Vol. 9 - #3 - Issue 51 - April / May 2013

Comicon & Cosplay Weird Al CarnivalCarnival Suffocation Enslaved OfOf HorrorsHorrors Disciples of Power Gillian Anderson

Michael Biehn

John Carpenter

Peter Dinklage

Danai Gurira

Linda Hamilton

The Calgary Comic & Entertianment Expo: The only festival in Calgary where you can get your horror, sci-fi, fantasy, film, Lena Headey television, comic book, gaming, and animation fix all in one incredible weekend. Join 60,000 other fans for this celebration of geek culture April 26-28 at the BMO Centre, Stampede Park.

You’ll be able to meet your favorite stars such as Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), Lena Headey (Game of Thrones, Dredd), Robert Patrick Norman Reedus (Walking Dead), Chris Sarandon (Fright Night, Princess Bride), John Carpenter (legendary horror director), Linda Hamilton (Terminator), Michael Biehn (Aliens), Steven Yuen (Walking Dead), Gillian Anderson (X-Files), Casper Van Dien (Starship Troopers), Danai Gurira (Walking Dead), Robert Patrick (Terminator 2), and many more! Norman Reedus Be sure to keep an eye on our website for upcoming announcements of special events, contests, guests, programming and surprises! For tickets and information visit: calgaryexpo.com Chris Sarandon For the latest updates, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Guest line up is subject to change. Image from AMC’s The Walking Dead © AMC. All other images are copyright their respective creators.

Casper Van Dien

Steven Yeun

2 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv Editor-In-Chief - Ira Hunter Art Director - Chad Persley Sound Engineer- Willy Jak table of contents Music Editor - Willow Gamberg Assistant Editor - Dawn Daniels victoria’s locals only - deep sea gypsies...... page 4 Ad Design - Clayton Hall & John Warnock Office Manager - Dan Johannessen Web Masters - Goatlord, Danny Deane, vancouver vengeance - xul...... page 5 Interns Ryan Holmes, Myles Malloy, Pamela Ouellette, Elizabeth Jarvis calgary carnage - violence...... page 6 COVER by Tank Standing Buffalo Writers - Erik Lindholm, Pauly Hardcore, Ryan Dyer, Chuck Wurley, Les Wiseman, Ira Hunter, Ricky Jak, Demonika, Ty ink slingers - sarah savage...... page 8 Stranglehold, Laceration Lacey, Brenin Barrow, Ryan Primrose, Allison Drinnan, Mr Plow, Charley Justice, Sarah Kitteringham, Michael Allen, Jordan Schritt, Willow Gamberg, Matt Gordon, mr. plow’s pick- destroy nate allen...... page 10 Kim Kelly, Michael Carnage, Inga Holmgeirsson, Dan Potter, Deeanna Danger, Dick Kaupf, Anita Fixx, Catastrophe C, Cody shr-edmonton - disciples of power...... page 13 “No Teeth” Cook, Ricky Long, CJ Sleez, Metal Baron Parker, Michael Luis, Joseph Leroux, Don McCaskill, Ed Sum, Rod G., Alex Snow, Joseph Leroux wretched winnipeg - terrorist...... page 14 Photographers - John Warnock, Chad Persley, Demonika, Ira Hunter, Jake Jackoff, Keith Norton, Justin Poulsen, Mike Chow, shred session - luke connor...... page 16 Chris McKibbin, Ryan Dyer, Scott Alexander, Ryan Dyer, Krista Robson, Zia Marashi, Travis McDermid, Brad Reckless, Nathaniel Shannon, Brydon Parker, Pamela Porosky, Dani Eggen, Robin fist city...... page 17 K, Mr. Sable, Jen Warnock, Jason Shultz, Cameron Knowlton , Joelle Prevost, Patti Gordon, William Smart, Allison Drinnan, Milton Stille, Alicia Beisel weird al yankovic...... page 18 Comic Artists – Robin Thompson, Randy Chaos, Dick Kaupf,. Ricky Jak, Mark Lehtimki, Tim Canepa preparing for a convention...... page 19 Horoscope - David Zunker - www.mysticmountainlodge.com Crossword - Dan Scum a study of cosplay...... page 20 Transcription – Erik Lindholm, Pauly Hardcore, Steve Boyd Interns – Needed Desperately!!! Apply within to [email protected] hardcore alley - slumlord...... page 21 Logo Design – Dirty Donny Distribution - Vancouver - Amber Lamoureux, Manly Mark, Mr. Plow, Stiff absolute horror - hunter g. williams...... page 22 Josh, Michelle Everaert, Robin Thompson, my Mom Whistler - Brydon Parker, Black Ohm Robin toronto trash - skullians...... page 23 Victoria/Vancouver Island - Big Rick, Cabby Craig, Hippy Dave, DJ, Jesus, Lackie, Champs of Hell Dan, Langford Rob, Karly Sue, Krissi-Steele , Jeff Martin hellifax - orchid’s curse...... page 24 Seattle - CC & Gravy Calgary - Chad Persley Edmonton - Rich Bastard cj sleez...... page 26 Winnipeg – Jamie Vertigo, South of Heaven Tattoo Saskatoon - Keith Corbett, Wes Funk Lethbridge/Medicine Hat - Jeff VandenElzen kvelertrak...... page 27 Toronto - Glen Dirty Bird, John Di Marco, CJ Sleez, Andrew MacDonald Stewart absolute metal - enslaved - suffocation...... page 28 Montreal - Jon Asher, Shawn Central, Austin, TX – Schooley & Lumber Jackie Published by Ira Hunter absolute film reviews...... page 31 Absolute Underground PO Box 48076, Victoria, BC V8Z 7H5 business profile - van isle promotions...... page 31 [email protected] www.absoluteunderground.tv If you would like Absolute Underground absolute album reviews...... page 32 distributed at your business or you are interested in advertising with us please absolute live reviews...... page 33 CONTACT US: Submissions: submissions @absoluteunderground.ca toxic toast - the slackers,...... page 34 Distribution: [email protected] Advertising: [email protected] JOIN THE Classifieds: [email protected] ABSOLUTE UNDERGROUND CREW! Info: We are currently looking for interns, practicum students, [email protected] photographers, writers, web and print designers, ABSOLUTE UNDERGROUND MAGAZINE is published 6 times a year (or a close proximity) by Hidden Forces Publishing. No part of this ad sales associates, basically if you think you have publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the something to offer we will listen. publisher. Editorial contributions are more than welcome, only if they are being offered exclusively to ABSOLUTE UNDERGROUND MAGAZINE. The publisher assumes no responsibility for the return or safety of We are seriously looking for people in contributed materials and therefore will not be held responsible. All 1-250-590-8896 opinions or statements expressed are not necessarily those of the Edmonton & Toronto. publisher or staff. 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read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 3 AU: What’s the name of that Deep Sea Gypsies website? victoria’’s locals only Interview by Matt Gordon DSG: www.deepseagypsies. Absolute Underground’s Matt Gordon catches com and www.facebook.com/ up May 3rd and 4th we are again, all in 2013. Tour stops will be posted on our up with Victoria’s Deep Sea deepseagypsies playing back-to-back shows website and Facebook page. Gypsies, who just recently or Twitter heads with them at Moby’s Pub on www.deepseagypsies.com released their second full- can hit up @ Saltspring Island. www.facebook.com/deepseagypsies length album. deepseagypsies AU: How was the album @deepseagypsies Absolute Underground: AU: I hear you release party? What is the name of your guys were doing DSG: The party was amazing, album? something with we toured Deep Sea Gypsies: The “Mindil Beach last year with album is called “Chilco Road”, Markets”, was it a dual album the boys from MBM and as it named after our first jam release? turned out they were releasing space where the songs were DSG: Yeah, we met and toured their second album around the all written and about half of with MBM late in 2012 and quickly same time, so naturally we joined them were recorded as well. became a big musical family. They forces for a double release party. AU: And where can one recently moved out of their jam It was at Sugar Nightclub, packed acquire said album? house to hit the road full time and house, great sets, amazing crowd we took the place over and live/ of almost 600. Couldn’t have gone DSG: We will have copies at jam there now. They are great better, really. We will have some all our upcoming shows... guys and have helped us out a good live footage of our set from and it will be available ton, we plan to work together the show up online soon, shot by through our website very on shows quite often and will the very talented Colby O’Neill soon. probably tour together again soon. Coming who also shot the video for our first single, “Psychedelic World”. You can check that out now on YouTube. AU: Where do you most often LOOK SORT OF perform? DSG: We made the common FAMILIAR? rookie mistake of performing too much in the Victoria area during tour first year as a band. So, now we’re selective, currently we play equally at home and out of town, Island Fantasy 2013 mainly on the island but have been as far as Calgary, and we’re gonna get to the mainland a few times again this year. I Coming this Winter. AU: Any upcoming tours? SL SY DSG: Touring the island this year A A Victoria, BC in as many cities as humanly ND FANT possible and we’ll run through the interior once and out to Calgary 4 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv died out. clear favorite so AU: How many years of jamming did it take far? vancouver vengeance before you started to record anything? LM: I really like the Absu, they’re just regular dudes...you know? LM: We recorded an EP in 2010. We recorded it in Pawnshop in Edmonton. It has a pretty awesome AU: What’s your food and liquor of choice Wallace’s basement, so the quality wasn’t great, stage and a lot of crowd space. The sound was when you’re on the road? but it got our music out there. It took us around sick and there was a decent turnout. There was a year to write some new songs and record actually like an even ratio there. I should also LM: Pilsner and Wendy’s! Marlow makes some Malignance. I’m not even sure where our EP went, mention Armstrong Metal Fest. We are playing homemade apple juice and cranberry juice that it’s probably out there somewhere. there this year for the fifth time. July 19th and we never hit the road without. One shot of that 20th. Two days of camping, beer and metal... is cranberry juice can cure a hangover. Oh, and beef AU: Have you guys ever felt the there anything better? If you haven’t been there, jerky. need to move to Vancouver or a it’s something you have to experience for yourself. XUL larger city to get more attention, AU: Do you guys want to get some beers or are you happy with what you are AU: I’ll assume that maybe opening up for before the Absu show? Interview by Michael accomplishing in Vernon? Absu in April could take over as your favorite LM: Always. You buyin? (kidding) Carnage show, how much excitement do you all have LM: We’ve been discussing a move AU: Wicked, titties and pilsner XUL is a five-piece for that show? to Vancouver next year, but a lot can blackened death For more information, or to download or purchase change in a year. We’ll have to see how LM: It’s pretty fuckin’ amazing. We can’t believe metal outfit based a copy of Malignance, visit XUL online at: things go. We are happy with what we are actually going to be sharing the stage with out of Vernon, https://www.facebook.com/Xulband we have accomplished while living in a band as legendary as ABSU!! I’m gonna try not BC. They released Vernon, but I think a bigger city could to make a fool of myself around them. It’s hard to http://xulmetal.bandcamp.com/ their debut album, help us play more shows to larger/ not fan boy it up around such wicked bands, but Malignance, in 2012, newer crowds. It is nice to be the out-of- I find the ultimate advice is this: when they aren’t which is available town band in some situations, but it’ll for free download have to happen eventually. Regardless, from their Bandcamp our plan is to tour as much as possible. page, and they will be opening for Chapel, AU: Your influences are clear (You list Auroch and Absu Behemoth, Dissection, Immortal and in Vancouver on Enslaved, among others) but what April 24th. Michael have you guys done in order to stand Carnage caught up alone apart from other bands that are with vocalist Levi already established? Meyer to chat about the band, their record, LM: We’re all pretty critical of each other. If upcoming shows and the origin of their name. something sounds blatantly similar to another Absolute Underground: As far as I can find, band, we’ll change it. There is a line between an XUL is the name of a programming language, influence and a template, and I think we’ve done or maybe a Mayan word... I’m clearly missing a good job of not falling into another band’s something. What’s behind the name? template. Sometimes it can be frustrating when you write something you think is unique, but Levi Meyer: Well to be honest, the first time we then when you present it to the group, someone ever came across the name was in the Behemoth says, “That’s a -bandname- riff!” Then follows a song “XUL”. We mulled around a couple other moment of cussing said band because you’ve names, but after researching that XUL in Sumerian been listening to them for the past month and meant “evil”, we thought it fit the type of music somehow it seeped into your subconscious! we were writing. We get the Ghostbusters thing: “There is no Dana, only Xul!” a lot. People used to AU: You haven’t played too many shows yet, chant it at our super early shows, but it kind of but is there a show or a venue that has been a

