Odinfest (Armstrong, BC), Apprentice (Vancouver, BC), Apollyn (Kelowna, BC), Road Rash (Vancouver, BC), Pound (Seattle, WA), Arkenfire (Kelowna, BC), Widow's Peak (Calgary, AB), Nomad (Enderby, BC), Exterminatus (Vancouver, BC), Tessitura (Edmonton, AB), Gross Misconduct (Vancouver, BC), Truent (Maple Ridge, BC), Obsidian (Vancouver, BC), Death Machine (Kelowna, BC), The Myopia Condition (Red Deer, AB), League Of Corruption (Vancouver, BC), Arctos (Edmonton, AB), Hazzerd (Calgary, AB), Kleaver (Prince George, BC), Conniver (Kamloops, BC), The Vth Circle (Vancouver, BC), Indecipherable Noise (Peachland, BC), and Disturb The Dead (Devon, AB)

Tickets are only $135 CAD and available for purchase here.  All tickets will provide general admission and grant access to the festival grounds, thrash wrestling, camping area and arena from 11 AM PST on Friday, July 12th until Saturday, July 13th at 12:00 PM PST.  Free camping is included.  Ticket price at the door will be $175 CAD.

If you're interested in finding out information about day passes, check out the FAQ page on the festival's website.

Stay tuned for any other updates and details regarding the festival that may come up.

​For 10 years running, Armstrong Metalfest has not only fostered the talent of hundreds of local bands but brought in well-known, international acts to the sleepy, little Canadian town of Armstrong, British Columbia. The longest running metal festival in Western Canada has been a labour of love for a decade and now they are asking their fans and supporters for a little push to ensure that the festival can continue into 2019 and beyond.
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Each year up to 700 metalheads from Canada and USA descend into the picturesque Okanagan Valley and under the blistering sun they spend 3 days camping, taking in over 40 bands, participating in wrestling events and scavenger hunts and catching up with their metal family. The festival has seen such renowned headliners as Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, and Beyond Creation as well as emerging artists from across North America. At the end of the revelry, the festival disappears without a trace, leaving the landscape as pristine as it has always been. 
Co-Promoter Jesse Valstar, who has been part of the festival since day one, explains their situation:

AMF's Mountain Moshpit Vol. 3 available for FREE download:

​West Metal Entertainment is a non-profit society that not only puts on Armstrong Metal Festival every year in Armstrong, B.C. but gives bands opportunities to play different venues throughout the region including all ages shows, to encourage musical passion in kids as well as adults.
​
"We have played Armstrong a handful of times, and every year it's gotten better. The lineups, the attendance, the production; this is really the type of festival that B.C. needs. We hope to play again! Please support this crowdfunding campaign.” - Archspire

Armstrong Metalfest's GoFundMe campaign ends on September 1st with a goal of reaching $5,000 and for those interested in supporting the festival can make donations at the following link: 
​https://www.gofundme.com/keep-armstrong-metalfest-going

You can also watch their promo video explaining the need of the GoFundMe campaign at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bcHHaJ_Yjc 

For more info, please visit www.ArmstrongMetalFest.ca

​Festival co-organizer Jesse Valstar comments:

​Ticket PricesTicket Link: https://armstrongmetalfest.ca/tickets/ 

Advance Weekend passes $125 CAD, walk up rate $165 CAD.

Day PassesPlease check out the FAQ for information about special day passes and pricing at the following link: 
https://armstrongmetalfest.ca/about/faq/ 

2018 Early Entry Want to grab your favourite camp spot and beat the rush of metal heads? Guests are welcome to arrive Thursday after 11:00 AM.

2018 Camping and ParkingAll tickets include tent camping. You are welcome to sleep in your vehicle, RV or trailer. Traveling in an RV? Make sure to reserve your spot so you’re guaranteed a spot that includes water and power hookups. 
​
Reserve Online at the following link: 
​https://armstrongmetalfest.ca/contact/rv-reservations/ 

For more info, please visit www.ArmstrongMetalFest.ca

​July 13-14 - Armstrong, BC @ Hassen Arena
Band Submissions Now Open! Deadline To Apply October 31st

​Once again, Armstrong Metal Fest is proud to announce that this year’s Vancouver Whammy Award winner for Best Local Metal Artist will be playing on the 2018 edition. Festival co-organizer Jesse Valstar will be presenting the award.

Votes can be made until Nov 15th at the following link 
https://apps.facebook.com/my-surveys/whammys-2017-nominees-by-category 

Finalists announced in December and final voting running until mid January.

