This is the metal music blog of the Heavy Metal Sasquatch. Thriving in the mosh pit environment, all the Yeti needs for sustenance is metal. I review underground metal, upload shitty pictures from shows I go to, and share wicked new metal bands I find along the way. Read this blog to discover new metal! \mXm/
The Heavy Metal Sasquatch is always craving metal. And the crunchy beats, deep rhythms, and heavy vocals I crave the most are ripe in the debut music video "SnakeSkin" from the Niagara based Metal Beasts of BabbaR's Roundtable. SnakeSkin is an absolutely killer song showcasing some serious aggression and incredible groove metal mastery. The video begins with a bang and quickly picks up the pace, delivering fast and technical bone breaking fret and stick work throughout. While the video has a very simple concept it features some wicked and interesting footage of the band delivering their fury. Although I would have liked a few more special effects or some sample video cut ins, the music video is extremely well shot and sets the stage perfectly for BabbaR's debut EP "The Incipient". Check out the video for SnakeSkin below and support the band online @www.facebook.com/pages/BabbaR and give their full EP a listen @ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eAnjC-PscDI
- I thoroughly enjoyed BabbaR's video for SnakeSkin as well as their entire EP "The Incipient". Their music is heavy as hell and the songs are undeniably well written; all having a flow that keeps my head furiously banging!
- My Verdict
\m/\m/\m/\m/ out of \m/\m/\m/\m/\m/
4/5 - Fast, brutal, and worth the neck cramp!
We are a few weeks into the new year and it's already shaping up to be a killer year for metal. 2014 has already promised outstanding concert & festival line ups as well as potential studio releases from blockbuster metal bands such as Behemoth, Agalloch, Anthrax, Slayer, Deftones, Slipknot, & Arch Enemy. But while the big names of metal promise a great year to come, something huge is looming in the underground of southern Ontario. There is a ton of talent brewing throughout the Ontario metal scene, however there are a few bands that i feel everyone needs to be keeping extra close tabs on. Here are my top 3 bands to keep an eye out for this year.
ENDING TYRANNY - I have a feeling that 2014 is going to be a huge year for Brantford's death metal king pins. Having recently released their full length album "Perpetual Greed" as well as being signed to the small record label "Ghost Vision Records & Entertainment", the band has been receiving a lot of attention from promoters as well as festival coordinators. Ending Tyranny is already set to headline Niagara Falls' Breakthrough Festival in March, and is sure as hell to make appearances at a number of other metal festivals and venues throughout the year. Ending Tyranny is on the verge of exploding, so make sure to check them out in person and online @ www.facebook.com/EndingTyranny & @ itunes.apple.com/ca/album/perpetual-greed/.
VARGA - Being born in Hamilton, Varga was a band I heard of often. While they were at their peak just a bit before my time, I remember catching their video for their song "Greed" on late night Much Loud video flows, as well as on an episode of Beavis & Buthead. So when I heard the band was releasing a brand new album after a 17 year hiatus, I knew something killer was on its way. And so it was with their godly release of "Enter The Metal" in the fall of last year, featuring 6 songs of a brutal mixture of progressive, power, and thrash metal. Since the release Varga has received a lot of hype and has played a steady line of gigs, showing no sign of slowing down. This year definitely has a lot in store for the power thrash foursome, so make sure to check them out live and online @ www.facebook.com/pages/Varga-HQ and @ http://vargahq.com/band/.
UNSCATHED - With just over a year under their belt as a band, Unscathed spent 2013 playing a steady line up of festivals and shows as well spending considerable time in the studio. Mid way through last year the band performed a drastic change to their sound, taking on a heavier vocal direction as well as altering and refining their instrumental sound. With Unscathed set to release their first EP mid-february and a number of festivals and shows on the horizon, 2014 should be an interesting year for these unscathed progressive thrash metal demons. So keep your ears to the underground for live shows and your eyes peeled for Unscathed EP @ www.facebook.com/weareunscathed.
- The next 12 months are going to be terrific if you're metalhead. All of the big name metal news aside, each of the bands mentioned above each offer something completely unique and wicked to the metal community. Make sure to watch out for these bands in the coming months, and take every opportunity you can to check them out!
- Support your local metal scene!! Leave a comment with your top underground bands to keep an eye on this year so everyone can check them out! \m/
Deathpoint has been on the Yeti's radar for some time now, with their 2013 release "Sinister" receiving a lot of attention in my playlist rotation. Because of this I am very excited to present to you the official music video for the song "Between the Lines", off their aforementioned killer album. Deathpoint is groove metal at its finest, featuring technical and hard hitting instrumentals in combination with honed aggressive vocals; perfection for the head-banging enthusiast. The video for Between the Lines is fantastic and enthralling, showcasing a deranged family man at his worst and brilliant HD footage of the band delivering their brutal ballad. On top of this the video has remarkable flow, responding appropriately to its musical counterparts, making it an extremely enjoyable watch. Check the video out below and make sure to support the band @ www.facebook.com/deathpoint.metal and itunes.apple.com/ca/album/sinister \m/
- I enjoyed everything that this video had to offer. The song of choice "Between the Lines" is one of my favourites off the album and was a perfect choice for the video, making for a unique and intriguing watch that keeps you hooked to the end. Furthermore, the HD footage of the band performing was fantastic, showcasing the serious talent behind the reigns of Deathpoint.
- My Verdict
\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/ out of \m/\m/\m/\m/\m/
5/5 - Absolutely Killer!
The Heavy Metal Sasquatch lives purely off raw power, requiring a constant and steady amount of face melting metal for sustenance. While a wide variety of metal bands suit the dietary needs of the "Metal Yeti", he prefers the technical complexity and the crunchy yet delicious musical variations associated with progressive metal. Persefone is one of these such delicious treats. Persefone calls themselves "progressive melodic death metal", but it feels like %100 tasty Prog to the Yeti. Their latest full length album Spiritual Migration is a masterpiece delivering brutally heavy riffs in combination with technical brilliance and beautifully timed special effects. Spiritual Migration is terrific from front to back, running an impressive seventy one minutes, and failing to disappoint on any level; successfully provoking many deep cerebral thoughts and emotions at the same time. This album is top tier prog metal, not heavily relying on any one specific style of play, while very successfully melding experimental instruments and sounds. Furthermore, their use of nature throughout the album provided a vivid feeling of tranquility; which is a stark contrast to the raw power and fury that was never to far away in the album as well as throughout the biological world. Listen to the full album below and make sure to check them out on facebook @ www.facebook.com/Persefoneband and buy their merch @ www.persefone.com. \m/
- Persefone's Spiritual Migration blew me away and is definitely worth your time and listening pleasure. It has been years since I've heard a prog metal band of this unique caliber. Persefone took a while to reach my ears, but i'm hoping they reach yours soon so you to can discover your new favourite band. "Innovative music for the open-minded listener".
- My Verdict
\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/ out of \m/\m/\m/\m/\m/
5/5 - Progtastic