read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 5 jumps off the page. could.” I admit to the band, as In their short time as a band, calgary carnage we sip our beer, that I there have been several labels had assumed they would attached to their be a power-violence or sound. Just put the grind-core band when I words post, emotive, first came across them. punk and hardcore The boys laugh and nod in into a linguistic agreement. blender, and the I also note that none of band has probably them look particularly been labeled some violent; they are well- combination of those dressed, unassuming and terms. usually smiling. Though Hanycz “Violence, for me, I just cites post-hardcore generally like that word. I as potentially the just think it sounds really most accurate (if still nice,” explains Toms while vague) genre, a major still chuckling. “I like how musical influence for it looks. We had a number Violence is found in a of names in mind. This was genre that left a bitter, a huge debate for a long mascara-streaked time.” taste in people’s was forgotten,” adds Toms, explaining why he mouths. I’m talking about E-M-O – Emo. The band formed in 2012 doesn’t shy away from the term or the genre. “A when Toms, Vandekamp As Violence sees it, it is the original form of the lot of the bands we listen to have recordings that and Hanycz’s paths crossed in various ways in genre that they take their influence from. were made in their basements, really raw and Violence Calgary. “At first we had... reservations about it,” says powerful.” Interview by Allison Drinnan Toms was working at Divine, a clothing, piercing Hanycz, discussing the emo/screamo label. “It is This movement is catching on in Calgary, and so associated with the way MTV and music videos Violence is evidence of that. You can’t always judge a book by its cover, and and tattoo shop, where he met Vandekamp who made it seem.” you certainly can’t always judge a band by their had shown interest in forming a post-hardcore “It’s funny,” says Vandekamp. “A lot of metal name. There is no better example of this then project when Toms approached him with the Hanycz goes on to say that he finds inspiration musicians really enjoy what we are doing in Calgary’s own Violence. idea. from bands, be it emo, screamo or hardcore, who Calgary and we find that we’re always surprised pushed the envelope for traditional hardcore. He by it.” Toms agrees that the acceptance in various “It’s got a weird irony to it,” laughs guitarist/ Toms had also reached out to Hanycz after the says that the impressive song structure “blows scenes is interesting and encouraging. vocalist Dan Hanycz on a cold March evening at two had played a show together with their him away”, with the addition melodic elements Broken City. “People might come in expecting one previous musical projects. The band is planning to record 4 – 6 songs this and aggressiveness. thing and really…” Since then, the band has played numerous spring, and hope to release it as a potential split “The emotion is the forefront of it,” says Hanycz. album with another band. The release will be “It’s a nice surprise,” chimes in drummer Vlad shows with well-established acts, released a free “That’s the stuff that we really love and we feel followed by a sumemr tour, which, according Ivanov. 3-song EP entitled Misinterpretations, Lies and Revelations, and made have plans to record this like as soon as the millennium hit, it got away to Hanycz, will see them traveling as far east as The foursome, including Ivanov, Hanycz, spring. from that.” Winnipeg, and then heading out to B.C. guitarist/vocalist Lauchlin Toms, and bassist Brian Vandekamp says that now there is a movement So do make sure you take the time to partake in Vandekamp, are about to play a show to a packed “We wanted to get it out there. We didn’t want to happening with a collection of musicians who are a little Violence this summer, and check them out venue and are nice enough to have a quick chat. be that band that has been out for several months and doesn’t take the time to record,” says Hanycz “making music that really celebrates the emo and online at violencecalgary.bandcamp.com/ The show poster looks like a horror show of their first release. “That’s what the intention screamo ideologies.” with band names such as Stab, Twist, Pull and was, just getting out to as many people as we “I find that there is this crazy musical scene that Preschool Shooting. Violence – short and simple –

6 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv JUNE 1922, 2013 CALGARY, ALBERTA

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Absolute.indd 1 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv2013-04-01 1:37 PM 7 own work is a day that I hope never comes, I’ll be so disappointed if it does. ink slingers AU: Where do you draw your inspiration from? SS: Oh, everywhere. It’s different if it’s a commissioned tattoo because I get inspired by the client. Technically speaking, though, my number one inspiration is graphic novels. I probably spent a good ten years of my life copying Todd McFarlane in an attempt to steal his powers. AU: Do you have a tattoo you’re proudest of? SS: That’s a hard question...I’m most proud of the ones in progress right now. There’s people from all walks of life, and then sometimes this one sleeve I’m still Sarah Savage never see them again. working on, and it’s got AU: Where are you angels fighting demons that are being him but I think he lost a bet and just wanted in Wolf/Sheep Arthouse located? dragged to hell. Also, I don’t know if and out as fast as possible. Butt tattoos are always Interview by Alex Snow SS: Currently and many people know this, but I’m totally funny... Chris Vickers, the Rifflandia Music Festival probably permanently obsessed with clowns. So I’m stoked on guy got Grimace holding a Rifflandia sign on his Absolute Underground: Why do you do what at Wolf/Sheep Art this one clown leg piece I’m still working butt. Ha-ha. you do? House in Victoria, BC... on. AU: How do you feel about at-home, D.I.Y. Sarah Savage: As far as tattooing goes? Why do I right next to Absolute AU: Anything you’d refuse to tattoo tattoos? (a.k.a. stick’n’pokes?) keep tattooing? Underground. on somebody’s body? SS: I’d discourage anyone from doing it. Mostly for AU: Yeah. Why not become a dentist? AU: Do you think SS: I’ve never really been asked to the sake of sterilization, they’re really not safe for SS: Well, I wouldn’t survive without art. I like that your technique, style, do something against my beliefs. I your body. Yeah, you can go out and buy India ink I can take somebody else’s vision and become or skill level has guess just no racism or gang-related and whatever, sterilize your sewing needle, but their art medium- interpreting ideas and putting changed over time? things. But mostly I won’t do names or tattoo shops get their ink in a sterilized bottle. You those ideas on them forever. It’s such an intimate SS: Oh, definitely. Yes. matching couple tattoos. I feel like it’s can’t even get it if you don’t work in a shop. Most job, there’s such a bond between artist and client. I think if it ever stops bad voodoo, even people just don’t know And if I were a dentist I wouldn’t be able to talk evolving, you should if you’ve been what they’re doing so it can to them because they’d have stuff in their mouth just quit. The day that I together for 45 be really dangerous. all the time. I get to spend like 20-40 hours with stop growing or caring about my own art and my years, I don’t want to be AU: Alright, any final the reason for that ending. words for people reading AU: So I guess you’ve this? never gotten any crazy SS: Oh damn, I don’t really tattoo requests? know what people to say SS: Oh, no I totally have. to that. Enjoy the evening, This one guy came Absolute Underground down and got “chicken readers? Yeah, that works. sandwiches!!!” on his butt. He didn’t even want me to To see more examples of stencil it, he just wanted Sarah’s work, or contact her, me to do it free-hand. I check out www.wolf-sheep. told him I could like, draw com or sarah_savage on up a chicken sandwich for Instagram.