About:
What are the Whammys? The Whammys are an annual, local, independent music awards ceremony in Vancouver, BC. The event pays homage to the incredible achievements local artists have accomplished the year previous. 

​A five piece group based out of Vernon, British Columbia, Canada, following in the footsteps of bands such as: Behemoth, Dissection, and Immortal, XUL have left the beaten path and set out to forge their own brand of Blackened Death Metal.

An energetic and interactive live performance – with crushing rhythms seamlessly coalescing into atmospheric passages, accompanied by punishing percussion waves and subtle vocal harmonies – expands upon the previously established essence of the sub-genre. With songs reminiscent of war-torn landscapes, destructive human nature and evil intention, XUL has captivated audiences and garnered positive reviews, and on June 16th 2012, released their first full length album, entitled “Malignance”.

Driven by determination and a diverse accumulation of musical comprehension, XUL has toured Western Canada, as well as proven themselves worthy to share the stage with bands such as: Obscura, Exhumed, ABSU, Vreid, Kampfar, Woods of Ypres, Macabre, Withered, Cephalic Carnage, Archspire, Skeleton Witch, Beyond Creation, 3 Inches of Blood, Origin, Cryptopsy, Gorguts and Pallbearer.

XUL is actively seeking shows to support the release of EP 'Extinction Necromance' at this time, and has plans to record their next album, in the winter of 2016.

Band Members:
Levi Meyers - Lead Vocals 
Bill Ferguson - Vocals/Rhythm Guitar 
Marlow Deiter - Bass 
Wallace Huffman - Lead Guitar 
Lowell Winters - Drums

Record Label: Redefining Darkness Records

Hometown: Vernon. B.C.

Facebook | Bandcamp | You.Tube
​

​Ninjaspy, a trio of blood brothers, have been experimenting with metal fusion since 2006. Hard, heavy, hook-laden music that runs the gamut of reggae, surf, metal and more make up the band’s rule-breaking formula for notoriety. All this combined with an explosive and powerfully unhinged live show got Ninjaspy off the ground in a hurry. Not long after it’s inception, the band teamed up with prolific producers GGGarth Richardson (Rage Against the Machine, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mudvayne, Gallows) and Ben Kaplan (Biffy Clyro, Atreyu, Haste the Day) to make their debut album πature (Pi Nature) which was released in the Fall of 2007. From downbeat to breakdown, reggae, hardcore, and much more were forcibly wed. Years of hard touring followed as Ninjaspy found their stride and honed their craft, bringing their genre-bending sound to as many ears as possible. This was followed by Ninjaspy No Kata in 2013, a seamless 10-minute composition that infused reggae, hardcore, and drum and bass with lyrics that told a story; a monologue in graphic novel form, meant to be read in real time with the music. No Kata was released as an EP and graphic novel, and also as an animated video. In Spring 2014, Ninjaspy launched the "Jump Ya Bones" Tour and Crowdfunding Campaign and raised $15,000 to fund a new full length album. In November 2014, recording began for Spüken, the culmination of nearly a decade of songs narrowed down to a only a handful of survivors. It was recorded and mixed sporadically over the next two years at in Vancouver BC, once again with GGGarth and Ben Kaplan. In Fall 2015, between recording sessions, the band filmed and recorded a live acoustic performance of a song that was later to be included with full metal instrumentation on the new album. "Azaria : Acoustic (Live)" was released in Spring 2016 as a single and live video. It showed the true diversity of the band and their ability to take manic and intense music and make it tender and raw. By then tracking was all but complete for Spüken, and the band hit the road hard in support of the first single, “Speak” which was released August 26th, 2016 through Business Class Records (Nimbus Media). The official music video for “Speak” premiered in cities across Western Canada in November and was released online December 1st, 2016. Spüken is set for worldwide release in Spring 2017.

Band Members:
Joel Parent, Adam Parent, Tim Parent
​
Hometown - Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
​
​

Website | Facebook | You.Tube | Soundcloud

​Having delivered five killer albums boasting some of the most potent, technical and abrasive metal unleashed over the last decade, it would be easy for Revocation to sit back and rest upon their laurels. However, with their constant drive to push their sound ever forward and refusal to compromise their integrity, this could never be the case – and Great Is Our Sin is their most dynamic, boundary-pushing and weighty release to date.

Front-man Dave Davidson commented about the first track: “‘Communion’ is the fastest song we’ve recorded to date, and while it’s blistering in terms of speed, there are also some proggy elements present to add contrast to the aggression.”
When it came time for the follow-up to 2014′s Deathless, the quartet had their work cut out for them, and their response to the challenge is a record that grabs you by the throat and refuses to let go. Never forcing anything, the songs that would comprise Great Is Our Sin came together organically, and while the members being spread all around North America would have been an impediment to some,Revocation drew strength from it.

