Feature: Days Of The Dead Festival

Feature: Days Of The Dead Festival - Day II

10/4/2017

https://www.facebook.com/DaysOfTheDeadRD/

Ninjaspy

Photo: Taser Fraser

Band Members
Joel Parent, Adam Parent, Tim Parent

Hometown: Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada

Record Label: unsigned

Website: www.facebook.com/ninjaspy/
www.ninjaspy.net/

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.

WAKE

Photo: Cole Hadley

Band members
Rob LaChance, Kyle Ball, Arjun Gill, Josh Bueckert, & Reid Gennutt

Hometown: Calgary, AB Canada

Record Label: 7 Degrees Records// Handshake Inc.

Website: wakewww.hexagrambooking.com/roster/#/wake
wakegrind/www.facebook.com/wakegrind/
wakegrind.bandcamp.com/

Few worthy metalheads would say the name WAKE isn't synonymous with "relentless". Over the last decade, consistent ethic, back-to-back tours, and a veritable stream of releases have turned a humble grinding metal outfit into a Canadian institution.

From early tours on nothing, to multiple Maryland Deathfest appearances, European tours with Relapse Records artists Primitive Man, LPs released by the inimitable Nerve Altar records, logging tens of thousands of miles alone in the middle of the USA or with a host of Americas best heavy bands over the course of the 2010s... the workload and fury are never-ending, the same way their Sowing The Seeds Of A Worthless Tomorrow LP pulps the face of the False with the levity of a sledgehammer.

After finishing a fourth LP with Dave Otero at Flatline Audio, an August European, and various festival appearances, WAKE carry on the same as usual in 2017 - scorning the weak, ignoring the trends, and digging heels into the road.

Bands rise and fall but WAKE is the gold standard of Metal. Fearless, peerless and uncompromising.

Without Mercy

Band Members
Alex Friis - Vocals, DJ Temple - Guitars, Ryan Loewen - Bass, & Matt Helie - Drums

Hometown: Abbotsford, BC

Record Label: unsigned

Website: www.facebook.com/withoutmercyband/
www.withoutmercyband.com/

Tenacity, work ethic and originality. There’s no excuses anymore.

Founded in 2004, Without Mercy has gone from strength to strength over the years. They released their first EP “All Else Fails” in 2007 completely independently and used its humble beginnings to start the catapulting of performances, internet presence and radio play. In 2009, Without Mercy went on to record their self-titled full length album using the same team that worked on records by Devin Townsend,Mudvayne, and Marilyn Manson. Without Mercy rode the attention wave of their self-titled debut,
using the escalation to begin a relentless performance schedule that would lead them far from their hometown and include over 200 live performances. No stranger to tenacity, in only a few short years Without Mercy have achieved; being the only indie metal band in Western Canada to have two tracks available on Rock Band 3, being featured in Tattoo Savage Magazine, and pioneering the phrases, ‘You Smell Like A Bitch’ and ‘Fuck Pussy Metal’ – which have now become synonymous with the band.In 2014, Without Mercy unleashed third studio release, “Reborn”. Another massive evolution for the band, Without Mercy sought to bring back the organic metal sound and combine it with a high production standard. Fast forward to 2016, the band is ready to share their new EP ‘Mouichido’ that even features Chimaira vocalist Mark Hunter on their track ‘In Waves’.

Tyler Dory Trio

Band Members
Tylor Dory: Vocals, guitar, synth
Slava Fedossenko: Bass, backing vocals
Jonathan Webster: Drums, backing vocals

Hometown: Edmonton, AB

Record Label: unsigned

Website: www.tylordorytrio.com/, www.facebook.com/tylordorytrio/

Conceived in late 2012 by guitarist/vocalist Tylor Dory and drummer Jonathan Webster, the trio was completed in late 2013 after the addition of their bassist Slava Fedossenko. After retooling their sound to complement their lineup, the band released their debut EP “Carried Away” in September of 2015. Showcasing powerful vocal harmonies, complex but catchy riffs and adventurous arrangements, "Carried Away" is a sign of things to come from a band not afraid to stretch out and think big. The full length follow up was recorded with the prolific and handsome Christer-Andre Cederberg at his studio in Kristiansand, Norway in February 2017, set for release later this year, with touring to follow. TDT loves pushing the boundaries of what a power trio can accomplish, but above all else, it's about the songs.

