Gatekrashör
March: please bring some more bloody snow to the mountains, mmmkay? And keep up with the no more ice on the sidewalks thing… it rules. As for the metal, it just keeps on coming. So get out there and attend some shows.
On Saturday, March 1, head to The D (222 7th Street S.W.) for round two of the road to Wacken Metal Battle Canada. The ever generous Nathan Renaud (KYOKTYS) has covered the costs of the event, so bands who are competing are not enduring the pay to play scheme: they are just playing, and based on the crowd response and judges response, they win and go to the next round. The last event saw thrashy death newcomers Krepitus triumph. The upcoming event will see Derailed, Penitentz, Osyron, Skymir, Breed of War, and False Flag duke it out. Tickets are $10 at the door, show starts at 8 p.m. That same evening, Lord Nelson’s Bar and Grill (1020 8th Ave S.W.) will see Oh Shit!, Chakobsa, and The Keith Morrison Band perform. This show is organized by the Calgary Beer Core, and will celebrate a member of the Beer Core collective, so make sure you drop by and wish Mike Russell happy birthday, and grab him a beer.
Edmonton is laying waste with the exclusive Canadian performances lately. Legendary New York hardcore band Cro-Mags will play in Edmonton for two straight nights, on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 at The Pawn Shop (10549 82nd Ave N.W.). The first evening will also feature No Problem, Fuqoured, and Secret Rivals. The second night will feature E-Town Beatdown, Tarantuja, and Ringleader. Each event is $20, doors are at 8 p.m.
On Tuesday, March 18, Vancouver based extreme metal act Kymatica will release their debut self titled full length, following up a handful of demo and live recordings. Bandleader Luke Kaea caught up with BeatRoute to discuss the recording, which he described it as “music of the spheres that pummels through the depths of the underworld and out again unto the fathomless void.”
“The album will be available on our website, Bandcamp, CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon and any other online outlets I can get up and running in the next few weeks. I am currently in talk to set up a live return of the band for the summer,” he informed us, adding, “There is merch and the related bits and pieces coming down the pipe.”
The first fundraising gig for the second annual Garbage Daze festival will occur on Friday, March 21 at Vern’s Pub (622 8th Ave S.W.). Featuring local acts Gatekrashör, Fornication, Skin Colour, Blackrat, and Traumatized, the show will cost $10. Bands should start around 9 p.m.
The following evening, on Saturday, March 22, head back to The D for the third round of the Wacken Metal Battle Canada event. Bands performing include The Archon Prophecy, The Cadavor Dog, Morbidly Depraved, Vile Insignia, Hell Hounds, and Enemyus. Bands start at 8 p.m., tickets are $10. That same evening, Edmonton will host the Stabmonton DIY Fest Round 2 featuring sociopolitical grinders Head Hits Concrete (who you can read about in this section).
Last, but not least, the Shrapnel section is looking for two more aspiring metal writers to round out our section. If you have particular knowledge in one or more of the following genres – local metal, black metal, death metal, power metal, deathcore, or nu-metal – along with an talent for answering emails promptly, adhering to deadlines, drinking free beers, and headbanging front row center with some good pals, we’d love to have you on board. Please send your writing samples to sarah@beatroute.ca.
Hails!
Listings and photo by Sarah Kitteringham