8 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 9 Here are a few of the tricks we’ve learned through AU: The latest disc features a full playing 700 shows since 2007: band sound; do promoters expect mr plow’s pick Get 8 hours of sleep. Try to only drive 4 hours a a full band when you book a show? day if possible - this often means playing in weird NA: Great question. I was worried about that wants to book us some shows, we’d love to come random towns and unconventional spaces. We when we made the album, but our friends in up. Playing some shows in Vancouver is high on rarely drive overnight. Learn to fix your van and the studio told to me to make the best album my list of goals this year. have a list of mechanics on speed dial. Get a GPS we could and then worry about performing the AU: Shamelessly plug whatever you want or use a smartphone. Don’t get hotels (we cover songs later. I trusted them and it was good advice. people to know, and where they can find your this below). Don’t drink or if you do drink, keep So far we haven’t really run into that problem. stuff. it minimal and never drive drunk. Drink loads of AU: Who is this magical back-up band? NA: Visit www.destroynateallen.com water. Take an insane amount of Vitamin C at the NA: On record, our magical band was Gnarboots You can find all sort of adventures there, first sign of sickness. We also take vitamins daily. Destroy Nate Allen (Asian Man Records. Members of Link 80 and including our webstore and free downloads of Eat salads. Avoid dairy and sugar as much as Interview by Mr. Plow Shinobu). On tour last summer, we adopted a ska all songs or albums. If you want to know when possible. Try not to eat out - go to a grocery store Absolute Underground: Who are you and what band from Longview, WA called Gamblers Die we finally cross the border, send me an email at instead. Get a rice cooker, we just figured this out do you do? Broke. We are still trying to figure out what a full [email protected] and mention our on our last tour and it was band version of Destroy Nate Allen looks like but mailing list. If you are a social media user, follow Nate Allen: I’m Nate. Along a major game-changer... with my wife Tessa, I sing, when it works, it’s a hell of a good time. us on Twitter @dstrynateallen, don’t like us on now we can make hot Facebook. beat on a guitar, create meals while traveling AU: Will Canada ever see Destroy Nate Allen in awkward moments and play down the road. Tessa has the future? AU: I saw oven mitts on your merch table, are theater games in Destroy made everything from NA: I really hope so. We’ve looked into it a few they a big seller? Nate Allen. Indian and Thai food to times. I was playing outside of Vancouver in 2006 NA: For sure. There are definitely nights when they AU: With all these different brownies or cake in the but we’ve never been up as a duo. If someone outsell CDs or records. sub-genres out there cooker. Having a hot meal nowadays, can you pinpoint really helps keep our your sound using 3 or less spirits up. We also drink sub-genres to describe it? a lot of instant coffee or NA: We play interactive, sing- stock up on hot meals a-long, punk rock theater. that only require water. AU: You used Kickstarter to Learn to book your own fund your latest CD, were shows. Be willing to talk you happy with the results? about money. Make sure everyone has the same expectations for the show. Send thank-you emails NA: I was super happy with the experience. It was to the promoters after the show. Lastly, be nice a great way to reconnect with a bunch of people. to people. It goes along way and almost always My only regret is that I underestimated how comes full circle. long it would take to complete a few of the more ambitious prizes. So I’m still working to finish up AU: In all the times you have toured, you have the project. only stayed in a hotel/motel six times. How is that possible? Do you travel in a RV or camper AU: You have toured all over America for van? months at a time, how did you find the experience of surviving on the road? NA: We jam econo and we have a bed build into our van. We also sleep on a lot of floors... but NA: Surviving for a long time on the road is always since we have a bed in the van we only stay at the an adventure, but it’s also very neat to look back houses we want to, which changes the equation. and realize how many times you’ve been to I believe we’re up to 7 hotels now... so I guess we random towns all over the country. average one hotel for every 100 shows.

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12 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv material, as well as coming up with your own? shr-edmonton Shane: I did this before and sang with the band. These songs and music have always and me on vocals, and that changes the sound. been an influence to me. I’ve been a DOP fan for a New material isn’t on the plate right now. Right long time. I met them at a show at the Westward now we’ve got five albums to draw on and we are in Calgary in 1991 and ever since then, seeing enjoying playing those songs for now. them live for the first time made a big impression on me. Playing these songs now really has a AU: Memories of a DOP gig that was over the special meaning for me. top? AU: As you come back together and play some Dean: We had one where Tommy Chong played of the original songs, is it sparking new ideas his set as we were setting up and he wound up for songs and creativity? introducing us as “old friends of mine”, before we lit into the set. That was a good time. Our first Shane: There are no plans for new material right real big show, at Highwood in ‘92. A big festival at now. The whole point of this is to bring back Raceway Park. Harbak [guitar] and Wes Sontag [guitar]. the old material. Many people have never seen AU: How do you guys feel you’ve maintained AU: This is the first show under the DOP name DOP live or heard these songs. It’s a different Disciples of Power passion with playing music? in 10 years... incarnation of the band. We have Ben on guitar Dean: It’s tough. After 25 years, it gets tough to -The Return Wes: Yeah, about 10 years since the last show in keep it going. If you want to do it, you do it. It’s in 2002. We’ve been in other bands. Interview by Erik Lindholm your blood or it’s not. Many people drift off, it has AU: Tell us about getting back together 10 From the depths of the Alberta scene returns to be something in your blood. years later; what makes you want to get back Disciples of Power. After a decade-long hiatus, Shane: It’s like [being] a mobster... every time you together as a band and play some shows? they return to reconnect with the faithful, and to to try to leave, they pull you back in. After leaving get a new generation of fans onboard with their Dean: It just happened and we just started it back Wake I thought I was done, and would just focus brand of metal. The band checks in with AU to up. We’re not getting any younger, and figured we on my job. DOP and Dean pulled me back in. had to bring it back and play these songs again. describe where the band has been and where Ben: I was done playing in more than one band they are going. Preparing for the comeback show Shane: To add on to it, DOP stopped playing in at a time. But this was something I dreamed with loud practices and plenty of energy, the 2002, and shortly after that in 2003, Wes asked about, to play with DOP. It was wild to get the Disciples are sure to bring maximum damage for me to join Section VIII. I wasn’t in DOP at the time. message and here I am in two bands again, being the upcoming show: Dean was playing in a band called Warmarch and challenged and keeping busy. the guitar player for DOP, Hart, joined up with Disciples of Power / Villianizer / Kataplexis / AU: Leave the Canadian fans with a last Dead Man’s Train. DOP fragmented and everyone Display of Decay message about the upcoming show. was working on different [projects]. Dean joined Edmonton– Pawnshop Live 10551 82 (Whyte) Section VIII around 2005, and the band disbanded Shane: You’re not going to be disappointed. It’s Avenue, Edmonton, AB around 2007. So we turned the DOP machine just as intense now live. We’ve got energy. If you’re Friday, April 19, 2013, doors at 8:00 pm back on and started playing those songs instead. a fan, come check it out. If you think we’re sellouts Absolute Underground: Hello! Set the scene We got a hold of Hart and asked if he wanted to because Hart’s not there, stay the fuck home! Hart for the readers, who are you guys, and where play – he declined. He said, “Go and do it with my gets a percentage of all our merch and album are you at right now? blessing”, basically... sales. And that is important to us. We’ll bring it. Come out and have a beer and enjoy it. Shane Hawco: Hey, were in the jam spot at Wes’ AU: The journey of a band, the members of a place...we’re rehearsing to get ready for for the band, the situation in a band- that all changes. For more information, check out show. Speakerphone is on, let’s get it started. Members come and go. Shane, as a vocalist, http://www.disciplesofpower.com We have Shane [vocals], Dean Relf [drums], Ben how do you feel singing someone else’s