Leave the Living

Band Members
Justin Shadows - Vocals, Ben Bushido - Guitar, Jose Dyck - Guitar, Steven McGillivray- Bass, & Sean Higgins - Drums

Hometown: Red Deer, AB

Record Label: unsigned

Website:
ashermediarelations.com/2015/03/18/epk-leave-the-leaving-pacifist-2015/
www.facebook.com/leavetheliving/
leavetheliving.bandcamp.com/

Red Deer, AB groove metal five piece Leave The Living bring forth a blue-collar work ethic when it comes to making the ground shake before them. Gearing up for their 2015 debut album ‘Pacifist’ to follow up their 2012 self titled EP, LTL is looking forward to breaking necks with their punishing riffs and incredible breakdowns backed by wrenching screams and a heavier more brutal groove assault.

“We hope that old fans of the band are going to enjoy how much heavier the music has gotten since the EP and how much everyone in the band has grown as musicians. At the core we want people to really enjoy the new single and the new album. Tap their feet, move their heads, have a visceral response to it.” says vocalist Justin Shadows. “The lyrics are also inspired from a combination of things such as life experiences (Word of A Whore), insecurities (Undone), things I’ve read about (Manifesto) or any other manner of things that made me want to write. The meaning behind the album is that if we give up our right to express ourselves and dissent from popular opinion, then we deserve to live in a police state. That is it. We have the right to question our governments and ourselves. If we choose not to then we have no right to complain when the act in ways contrary to our beliefs.”

Evolving significantly since inception, LTL has taken major steps to bring their songwriting to a higher level, collaborating closer as a band to make a heavier sound plus map out a new album and more that fans old and new, locally and internationally will be anxious to hit the mosh pit to support.

“We sat down with the songs we had completed and tried to map out how we wanted the album to flow. We kept reworking it until we were happy with it. You can expect a lot more music for sure. We already have a bunch of new music in the works.”

Dead 3 Days

Band Members
Kyle Wilson - Vocals, Jason Ware - Guitar/Booking/Manager,
Austin Chappell - Guitar/Keys/Production, Danny Arnott - Drums, &
Shayne Durocher - Bass

Hometown: Oshawa

Record Label: InZen Music

Website:
www.facebook.com/Dead3Days/
dead3days.com/

Young lads from Oshawa, ON playing some metal.

Adrian Pain and the Dead Sexy

Band Members
Adrian Pain - Vocals, Ethan Clark - Drums, Matt Jenkins - Guitar,
Ben Yntema - Bass , & Kyle Clyma - Vocals

Hometown: Toronto, Ontario

Record Label: All-Core Records

Website: https://www.facebook.com/AdrianPainAndTheDeadSexy/

What if you were told a band from Canada would form that would meld every splintered off sub-genre you can imagine back into one, stand-alone, hybrid Rock / Metal sound? Would you believe it?
That band is Toronto & Canada's very own, Adrian Pain & The Dead Sexy.

Founded by singer/songwriter Adrian Pain, The Dead Sexy is a one-of-a-kind, progressive, melodic, Metalcore sound with a Post-Metal twist. Pain combines their music with emotionally stirring and meaningful lyrics, and they deliver their sonic seduction with what they call a "Serrated Edge" image and a seriously kick-ass Live performance.

Whether you want to call it Metalcore, Post-Hardcore, or even Post-Nu-Death-Metalcore, the band themselves refer to what they play as "All-Core", citing the fact that any music you are inspired by, will undoubtedly be influential in the music you make.

"We've been called many things but never 'genre deficient'... ...there is a new way." ~ Adrian Pain.

