New Metal Review: Varius - Red Messenger

   The Heavy Metal Yeti has a diet of pure metal. Lucky for me, a lot of great diverse metal has been coming out over the past few years. Always preferring to eat local, I've been pleased with all the fantastic local bands gaining momentum lately. Various is one of these bands, scoring one of my favourite releases of 2017 with their Red Messenger EP (check out the entire list here). Hailing from Niagara Falls Ontario, the band spawned out of the ashes of a few prog and thrash metal bands active over the past few years. What doesn't kill you makes the metal better! Varius began in 2016, but hit the ground running in 2017 with a busy year of live shows and the release of their first EP, released independently last Halloween.

   Varius;- "diverse, different, changeable; variegated". The bands first EP Red Messenger is true to their name, featuring three songs of heavy hitting and technically diverse metal fury! Varius hits hard with a blend of traditional groove and progressively heavy metal. Each of the three songs on the EP brings something slightly different to the table, showcasing their embrace of fast paced guitar groove, progressive song structure, and mix of traditional and unorthodox instrumental combinations. The death growling vocals suits the instrumentals well on the album, enforcing the heavy tone that kept my furious furry head banging throughout. Red Messenger is also full of trippy and face-melting guitar solos reflecting the bands diverse nature. Varius doesn't shy away from good old fashion shred in their riffs. They keep the throttle pinned, breaking only for the few moments to enjoy some weird proggy fun. Various has a lot planned for 2018 and beyond with a new 4 song follow up planned for release this year and a number of live shows on the horizon. Keep your eyes peeled for them on your local bills and check them out if you get the chance! In the meantime you can listen, download, and buy merch online @ https://varius.bandcamp.com/releases. I cant wait to see what these guys have in store for us in the coming years!!

- My Verdict
\m/\m/\m/\m/ out of \m/\m/\m/\m/\m/
4/5 - Magnificent! Give them a listen!

New Metal Review: Duskwalker (The Offering) - Codex Mystirium

 
 **EDIT: Due to legal reasons this band has officially changed their name to DUSKWALKER!**

Something has been brewing in Niagara Falls, Ontario. While many people only know the region for its wine exports, the Yeti learned a long time ago the area is also rich with fine metal exports as well. The regions latest export is the debut album from  The Offering (now Duskwalker*) with Codex Mystirium,  released independently on August 12. Duskwalker comes with years of band history and talent behind its reigns, yet it doesn't sound quite like anything you've heard before; smashing genre boundaries and cranking the metal up to maximum proportions!

     One of the things I enjoy most about this band is their ability to channel influences across all metal spectrums, while never really sitting in one place for too long. Codex Mystirium starts off appropriately with The Calm Before The Swarm which builds strongly towards the track Duskwalker, delivering a brutal and heavy blackened masterpiece for death and black metal fans alike. As the album continues on the tracks take on more of a melodic focus with each song delivering a relentless barrage of killer drum progressions, powerful riffage, and face-melting solo work. Similar to the instrumentals, the vocals throughout the album range in style, offering up a mix of sinister screams and growls, experimental synths, and a few brief and perfectly executed clean moments.

     While this album is a blast from start to finish, my favourite moment comes from its final track, Echoes of Eternity, which paints me a perfect picture of an occult ritual for the unfathomably powerful. Do yourself a favour and give it a listen; Codex Mystirium is available for download directly from the band as well through a number of streaming services. Make sure to check out on facebook @  https://www.facebook.com/DuskwalkerOfficial/ to keep up to date with merch and tour information.




-Coming from someone who thoroughly enjoys a wide variety of metal genres and styles, it was refreshing to hear an album that flawlessly incorporated so many influences without ever feeling like its being shoved down my throat. Overall,  Duskwalker's Codex Mystirium presents an extremely heavy and hard hitting aggressive album while also managing to stand apart from the crowd with many successfully executed experimental and progressive aspects. The album rips from start to finish offering the listener interesting subject matter, and some unbelievably kick ass headbanging moments. This album is one hell of a debut and I personally can not wait to see what more is to come.
- My Verdict
\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/ out of \m/\m/\m/\m/\m/
5/5 - Codex Magnificent!

New Metal Review: Wretchedpain - The Great ReAwakening (ft. Mark Hunter)

     This is not the first time I have written about Wretchedpain and it certainly will not be the last time you hear about them, with the bands release of their killer new track, The Great ReAwakening. The track is four minutes of brutal groovy death metal, featuring none other than ex-Chimaira front man Mark Hunter sharing the microphone with Joey Glacken on vocals. The track starts with a deliciously heavy groove followed by a blast from Hunter, reminding me a lot of the Impossibility of Reason days (which is a very good thing). The instrumentals throughout the track are also top notch. The guitar work is flawless; providing a brutally heavy, yet impossibly groovy framework for the song to build off. Furthering along the brutality was the awesomely executed drumming throughout the track. If this wasn't already enough I also absolutely loved the lyrics throughout the song, drawing on themes of generational laziness, apathy, and enlightenment or lack there of. Check out the song below and make sure to check the band out if you like what you hear! Get touring info and download music from Wretchedpain @ www.facebook.com/Wretchedpain & www.itunes.com/wretchedpain.

 - I was already excited to hear new material from Wretchedpain, but combined with the added bonus of Mark Hunter on the track; you got yourself a volatile and lethal combination. Any attempt to not like this song is "FEEBLE AT BEST" (and if you didn't get that reference listen to the goddamn song).
My Verdict
\m/\m/\m/\m/\m/ out of \m/\m/\m/\m/\m/
5/5 - Pure Canadian Metal at its finest!

The Yeti Files: Wretchedpain

    Last night marked the beginning of something amazing for the Sasquatch, with the broadcast of the very first episode of The Yeti Files on The Pit Radio Show airing Thursday nights at 11pm on 98.5fm out of Kitchener as well as on live stream at www.ckwr.com. Every single Yeti File will feature one specific underground metal band from the diverse Southern Ontario metal scene, in hopes of spreading the influence of metal to the masses. Check out the first episode of The Yeti Files below featuring St. Catherines death metal maniacs Wretchedpain! Give it a listen and make sure to support The Pit Radio Show @ www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pit-Radio-Show. Also don't forget to give Wretchedpain some love over at www.facebook.com/Wretchedpain.


- Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for the next episode of The Yeti Files featuring another gem from Ontario's underground metal scene!
-Special thanks to rockin' Rod and The Pit Radio Show for bringing the Yeti Files to life! /,,/ Many more to come!

Between the Buried and Me - Parallax II :Future Sequence @ the Phoenix,Toronto (2/28/14)

   Last night the Heavy Metal Sasquatch had the honour of seeing Between the Buried and Me for the 9th time; and for what was perhaps their best one yet. The band flawlessly performed the Parallax II: Future Sequence album in entirely with no interruptions, unleashing a hell storm of fury upon Toronto. After a brief break they came back out to end the gig on a high note with Son of Nothing, launching the Yeti to metal bliss. I am already counting down the days until the next time these boys swing through town! Here's a collection of pictures I took throughout the set. Cheers as per usuall to the band as well as the crazies I clashed with in the pit /,,/  

-Heavy Metal Sasquatch out! /,,/ /,,/

UNSCATHED IS COMING!

THEY ARE COMING!

WE ARE UNSCATHED!

Structures, Texas in July, Northlane, & Intervals Canadian Tour! (May 3 - 25, 2013)

This is a re-post of my very first post, but it needs to be brought to your immediate attention! The month of May initiates the start of a month long Canadian tour for metal Structures, Texas in July, Northlane, & Intervals. The tour kicks off May 3rd in Halifax and ends May 25th in Vancouver. Having seen Intervals once already this year, I was already hooked; but the other three bands are the icing on the metal cake. All 4 of these bands are absolutely wicked, providing heart-stopping metal from the progressive metal, djent, and metalcore ends of the spectrum. All these bands are on the rise and I predict these sorts of small shows might be a rare occurrence soon, so make sure to get out and see these guys up close and personal! This show is going to be unbelievable and the Heavy Metal Sasquatch is itching to get in the pit!

 

- Get your tickets online @ www.ticketweb.ca -

STRUCTURES - www.facebook.com/wearestructures

TEXAS IN JULY - http://www.facebook.com/texasinjulyband

NORTHLANE - http://www.facebook.com/northlane

INTERVALS - www.facebook.com/intervalsmusic

-DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW! SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL METAL SCENE & GET IN THE PIT!

-See you all at the Toronto show! Come have a beer or 4 with me! Heavy Metal Sasquatch out \m/

Stage dive during Astral Bodies - Between the Buried and Me @ the Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto

Snapped this photo at the perfect time! Amazing show, Great crowd!! Lots of surfing!

The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues - Between the Buried and Me @ the Opera House, Toronto - July 2012

-Absolutely my favourite band to see live!
-Heavy Metal Sasquatch out \m/

Progressive Metal Showcase: Imperium - As Lightning Pours Live @ Lee's Palace, Toronto

Progressive Metal Showcase - Imperium

I can not express how excited the Heavy Metal Sasquatch is for the first studio demo from the up and coming prog metal band, Imperium. In preparation for their release here is another live video of Imperium performing As Lightning Pours @ Lee's Palace in Toronto. Check out more photos and videos at http://www.facebook.com/imperiummusic . Make sure to "like" their page to help spread the influence of IMPERIUM! \m/

-Heavy Metal Sasquatch out \m/

The Parallax II: Future Sequence - Between the Buried and Me @ the Phoenix, Toronto

\m/ Best photo of the night! \m/

Jan 31, 2013 - Phoenix Concert Theatre: Toronto, Canada

Fuck Yea!

Lay Your Ghosts To Rest (Live Video) - BTBAM @ the Phoenix Concert Theatre, Jan 31

Between the Buried and Me @ the Phoenix- Toronto, Canada. Jan 31. 2013 -

The Heavy Metal Sasquatch will remember this night for the rest of his life!! :D. This video was snapped during "Lay Your Ghosts to Rest". I loved the lights in combo with the all seeing Night Owl watching over the crowd! Cheers to all the people I fucked up in the pit! Fuck ya! \m/

I wake to my own whimper
Ship is counting down
Must regroup myself
-
The end starts now 

- Heavy Metal Sasquatch out \m/

Between the Buried and Me @ the Phoenix, Toronto. Jan 31

Intrumental Metal Showase: Intervals

Instrumental Metal Showcase - Intervals

Recently the Heavy Metal Sasquatch was in Toronto to see the always mind blowing Between the Buried and Me. Unknowing to me I was about to be absolutely fucking blown away by the completely instrumental Toronto based metal band Intervals. The amazing part about Intervals is that even with no lyrical words spoken, the guitar easily takes over; practically speaking for itself. Intervals recently released their wicked new EP - In Time. Check out the full EP stream at  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyBrxxUWO28 . Intervals is gearing up for a Canadian tour with Structures, Texas in July, & Northlane. Check these guys out!!!! I'll see you at the Kitchener show!!

-Rock on my Brothers & Sisters!!

-Heavy Metal Sasquatch out \m/