read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 13 wretched winnipeg

I felt so isolated. A read a real book. Something you can’t download political conscience and something that isn’t pulp vampire fiction. can be a real drag. I mean, how you can imagine anything when AU: Describe Terrorist crossing the US border... You feel as if you don’t the images are always provided for you? Adrian Terrorist FF: That was legendary. Everybody told us there belong anywhere and that nobody understands Brody said that in this movie…so I can’t take ‘Dangerous music for Dangerous was just no way and then boom….we had what’s going on in your head. these shows out in California. So we mailed all The A-Zone was a place that people’ our merch over and surreptitiously crossed the let me know that people did Interview with Fuck Face of Terrorist border. WE ARE THE WORST LIARS. I mean…they understand and I wasn’t alone in my frustrations about the world, By Charley Justice asked us what we were doing in the US and we said something like “driving up the coast”, and our city. Genuine music has a definite artistic dimension. clearly we were a band there to fuck shit up. We AU: Talk about the creative / Fuck it. Real music IS art. Yes I said it. ART. (Fuck got away with it, which was really surprising. After collaborative process? you, by the way). And art is implicitly political that, it was all (vegan) Mexican food and visits to - cultural resistance, rage and rebellion. So real FF: Terrorist is a collective, so the botanical gardens. Oh, our friend Donna took music is therefore all of these things – whether when it comes to the music we us to a rare book exhibit in Pasadena where we you like it or not. Winnipeg has a strong history all just kind of write riffs. There’s were interviewed for Fine Books and Collectables of politically and culturally relevant music – no secret formula or anything, ….I shit you not. punk / hardcore no exception (insert obvious it is really organic. We just come namedrops here). Drawing influences from the AU: Fuck this city. Winnipeg in 5 words? up with our riffs and play them anti-establishment at home and abroad, an FF: Fuck the stupid Winnipeg Jets. together for hours on end until we find something we think is audaciously-titled and contemporary ensemble AU: Terrorist really sidesteps genres… has organically emerged to carry out their radical cool. We record and produce all FF: Well Thank You! Yeah, we really do not like to unholy duty. The debut full-length, Death Culture our own material. Completely be confined to “hardcore” or “punk”. Although we Economy, is about to drop - and yes, we caught DIY in that regard. all have our background in those genres, it can Terrorist axe-wielder Fuck Face in the act… Death Culture Economy was a be creatively stifling. The genre bending just feels bit more cut-and-paste in the Absolute Underground: The name - please tell natural to us. It keeps the music interesting and sense that most of those songs me it’s not sarcastic. that’s what is fun about being in a band ...we just were written in studio by Colin Fuck Face: The name is not so much sarcastic try to do the unexpected because it is fun. It also and I. as it is absurd. Terrorist is just an absurd word serves as our little “go fuck yourself” to the punk in general. We slap that word on anything that police. AU: How does this set of songs compare to the last 7”? is challenging. Anything or anyone can be a AU: Hmmm let’s take this interview in a Terrorist...The rationale being you either get it or political direction...how is working in the FF: They are better! No, just different. The 7” was credit for that quote, but it is true. Imagination you don’t. Believe me, there are a lot of people Winnipeg A-Zone? just a kind of homage to traditional 80s hardcore. is so important. To be able to think on your who don’t get it. Just fast and straightforward. …Death Culture own is essential. Books are tools for intellectual FF: I feel really lucky to have that place in my life. Economy is a lot more mature and a lot more self-defence. Being dumb is not cool. So read a AU: What terrifies you? It is a huge resource in our city and easily the serious. We really came into our own. It’s closer to book- they have neat ideas in them! Check out FF: Corporations scare the shit out of me. best thing we have. I mean, it has taught me so some kind of vision, that’s for sure. What that is, Mondragon! They got lots of books…or AK Press, Oil production scares me too. Racism and much about activism and veganism, anarchism, I’m not sure. but if you have some anarchist book store in your homophobia are on that list. I have to share etc. It was my point of contact with the real neck of the woods….go there. a planet with these people who want to counter culture. Something that was a little bit AU: Recommend a terrorist tactic (for the kids Check Terrorist out online at: destroy everything, who think other people are more radical than a Casualties t-shirt. When I at home)... intrinsically less human and less deserving. came to work there I was at a pretty dark place. FF: Read a book. Really, that sounds corny but http://www.myspace.com/terroristmusic

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read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 15 Luke Connor AU: Haha, once it’s in your blood it doesn’t AU: What’s the most memorable bail you’ve contributions from other skate media cats based By Matt Gordon come out. What trick has been feeling good had? Was it a head injury? If it was, I won’t fault out of Vancouver Island and abroad. The blog Absolute Underground: What lately? you for forgetting because helmets are for is good for the Victoria/VI skate scene because was it like the first time you LC: Switch frontside flips have been treating me pussies. there is so much talent on the island which hasn’t stepped on a skateboard? well lately, and switch front noses. LC: I’d say breaking my collarbone last summer received the recognition it’s been deserving, so What made you want keep AU: Whereabouts have you been skating bombing the hill outside my house switch and having an outlet to showcase what we have will skating? lately? getting speed wobbles at the bottom. I’d never help put our scene on the map more. The past Luke Connor: I can’t remember too well. I was 4 or LC: A fair bit of the Dub [Vic West Skatepark], broken a bone before, so for my collarbone to end couple years Victoria has been making plenty of 5 in Australia, my dad bought me and my brother actually. Skate time can be scarce throughout up in 4 pieces was definitely a first. 9 screws later, appearances in the magazines, which has been a skateboard, so we used to go to this mini-pipe winter so when I only have an hour or two and it’s as good as she’ll get. super sick. down the road and bum-board back and forth. the park’s dry, I’ll skate there. Street skating has AU: I’m a fan, but can you explain what YGT is For more information on YGT, check them out It was just so easy to go out and skate when I still been happening, just at larger intervals than and why it’s so rad for the island scene? online at www.yougotthat.ca wanted and a lot of fun, of course. The addiction I’d like, but the weather and time only allow so LC: YGT (yougotthat.ca) is a joint effort between Luke Connor can be found online at http:// eventually weaseled its way into my life. much. myself and Leo Graceffo, with the occasional lukeconnormedia.wordpress.com/ 16 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv was a terrible name… KG: I’m gonna say it was satanic, to fuel the fire. EVR: There was a review recently that compared “Ticks.” A reference to AU: You’ve recorded a lot of records and EPs our band to the Spin Doctors. It was horrible. They Tourette’s syndrome. over a very short period of time. What kind of had that song like “Two princes, buh, na du, na Ryan Grieve (Drums): song writing process supports this? duh, na…” I just learned that for RG: Generally it’s either Kier or Evan that come up RG: “Just go ahead, if you want to call me baby.” the first time. Yeah, that’s the one. Interview by Joseph Leroux with a riff or idea, and we all sort of collaborate AU: Your newer records are coming out on on the different parts, but the definite structure AU: What will be your last words before you European and German Labels. What is the comes from either one of them and there are die? reason for that? definitely Kier’s songs and Evan’s songs and you EVR: Let’s rip it up. can tell the difference in styles -but they blend EVR: We’re going to go tour Europe in May. We RG: I’m fucking ‘dorfed man. want to have something to support going over really nicely together. And then we all hash it out LM: Let’s party. there. in a room for a few hours and that’s how it comes about. KG: Let’s get wet. Kier Griffiths (Vocals/Guitar): We wanna keep moving. Just do something different, see how far AU: What are said differences in style? we can go, have a bunch of fun. KG: I think that I have a way more mellow jangly For more information, check out fistcity. AU: Talk about the live cover tape that you weirdness, and Evan has a much catchier, rip- bandcamp.com/ guys are planning on doing. roarin’, angular… Before I speak with Lethbridge-based punk outfit EVR: There’s a Cramps record called Songs the Fist City, I decide to make an ass of myself. In the Lord Taught Us, and we love The Cramps so we back of a packed Talk’s Cheap Records/Cavity decided to do this tape called ‘Songs the Master Curiosity Shop in Victoria B.C., a dialogue of sharp Taught Us.’ The master is what Lindsay calls feedback between a bass amp and mic runs marijuana. She calls it ‘worshipping the master.’ through synth-punk band Teledrome’s set like And we played the show, but there were some a dial tone doing falsetto. I chat with the guitar technical difficulties that prevented us from player about it. releasing it. “Man, that feedback was nasty.” RG: You have to obey the master. “I like feedback.” AU: What’s the best rumour you’ve heard about “It can be cool, but it was overwhelming.” yourself? “Well, thanks for your feedback.” KG: That we’re “devil-worshipping reptilian Interpreting this as code for “I hate you, now go hermaphrodites.” Colin Askey made a video for away,” I do. As Fist City’s set begins, I learn that the the song “Debbie Get YR Boa” and it was on The charming punster from earlier is also Evan Van Wedge on MuchMusic and this forum started up, Reekum, Fist City guitarist, and a man I’m set to looking at all the cryptic bits and decided it was interview in 45 minutes. channeling a satanic message. A friend of ours Thankfully, nothing is as endearing as failure and jumped on the board and lit a fire under it. It was so after a blistering set of new-wave influenced an honour. punk numbers that threatened to punch out the EVR: They thought we were trying to possess floor of the tiny venue, we step outside and talk them from the television. about odd origins, Europe, the Devil and death. Lindsay Munroe (Bass/Vocals): I watched a two- Van Reekum even apologises, being the gent that hour YouTube thing on Satan in popular music. It he is. In hindsight, it was a fabulous pun. was quite intense. Absolute Underground: What’s the relation EVR: And there were no satanic messages between the band and the Loretta Lynn song intended in the video at all; my friend Colin is just of the same name? a bit of a weirdo. He’s a filmmaker in Vancouver. Evan Van Reekum: It’s a coincidence. I originally He just does weird things, all the time. wanted to call the band something different. It