If Adrian Pain & The Dead Sexy are playing anywhere you can get to, do NOT miss their live performance!

The Myopia Condition

Band Members:
Josh Gould(guitar), Greggins Glen(Drums), Jose Dyck(Vocals),
Rob Fearey(Bass), and Dave Luchenski(Guitar)

Hometown: Red Deer, AB

Record Label: unsigned

Website:
https://www.facebook.com/The-Myopia-Condition-1394941280540493/

What started as a fun little side band to jam out tunes we enjoyed playing has quickly become Red Deer's newest band to the metal scene. The Myopia Condition is Josh Gould(guitar), Greggins Glen(Drums), Jose Dyck(Vocals), Rob Fearey(Bass), and Dave Luchenski(Guitar). Still very much in the beginning stages, but ready to hammer out some heavy tunes, rock out on some killer stages, and have a wicked time doing it! Stay tuned for updates!

Juliet Ruin

Band Members:
Jess Fleming- Lead Vocal Kent Geislinger- Guitar + Vocals Wesley Rands - Lead Guitar Joseph Adams - Drums Cody Reid - Bass and Vocals

Hometown: Edmonton, AB

Record Label: unsigned

Website: https://www.facebook.com/julietruinband/
julietruin.com/
www.youtube.com/channel/UCSFcF154k7GhKUxt4qKepIA

Juliet Ruin is a 5 member female fronted metal band from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada with a unique blend of groove, power, grit, and personality. Each member brings his or her own genuine vibe to the crew and this really shows in their high energy performances. With a seemingly endless list of collective influences such as: Snot, Lamb of God, Chuck Berry, Mastodon, Suicidal Tendencies, Tool, Polkadot Cadaver and countless more, Juliet Ruin's ever-evolving sound is genuinely inspired by versatility. Juliet Ruin is a passionate project with insane amounts of fun that is sure to deliver a great time, grooves to make you move and some killer hooks too.

Wives Tail

Band Members
Guitar & Lead Vocals: Jimmy Bryant, Guitar & Backing Vocals: Jordan Busch, Bass Guitar & Moral Support: Jordan David Todd, & Drums: Scott Gooding

Hometown: Red Deer

Record Label: unsigned

Website:
https://soundcloud.com/wives-tail-official/sets/wives-tail-studio-demo

Founded by Jimmy and Jordan in mid 2012, but not under the name it is now, they initially started jamming and reformed the old red deer basement band Necrotic Birth. Through the first set of jam sessions the founding members go a taste how each guitarist wrote and after seeing that Necrotic Birth was not the band they should be in, they went off and started writing what they wanted. Though the first bit was rough, it wasn't until roughly May of 2013 that Jimmy drunkenly talked to Scott about playing in band and needing a drummer, from there Scott had a few greasy jams to try and has been part of the band ever since.

Through out 2014 the band saw great local success, playing well over a dozen shows in their home town to give people a taste of the high energy music they held. In these shows they had some interesting experiences, falling on bills where they didn't necessarily fit in, but by god they played anyway, opening up for acts like bigger name punk rock ground Authority Zero to supporting smaller local rock groups like Lucid Scream from Calgary, Alberta, and even finding themselves being the only thrash metal band on a hardcore based metal bill (metalcore and deathcore). Even though they found themselves on a lot of bills being the "band at the wrong gig" word spread and in July of 2014 they sat down for a week in studio and pounded out a five song demo featuring the bands original list which was received relatively well.

Finally in the year 2016, the day that was spoken of in the prophecies. Wives Tail finally found someone, who was laid back and down to earth, that could handle the craziness of Jordan and the Structural madness of Jimmy, Someone who could understand that Scott is usually just Joking....they Found a Bass Player, who was still early on in his Training, and was very mold-able and mold him they did. bringing down thunder and glitter from the gods of glam and thrash till we brought forth our new Bass player Jordan David Todd, to finally give the band a nice FULL sound that we have been longing for.

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DAYS OF THE DEAD FESTIVAL