Reuniting with producer Zeuss (Hatebreed, Bleeding Through), who also helmed Deathless and 2012′s Teratogenesis EP, the record packs the requisite punch, yet retains the organic feel with which it was conceived. Known for their technical prowess, the band remained dedicated to upping the ante without ever losing sight of the importance of good songwriting.

While the songs come together to make for a cohesive record that is engaging from front to back, they are further united by the lyrical concept penned by Davidson. The title itself appropriated from Charles Darwin’s quote: “If the misery of the poor be caused not by the laws of nature, but by our institutions, great is our sin”, Davidson went about building a theme that was not only fittingly expansive, but also had real resonance with regard to contemporary society. “The concept revolves around the folly of man throughout the ages. Some themes come from historical references that are hundreds of years old, yet sadly these themes are still very relevant today due to mankind’s refusal to learn from the lessons history has taught us, time and time again.”

Regardless of the state of the world, nothing is going to slow Revocation down any time soon. Whilst the lineup has changed over the ten years the band has been in existence, Davidson’s passion has never waned, and they are arguably sounding better than ever as they look toward the future. “We can’t wait to bring these songs out on the road and perform them for different audiences all over the world. ‘Great Is Our Sin‘ is a new chapter for the band, and collectively we feel that it is our defining record to date.”

Aggression's Fragmented Spirit Devils on bandcamp: 

​Band Members:
Vocals- Brian Langley
Guitar- Denis 'Sasquatch' Barthe
Guitar- Dave Watson
Bass- Jon Power
Drums- Ryan Murray Idris

​You.Tube
Website
Facebook 

​Aggression was formed in the spring of 1985 (originally under the moniker "Asylum"), by the 2 guitar shredders Sasquatch 
and Burn. Rounding out the lineup was Botcher on vocals, Dug on Bass and Gate on drums. After a few demos they 
recorded "Forgotten Skeleton" in 1986. Unfortunately the album would not see a release until 2005. (Almost 20 years later!) 
After some lineup changes, Aggression recorded and released 1987's The Full Treatment.

They received good reviews for there demos and The Full Treatment, and very quickly became one of the most popular metal bands 
in Quebec and Canada. Their concerts were sold out everywhere, and the fanbase grew from hundreds to thousands in no time. 
With his public relations expertise, their manager at the time (Johnny Hart) quickly made Aggression an household name. Other 
bands such as Metallica, Slayer, Exodus, Hallow's eve, Destruction and others all wanted to see the beast for themselves and meet 
Aggression while they were in Montreal. Playing numerous concerts with bands such as Anvil, Celtic Frost, Voïvod, Nuclear Assault, 
Agnostic Front, D.R.I., Possessed, Dark Angel, Crumbsuckers, Sacrifice and others. Due to certain members drug habits and 
bad decision making the band was all but dead in 1989. 

Fast forward to 2005. The 1986 unreleased album Forgotten Skeleton gets released and see's the band reunite at Montreal Metal 
Massacre fest 2005. Unable to commit to anthing more than a few reunion shows it was decided that the band would be
put to rest once more. Aggression's 30 year anniversary is looming. Could 2015 see the return of these Frozen Aggressors?

​Planet Eater hails from western region of Canada, in Regina Saskatchewan. Living in the middle of a giant expanse of desolate land, the seasons are extreme and the living conditions harsh. The cold, dark months of the long winter sets the stage for five brothers to craft a brutal and harsh sound patiently tempered into the sound of Planet Eater. With no preconceptions of success or riches we write music that we want to hear, that remind us of the bands that once walked the earth and breathed the fire of metal into our minds. Canadian greats such as Strapping Young Lad and Katakylsm are blended with international legends, Gorjira, Red Fang, Meshuggah, Converge and Morbid Angel to name a few. Planet Eater strives to play a tight and heavy set and to have a visually exciting performance at all times. Our first release was a six song EP in October of 2014 which has been met with intriguing amount of international acclaim. We look forward to 2015 with festivals, shows and a full length album in the works. Join the hordes in support of one of Canada's newest Death Thrash bands. 

All hail Lord Nekron, eater of planets.

​Band Members:
Donovon Turner - Vocals
Luc Hart - Guitar
Nick Eichhrost - Drums
Troy Bleich - Bass/Vocals
Devin Ubel - Guitar

Hometown: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada