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/