read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 17 AU: You’ve gotta keep it fun because no matter how broad and right? how ridiculous and how obviously it’s Al Yankovic: Right. a joke, somebody will not think it’s a joke. It amazes me. AU: When I write jokes I make sure I’m enjoying it. AU: That’s the same with stand up comedy, as soon as you stand on Al Yankovic: If it’s not fun for that stage you’re joking you don’t you it probably wont be fun for ever need to say you’re joking, and if anybody else. you do you lose credibility. AU: I’ve noticed when I step on Al Yankovic: I’m Weird Al, do you stage if I’m having fun up there expect me to be serious about this? the audience really responds Really? to that. AU: Haha, That’s exactly right, Weird Al Yankovic: Of course yeah, I have is right in front of your name. a great time whenever I’m on stage, and I think it’s contagious. Al Yankovic: That should be the first clue; the adjective in front of my name AU: Yeah, it is, isn’t it? That’s should be a tip-off. a good way to put it… Are there any artists you wouldn’t AU: What would you say if I said I parody? have a tattoo of your entire body over my entire body? Al Yankovic: Not really. If they didn’t want me to parody them Al Yankovic: I would say you’re I wouldn’t do it, but I don’t think probably being inaccurate in your there’s any artist too sacred, or description. beyond parody. I think there are AU: That’s fair, I remember that from some songs it might be in bad an Al TV years ago. taste to parody, but people are Al Yankovic: Oh, haha. people and I’ve certainly parodied AU: Someone wrote in, telling you a lot of artists who’s work I respect AU: It was awesome talking to you, thanks so they had a tattoo of your body over theirs, and greatly. But everybody deserves much for the interview, Al. I thought it would be funny if I was that guy, the Weird Al treatment at some Al Yankovic: My pleasure, thank you. We’ll keep in because I am. point or another. touch. Al Yankovic: Oh, it’s you! I’ve met a couple dozen AU: Haha, it’s true… Is it true that you weren’t AU: You’re so awesome Al, I love you. Weird Al Yankovic people that had Weird Al tattoos, my face, me allowed to make eye contact with Prince at the Interview by Matt Gordon playing my accordion, I’ve autographed a lot Al Yankovic: Haha, you too, take care man. American Music Awards? AU: Is this weird Al? of people on body parts and they had that For more information, check out: Al Yankovic: That was what he requested; he or permanently drilled into their body. It blows my Al Yankovic: Yes. www.weirdal.com/ his people had sent me a telegram. This was a mind that people want to make that AU: It’s an honor to meet you, sir. long time ago, in the 80s. I literally got a telegram a permanent part of their flesh. saying I was not to establish eye contact with him. Al Yankovic: Oh well, you as well, thank you. AU: Yeah, haha, it would. So what’s I don’t think it was just me, it was everyone in his AU: I’m a stand up comedian. I think you’re the Craig Ferguson like? I saw your immediate vicinity got the same telegram, it was best. I’m totally star-struck right now. guys’ interview, it was hilarious. ridiculous. This was around the same time that Al Yankovic: Oh, well, thank you I guess, thank Price brought his bodyguard on stage at award Al Yankovic: Craig is a great guy, I you. shows. Like Kenny Rogers is gunna rush out of the haven’t met him outside of that one AU: You made “Addicted to Spuds” the year I wings and sucker punch him. He’s always been experience, but he was super fun, was born, was that commentary on the North kind of a strange duck. and we chatted for a little bit after the show. He’s a great guy, I like him American diet? AU: What are you getting up to at the Calgary a lot personally and I hope to be back Al Yankovic: You can read whatever commentary Comic and Entertainment Expo? on his show sometime. you want from that. People read all sorts of Al Yankovic: We’re doing our live show, I think AU: You claimed in that interview political messages and social commentary from they have me doing some autograph and photo you’d never sneezed, have you my songs when actually I’m just trying to be op sessions. That’s about all I know at this point. sneezed yet? goofy and make a cheap joke. I don’t think I was I would love to be able to go out and see a bit going for any astute commentary on American of the con and meet some of the other people, Al Yankovic: I’m saving it all up, lifestyle, but if you want to put one in there, feel but I’ve learned from experience it’s hard for me waiting for the right time. free. to circulate. I get stopped every few feet, but as AU: Haha, sounds like a good AU: How do you decide which songs you want much as I can, I try to experience it. plan... Was there any C.I.A. to parody? AU: Any fake interviews on the horizon? response from your song “Party in the C.I.A.” from Alpocalypse? Al Yankovic: There’s no real logic to it, I listen to Al Yankovic: I would love to do more face-to-face the radio, I listen to stuff online, I try to determine interviews. It amuses me. I love doing those. Al Yankovic: You know, I met a couple what the big hit songs are; the songs that are guys from the C.I.A., they love that AU: You always lose me, for a moment I think making an impact on the zeitgeist. Then I look at song over there; they’re blasting it’s real. those songs and think of a variations on a theme, that song. They sent me some shirts, I try to think of puns, I try to think of any direction Al Yankovic: It’s fun to read the YouTube I’ve got official C.I.A. shirts and hats. I could go to make them funny. A lot of times I comments from people that don’t understand The people in the C.I.A., at least the come up empty handed. I don’t want to force a that it’s a joke, and I was never in the room with people that I’m aware of, really dug parody, it sounds forced if you do that. Every now these people, they think, “Why would Eminem say that song. that!?” and then all the planets line up and I’ll be able to AU: That’s amazing, I would have come up with a funny idea for a popular song and AU: You get so absurd I don’t see how you thought the opposite. get it out in timely fashion, but it always seems could not know it’s a joke. Al Yankovic: No, apparently they have like a small miracle when that happens. Al Yankovic: That’s the thing with the Internet, a good sense of humour over there.

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18 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv say “Hi!” In either case, you’ll want to line up early for the best opportunities. With 60,000 other fans in attendance, you’ll want to leave little to nothing to chance. COMING SOON! The same goes for other events. Photo Split EP ops insist that you are early and pre­ registered, panels and special events may Death by Stereo have massive lines to get into limited seating, so the earlier you’re there, the & SNFU better. Something else to plan for is what to wear. This is a geek fest. While jeans and a T-shirt are acceptable, why not go whole hog? Conventions are full of Cosplayers; people dressed in costumes, playing the role of their favorite characters, so why not join them? You can’t show up at work dressed as Luke or Leia, or the Dread Pirate Roberts, but you can go to a convention as such. Thousands of others will be. Maybe you’ll be inspired to enter the Costume Contest and win a prize. LIMITED EDITION Overall, plan to be amazed. The Preparing for a celebrities and panels are a only small part of the SKULL SKATE DECK convention experience. The Cosplayers can go to Convention great lengths to make incredible costumes and Online pre-order (only 25 By Don McCaskill accessories. The exhibitors will try to wow you also, available), ships by May 20th When attending a comic/gaming/anime/sci-­fi as all of them will be vying for your attention and convention like the Calgary Comic & Entertainment dollars. Expo, it’s a good idea to make some plans in advance. Conventions like these are busy with multiple tracks of events happening at the same time. Therefore you need to prioritize who and what you want to see, how you are going to get to where you need to be, and when you need to be there. Buy passes early; the discounted price is just one reason. Faster badge pick­up and therefore a shorter time in line means quicker access to the Con. You should buy a pass for the whole convention, even if SNFU on LP, T-shirts and you can only attend two of three days. The cost of Chi Pig documentary DVD two days is usually the same if not more than a three day pass, and something might change that gives avaiable at you the option to attend that third day. No need to www.cruzarmedia.com shell out extra money if that happens. What guests do you want to see, and how do you want to see them? Do you want to see Richard Dean Anderson of McGyver and Stargate fame, or is it more important to see wildly flamboyant John Barrowman from Doctor Who and Arrow? You’ll need to check your program book from registration to see where they’re going to be. A panel may be the perfect opportunity to ask them a question, or an autograph session may give you a chance just to

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Don McCaskill has been a photojournalist for over Trouble Troubles you.” 25 years. His NightShadows Photography focus is on Models and Cosplayers. Don McCaskill has been a photojournalist for over 25 years. His NightShadows Photography focus is on models and Cosplayers. Check out more of his photography at http:// nightshadows.ca/Cosplay

Stock up on the Cruzar Media & Think Fast! Records swag at the Calgary Comic Expo! Find us at the Absolute Underground table! TMENT The Mistake

BULLET TREA Look for GWAR on itunes ALL CDs at CRUZARMEDIA.COM can take up to 5 meters of fabric just for the While a long brown jacket and black-haired wig the San Diego Comic Con, where top prizes bodysuit, and another 2 for a cape. Add a skirt for with beaded dreads may give you the look of can be merchandise and hundreds of dollars. A Study of Supergirl or gloves and mask for Batman and at Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean), it’s the In most cases, the award doesn’t cover costs of $20 per metre, this can really add up. swagger, vocal slur and knowing the character materials, let alone the time involved, so it really is Hours are then spent adapting various patterns inside and out that will sell it. The role-playing is something one does for the love of it. Cosplay to make the costume, cutting, sewing, fitting and the finishing touch to ‘being’ the character. So in Cosplaying appeals to nearly all ages, but at By Don McCaskill starting again when some aspect doesn’t work. reality, cosplaying is a performance art, complete Victoria’s Tsukino-Con with last year’s crowd of with costume, make-up, Cosplay, coined from the phrase “costume role- While there are male cosplayers, they are not in 1450 people, the average hair, props and a stage. play”, is the most visually defining aspect of any the majority; only 20%. So when a group needs male was 19, while the Though in this case, the Comic Book/Gaming/Anime convention. It’s a lot a male character, what are they to do? Gender- average female was 16. stage is the entire grounds more than putting on a pair of tights and donning switching is the answer, and it has two aspects. To see cosplaying in action of the event. a cape. There are some very serious cosplayers out First is the act of switching the gender; imagine and to check out other there who love doing what they do. the male-dominant cast of Star Trek as all female. On that stage, there are Geek Culture activities, always people recording To start, they research the source material, The second version is the female dressing as a look up your local anime the action, whether it’s whether it be comics, movies, anime or games. male. You would think that this would be hard convention. In Victoria, a photographer getting They create a resource list, and head off to the to pass off, but some girls even bind their chests it’s the Tsukino-Con great shots in the perfect nearest Gala Fabrics or Fabricland for materials with tensor bandages to achieve the flat-chested from February 22-24; in setting, or friends recording and notions. A superhero in a spandex costume male form. Vancouver the big one is a CMV (Cosplay Music Anime Evolution in the Video). YouTube is full of summer, while Edmonton cosplayers singing to their has Animethon from favorite tunes, and new August 9-11, Calgary has cosplay photo sites seem Otafest Aurora May 17-19 to pop-up daily. Cosplayers and Winnipeg’s Ai-Kon of the Week (cosplayweek. takes place July 12-14. blogspot.com), features top More events can be found cosplayers and videos every week. online at AnimeCons.com Beyond the fun of being a character from your favourite source material, where is the reward Don McCaskill has been a photojournalist for over in cosplaying? Mostly in the recognition of your 25 years. His NightShadows Photography focus is peers and sometimes costume contests. Awards on models and Cosplayers. given in a competition range from simple ribbons Check out more of his photography at http:// to merchandise or sometimes money. The biggest nightshadows.ca/Cosplay cosplay contest takes place every summer at

20 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv getting to know all the Three SL: The end of this tour actually marks Crowns guys has been great. our one year together as a band. We hardcore alley Shows have all been awesome have a three-song EP coming out in in individual ways, be it crazy June and a tour with our homies in tour for you to be on? turn outs or just kids who really Exalt to support that one. Also going to do a SL: Any tour - it’s a blessing to go out and have give a shit and were stoked to western headliner with our homies in Kennedy kids pay their money to come watch you perform, be there. from Quebec, and The Man and His Machine and grab T-shirts and scream the words back. To AU: What’s been your from Saskatchewan in September. Past that - have promoters believe enough in your music favourite show so far? continuing to write songs for a full-length release that they’ll pony up to get you to play their town. and trying to push into the States in 2014. SL: Edmonton and Calgary The fact that any of it happens is not lost on any are always awesome. Tons of AU:You just released a music video for your of us. We are well aware that without it, we’d be people that are into it and the new single “Authorize/Deny”, which was held stuck in our basement doing it for no-one. We support is unlike anywhere else in a basement in Edmonton and the infamous play music for ourselves, but we can do the grind I’ve seen. All the Quebec shows SIOC. How’s the response been to the video? because of the kids and that’s why we do it - for were particularly violent - those SL: A lot less controversial than I had expected the kids. stand out for sure. - not entirely sure what that’s indicative of. A lot AU: Any last comments? AU: What are your thoughts of people say stuff about “SIOC is like that only SL: Thanks to Absolute Underground for taking on the Canadian touring when the cameras are rolling... yadda yadda the time out for this interview and to any of you scene? Any advice to younger yadda” - dudes have always been that way since I who have read it. Hope to see you at a show bands who want to hit the first met them in 2006, there was just a lot less of sometime. them then. All things aside though, we feel this is road? For more information about Slumlord, check our best material we have released, and that Ben SL: Canada is great - but them out online at: Butcholtz did an amazing job filming and editing. certainly has its disadvantages, www.facebook.com/Slumlord780 Slumlord the largest one in the West is the distance you AU: You’re set to release your next EP, “Kingpin Free Album Downloads: slumlord780. “Your mosh is past due & they’re here to collect” have to travel to get to the next viable market. Rules”, this year, can you give us any info on that? bandcamp.com/ By Pauly Hardcore Best advice I have for bands wanting to get out there is start with weekend warrior stuff. Instead SL: Look for the Edmonton, Alberta’s Slumlord are purveyors of going to the bar and getting shitty with your 7-inch vinyl of angry, pissed-off hardcore, with an extra friends, use that money to hop in two cars or available in June as emphasis on the rage. In the short time since whatever you have to if you don’t have a van, we hit the road with forming, they have trekked across Canada and and head out to play outside of your hometown. Exalt to support forged quite a reputation for leaving a path of Expecting guarantees without putting any self- it coming out. As (mostly) figurative destruction by way of mosh promotion in first is ridiculous. Facebook is not always - the music pit-induced chaos. Catching up with the band on the only means of self-promotion. Travel out-of- is available as a free the tail-end of a tour that took them from Victoria pocket and actually meet kids who go to shows download off our to New Brunswick, tour manager Cam Birchill gets - instead of getting kids to click like on your page Bandcamp, we just us the inside scoop on what has been transpiring and never seeing them again. Work your ass off to hope that the fans along the way. develop a product worthy of someone’s money - of our music will AU: Who are you and what do you play? everything is a blessing and you are not entitled donate their hard- Slumlord: Phil and I play guitar. to shit. earned money to AU: You’re currently on a cross-Canada tour AU: You’ve been a band for just over a year and get it so we’re able with Fall City Fall and Three Crowns on the have accomplished a lot already, releasing an to keep creating Eastern dates, how’s that going? album, touring Canada multiple times and a new music for them to enjoy. SL: Tour has been a blast. Really fortunate to be quick run in the States, what can you hope for out with our best buddies in Fall City Fall and the next year to come? AU: To you, what would be a perfect

readread absoluteunderground.caabsoluteunderground.ca watchwatch absoluteunderground.tvabsoluteunderground.tv 2121 Adventures over and over, terror? since his character was based HG: We shot Cornered in Agoura off of Zach from the show. Hills, Studio City, Downtown Los absolute horror He is a guy who wants to Angeles, Woodland Hills, Van Nuys, believe anything is a sign of and North paranormal activity. Hollywood. I also wanted TWD to be These were different from other horror some great films, especially in the locations. performances. In most films, The character the downtime between the of The thrills and scares is too long. Stranger was Usually, these films have originally terrible acting that makes developed as you want to rinse your mouth an ex-special out with buckshot. I want forces op. He audiences to be entertained is the elite of by the juicy stuff, the the elite. As character development and background, the performances from our he was actors. Chris, Becka Adams, chosen for an Jeff Stearns and everyone else experimental development. Pyro is a series that I believe will do knocked it out of the park on program in the ongoing hopes of creating a very well. It is a mix between Dexter and Rescue this one. super-soldier. The experiment backfires. All of Me. It has all of the ingredients for a great series: AU: I am also familiar the test subjects begin to experience mental drama, action, tragedy, mystery. And, as the title with your horror feature, breakdowns and psychotic episodes. The explains, there are plenty of fires! Cornered. You completed scientists decide to shut the program down and Also, we are in development on our explosive this one in Agoura, all of the subjects are to be committed. Only action thriller Killing Angels, which deals with California in 2011 and 2012. The Stranger has other plans. He is driven by revenge and the shady underworld of human I have not seen this film, but his feelings of superiority. He chooses strong, trafficking. This film is near completion. I know the basic premise independent women to play his deadly games from the film’s trailer and with. He is a Jason Bourne character, with serious synopsis. Actor Ricky mental issues. Check out Hunter soon in his first major release, Onsgard plays The Stranger, AU: You have a number of film and television The Whispering Dead, and online at: the villain in the film. He projects in development. Can you talk about http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hunter-G- breaks into several women’s your upcoming television series, Pyro? You Williams homes and torments them also have an action thriller in early production, with a series of traps, which titled Killing Angels. What can you tell us of Hunter G. Williams: are often deadly and sinister. What are this this next film? character’s motivations to create this style of An Interview with a HW: We have numerous projects in production or Horror Director Interview by Michael Allen

Busted Knuckle Productions is a Los Angeles- based film production firm. This production house has developed several horror features, some of which will be released in 2013. Busted Knuckle Productions is led by CEO Hunter G. Williams and his associates: actor Scott Michael Campbell and business partner Chris Hayes. In this interview, Michael Allen talks with Hunter about his upcoming supernatural thriller The Whispering Dead, the serial killer horror flick Cornered and several other exciting film and television projects. Absolute Underground: Hunter, I know you primarily from your work in film. I recently reviewed The Whispering Dead for my site, 28DLA.com...This film was a bit of a mind- bender. The film’s story follows several co-workers attempting to jumpstart a reality television series. You were the director and writer for this film so I had a question: what influences did you and co-writer Scott Michael Campbell take into the script? Hunter G. Williams: We definitely were influenced by other successful films of the genre. The Blair Witch Project, Paranormal Activity, and Quarantine helped us mold the film’s story. We also spent countless hours watching the real shows: Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters, and Paranormal State. When I cast Chris Hayes, I made him watch Ghost

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The first, we were at Lee’s Palace playing with Subhumans, and literally five minutes toronto trash before we were on, Mike slashed his finger open. Evan and Mike were in the bathroom well. We’ve made contacts in the USA so that’s for quite a while cleaning up puddles of blood one option, and our UK record label (STP Records) and duct taping his finger shut so he could play. has mentioned that we should try to get on The second hilarious incident was when a very Rebellion Fest 2013... The world is a punk rock fucked up woman attacked Mike’s girlfriend oyster, my friend. outside of Hard Luck bar, and I may or may not For more information or to hear some tunes, have unleashed the awesome power of Candice check Skullians out online at: and put her to the ground... the boys wouldn’t let Facebook: www.facebook.com/skullians me live it down for months after, Evan even said YouTube: www.youtube.com/ he was going to write a song called “Fisticuffs”. skullianstorontopunx The third happened quite recently when we were iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/dont- on tour. Evan was arrested and taken into custody take-it-to-heart/id543938110 by the Windsor Police for looking like a guy who had stabbed and robbed a bunch of people. BandCamp: http://skullians.bandcamp.com/ It was actually really fucked up...That night me/Mike/Greg had to play a set without him heart” is all from the 1990s. in Windsor due to him being in jail. Cops The sound of the band as a whole has changed suck. Skullians slightly over the years, now we have three major AU: Who writes the tunes? Andrew Stewart catches up with Candice Ryerson, songwriters in the band, and three lead vocalists CR: We all do. Usually it starts with one lead guitarist of the Toronto-based punk group as well - which we’ve been told separates us from person bringing a riff, and we all collaborate Skullians. the rest of the punk bands out there right now. on it to make it into a full song. Other times Absolute Underground: Who are the Skullians, But there is a “Skullians sound” I guess, fast-paced one of us will write a full-blown song and how long have you been going and how did punk rock with a whole lot of heart! we’ll all learn it but add in our own little you guys get together? AU: You guys have a new CD, wanna tell us “pizzaz” to make it personal. I’ve heard Candice Ryerson: The band was formed in March about it? stories from other bands where one person 2005 by Evan and Mike...They found Andy, who CR: Sure! Its called “Don’t Take it to Heart”. 13 writes all of the music - and in my opinion ended up being the full time drummer for five songs total, and we’ve officially broken into that sounds like a total nightmare! Music is years. Three years into that, I joined as lead guitar “real album” territory, haha. The CD we put out supposed to be about being creative and and back-up vocals - then two years after that, before this was called “Pure” and was recorded free to say and play whatever you want, and Andy left the band to pursue other projects. A over a period of three days - so the first major we really do have that in Skullians. week after Andy left, I found Greg (who had come difference between “Pure” and the new one is the AU: What are your touring plans, and to a Skullians show about a year prior), and the time it took to record. The songs are longer, more where have you toured so far? rest is history! The band has been around for complex and there’s a whole whack of samples CR: We actually just got back from an seven years total, but we’ve been...promoting we added in between songs, which I find really Ontario/Quebec tour. We managed to aggressively, playing shows constantly, etc. for tells a story... Also, for anyone who was wondering play 14 shows over the course of 13 days, about four of those seven years. where the name “Skullians” came from, listen to so needless to say we were downright AU: What are your influences and how would Track 1 - and you’ll get your answer! exhausted by the end of it... All in all it was you describe your sound? AU: What is the most fucked up thing that’s a massive success; we made a lot of new CR: My personal influences vary from Bad Religion happened at a Skullians show? friends and fans, peddled our new CD all the way over to Nine Inch Nails. Most of my CR: This one took some thought, but I narrowed it around, the van didn’t break down, and we songwriting influences are punk bands like BR, down to three major incidents: didn’t kill each other! Pennywise and Rancid, but the music that’s “in my We have major tour plans for the future as read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 23 current line-up. OC: Definitely, but normally we just try not to Brian: AU: Describe your listen to shitty music. Also people that feel the When hellifax sound in 25 words or need to overly define genres like “Melodic-Prog- you less. Thrash-Death-Crust-Core” make us want gouge have to their eyes out! It’s called fucking METAL! poop in a Bobby [Webb - Drums]: strange bathroom Bad-breaf, clementines, AU: Hah yeah, I couldn’t agree more. Death cigarette-butts, Will to labels! Congrats are in order, on your new Everyone Else: Dealing with Brian because he Smith album, Words… Tell the people what it’s like, doesn’t like pooping in strange bathrooms compared to your previous release. Brian [Jones - Guitar]: AU: What’s on your bucket list as a band? Any That scene from OC: More mature, focused, and heavy. Also artists you’d love to share a bill with or places Scanners. this album was done more professionally - in a you’re dying to play? nice studio (Codapop) with an engineer (Erien Kevin [Mombourquette OC: We’ve been really lucky to share the stage Eady-Ward) and a producer (Jason Vautour) and - Bass]: The sound of five already with some of our influences like Children then sent off to be mixed by Shaun Thingvold people that hate each of Bodom, Black Dahlia Murder, Cancer Bats, etc… in Vancouver and If we can act spoiled, here are a few other acts mastered in the we’d love to share the stage with: USA by Jamie King. Keith: Dillinger Escape Plan Definitely the most time, effort and Brian: Darkest Hour energy we have put Bobby: Motorhead into a release yet, Josh: Between the Buried and Me and we hope that As for places – Kevin says he’d like to play shows. underwater. AU: It totally AU: Famous last Words? does, the album is awesome. Would Everyone: Check out the new album, Words! other but have to hang you say it has a theme? Josh: Keep fit and have fun out anyway. Josh: Although it’s not a concept album, Words Bobby: Who the fuck is Shirley Diggers? Josh [Hogan - Vocals]: was inspired heavily by disdain for organized Peanut butter whiskey religion and other convoluted, overly complex cookies systems of convincing people to look externally for answers instead of within one’s self. The new Orchid’s Curse album on Diminished Fifth Keith [MacLeod - Records is available March 26th. Buy it online at: Guitar]: Scrumtrulescent AU: What’s the story behind the cover art? Orchid’s Curse http://www.diminishedfifthrecords.com/ AU: What do you guys listen to? What Keith: The cover art was mainly inspired by the Interview by Catastrophe C merchandise influences your sound? lyrics. I wanted to show the duality between servants – serving out of love, but also out of or find the band: Josh: As a band we all have a pretty diverse fear. The lyrics are dark, but there is also a feeling online http://orchidscurse.wordpress.com/ Absolute Underground: Tell me about the listening base – anything from punk to metal to a hope and prosperity. The main artistic style band! How did it all come about? How long old-school hip-hop and pretty much everything http://orchidscurse.bandcamp.com/ is based on old religious wood cuts. I felt this have you been at it? in between. I think our diversity comes across on Twitter @OrchidsCurse imagery really reflects the overall tone of the Orchid’s Curse: We won’t bore you with long- in some of our songwriting for sure – even if it’s music’s lyrical content. on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ winded stories of struggles, tribulations and through metal music. orchidscurse AU: You’ve got a tour planned for eastern and member changes because well, that’s what AU: Any artists or genres that make you want central Canada. What’s the best / worst thing happens with bands. Orchid’s Curse has been to gouge your eyeballs out? active for about 7 years, the past 3 with our about being on the road? 24 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv GNITE GNITE Vaporizers,GNITE glass, & more.. Smoke Shop Smoke Shop Smoke Shop Light it up Light it up Light it up

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read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 25 to know the depths of Merging Fantasy their fantasies. Also, be extremely wary of suggesting with Reality anything involving By CJ Sleez swapping, swinging or group sex, as your In my last AU column (“On Faking It...”), I made a partner may take it broad suggestion that guys (or girls) could check as a personal insult out some porn in order to find tips on how to help knowing that they their female sexual partners achieve an authentic are not enough to orgasm. Upon further consideration, I feel I should satisfy you on their elaborate. After all, porn (especially the hard-core own. If this is truly the case however, and what deviant variety) doesn’t always translate smoothly you need are multiple partners to get you off, into real life. than by all means be honest, but be prepared for the possible fall-out. I mean hell; if remaining Expectations need to be shifted. Remember, porn monogamous doesn’t do it for you, why not go stars are stars for a reason. They’re fit, tan, hairless, after what you really want? Chances are if the and unlike most people, they still look fantastic sex is unfulfilling, the relationship won’t last long covered in sweat. Most of all we need to keep in anyway. mind that they’re acting. They’re performing for a camera or audience. The main priority is putting On the plus side, most women will be receptive on a good show, not making an intensely intimate and up for things like experimenting with new connection, which in my opinion is what fantastic positions/locations, dirty-talking, role-playing sex, I mean mind-blowing, earth-standing-still, and introducing/incorporating sex toys into soul-soaring, orgasmic sex, is all about. your routine. Just keep in mind that generally speaking, guys are into both watching and taking In everyday life there’s no rehearsed script to part in wilder stuff than most women are into, so follow, so communication is key. For example, try not to freak them out by suggesting too much you don’t want to surprise your lover with (as too soon. Be gradual with your propositions and they put it in the movie “Leaving Las Vegas”) an ease your way into things. Women respond to unexpected “back-door delivery”, especially if slow-progression when it comes to sex. It’s just your partner is an ass-o-phobe like myself. Other one of the ways we always keep you wanting common acts seen in porn that should definitely more. be discussed prior to sex (in order to avoid any unintended offence being taken), include playful Have a question for CJ Sleez concerning Sex, spanking, penis slaps to the face, cum shots to the Drugs or Rock n’ Roll? Email them to CJSleez@ eyes, golden showers and pretty much anything hotmail.com. If your question is used or printed, involving S&M. It’s just as important to be aware she’ll send you a free copy of her latest CD, “Valley of your partner’s limits and comfort levels as it is Of The Shadow”. For more info on CJ, check out her band site @ www.CJSLEEZ.com

26 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv EH: It just felt like a EH: I think it sounds like a continuation of the and our music, I think that’s the best way to do natural step in the first album. That things! I guess people react right direction for us. being said, I think the positively to us because we We talked to a bunch new one is bigger- bring something new to the of different labels, of sounding and it feels table, I don’t think there’s course, but in the end like we’ve expanded any band out there that Roadrunner came with on the sound of can successfully copy what the best offer and they the first one. It’s we do. seemed like they really completely shameless AU: What is the plan for wanted to release the and we didn’t put any the immediate future for album. We’re pretty limits on ourselves the band? excited about seeing whatsoever. It’s like EH: Touring! Right now, what they are going to the album title says we’re on a European tour be able to do with the (Meir means More in that is six weeks long, after new album! Norwegian), it’s just a couple of days home we’re more of everything AU: Why did you heading to the States to tour that’s Kvelertak! choose to step away there before heading home from the theme of AU: You guys have for the festival season. It’s Nordic mythology on had a huge amount going to be a busy and fun Kvelertak this album? of success in a short year! amount of time. Has it all sunk in? Why do By Allison Drinnan EH: I did it because I didn’t want to keep writing Check Kvelertak out online at: you think people are reacting so positively to Absolute Underground’s Allison Drinnan about Norse mythology on every album, it’s not Kvelertak? www.kvelertak.com catches up with Erlend Hjelvik, vocalist of like I’m an expert on the subject like the guys in www.facebook.com/Kvelertak Kvelertak, the swiftly-rising Norwegian metal- Enslaved are. I mostly took stuff out of my own EH: No, we’ve just been trying to keep busy rockers who have just released their second [head] this time, instead of reading up on the and just focus on improving the live shows album, Meir, through Roadrunner Records. subject matter and then writing the lyrics. Absolute Underground: For those who aren’t AU: You guys have stuck to your guns familiar with the history of the band, can you by writing and performing your lyrics in tell me a bit about your history? How did you Norwegian. Why did you choose to do this guys form? instead of English? Erlend Hjelvik: The band started in me and Bjarte EH: We’ve been doing it for so long now that [Rolland, guitar]’s basement in 2006. We got a Norwegian feels like an important part of our couple of friends together, had a few line-up sound. I think it would sound weird if we did changes and have had a steady line-up since asong in English. By now I think even our fans 2009. We started the band as something to outside of Norway would be disappointed if we just pass the time with and after a few years of suddenly started singing in English. Maybe in the fucking around it suddenly got serious, hehe. future we’ll do a Spanish album instead. AU: Are you guys pretty excited to be doing a AU: Tell me about how you think this album headlining tour in North America? differs or has progressed from the previous release? EH: Super stoked! Especially with an awesome package like that, both Cancer Bats and Black Tusk are amazing bands, you’d be a fool to miss out on it! AU: I have heard amazing things about your live show. For someone who has never seen it before, how would you describe it? How should I prepare? EH: It can get pretty crazy, we just go balls-out on every show. There’s a lot of testorone, sweat and adrenaline. You don’t need to prepare, just don’t put on your favorite sunday wear if you plan on THE standing in the front! BLOOD, SWEAT AND BEERS AU: What was the craziest live show for TOUR Kvelertak? MAY 24- VANCOUVER, BC- THE RICKSHAW EH: There’s an awesome YouTube clip of a show MAY 29- LANGLEY, BC- LANGLEY VINEYARD we played in Singapore that ended up stopping JUNE 1- SASKATOON, SK- MAZZFEST- ODEON EVENTS CENTRE traffic out on the street, that was kinda crazy. JUNE 2- PRINCE ALBERT, SK- PRINCE ALBERTS ART CENTRE Other than that that we’ve had people fucking in JUNE 4- MEDICINE HAT, AB- LIQUID NIGHTCLUB TBA front of the stage, people breaking their legs and JUNE 5- TO BE ANNOUNCED, AB- all kinds of funny shit. JUNE 6- CALGARY, AB- CALGARY METAL FEST- DICKENS PUB AU: I’ve read the term “black and roll” JUNE 7- EDMONTON, AB- TBA associated with Kvelertak. Would you agree JUNE 8- RED DEER, AB- SLUMLAND THEATRE with that label? Have you guys come up with a better one? EH: I really don’t care for that “black n roll” label, I think it sounds too limiting. We just call it rock, ourselves! AU: Tell me about why the band chose to go with Roadrunner?

read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 27 AU: The new record just hit the streets. What Having Dave back is your focus musically and lyrically on this behind the kit is an release? What was your favourite part of all-around win-win recording the album? situation for us. DB: The focus for the new record was pretty AU: As a band you’ve much to come up with something really brutal played around the and catchy that world over decades. DB: Here we go again... The DVD was a concept doesn’t bore the What show do you want to play, and with we had with a director, who is/was a fan of the musician listener which band(s)? Dream lineup please! band. He did a ton of work compiling, editing, and doesn’t go over DB: You know, there are a lot of real big festivals interviewing and he had countless issues, from the non-musician out there that are awesome to play. I guess my hard drive failure to home invasion where his listener’s head. dream lineup would be to get some of the other computer and hard drives were stolen. The DVD My favorite part heavyweight death metal bands out with us has been worked on and re-worked on and so of recording this Suffocation on the same show. It’s really hard to get all the on, to the point where we were like, “WHAT THE record was seeing it all come together. You put in headliners on one bill because it’s a money issue... FUCK?, is it EVER gonna come out?” So, where we all this hard work behind the scenes, beforehand, Pinnacle Of Bedlam It would be great, but it’s not really very realistic, are now is, the concept and some of the footage and getting to see it all come together as a final By Erik Lindholm unfortunately. is in the hands of another director who the band product is really my favorite part of the process. has worked with and who we really respect and Long Island, New York technical death metal AU: Inspiring music for you... who do you enjoy AU: What does it mean to you to have your know he’ll do a good job. I’m sorry but the subject legends Suffocation remain at the top of the at this moment? game in American metal. Coming off the release original drummer Mike Smith, who was makes me bitter. I know our fans are just as upset, of “Pinnacle Of Bedlam” in February 2013, and there from the start - depart and to be joined DB: I can’t really say I’m listening to music right if not more than I am. But one thing we can tell getting set for a summer on the road, here is by Dave Culross (Malevolent Creation and now to be inspired, if I had to name some of the the fans is, it’s coming... soon! Haha! Suffocation)? What does he bring to the group current bands I’m listening to just because I enjoy bassist Derek Boyer on lineup changes, cover AU: Well, there ya go. Last words for the and why did you want him back? them, I would say: Spawn of Possession, Arkaik, songs and what it means to put out a seventh Canadian fans! Aeon, and Decrepit Birth... I could probably go full-length release. DB: Suffocation has seen members come and go on and on, but those are the first few that came DB: We LOVE the Canadian fans! They’re quite over the years. The band is not a one-man show; AU: First, thanks for taking the time for the to mind. possibly the most intense fans out there! We look it’s a collaborated effort between five musicians interview. Where are you now and what’s forward to performing for you guys (and gals) who can get along. Dave’s a great player, and a AU: What is the status on the documentary going on? very soon! Take care and keep it intense! great guy. It was an easy choice for us to see if “Suffocation: Legacy of Violence”? What Derek Boyer: Sure, no problem. Right now I’m Dave was interested in rejoining the band when do you want to communicate to fans with Check Suffocation out online at: in New York, getting ready to take off for the we knew Mike was looking to leave. Dave brings the release? What do people screw up in www.facebook.com/suffocation weekend, we will be performing in Oslo, Norway a lot to the table, his great attitude, being easy to percieving the band? at the Inferno Festival. work with and, of course, his aggressive playing. www.myspace.com/suffocation

these observations? we started out in the 90s, before computers and we met people that had spent so many years IB: I think we took a everything and we’re sort of back to that now. following the bands, giving out CDs and telling lot of risks with this AU: So I read that “RIITIIR” was about ritual… stories... everything’s like just back down to the album. When we had what does that mean to you? basics of just being metalheads having a good time. So yeah, we’d definitely do that again. the musical groundwork IB: Yeah, it’s a fascination on many levels… the done for the album, fascination of the history of it, when you start AU: What are your hopes and goals for one of the first things I looking into the whole process of the rituals Enslaved in the future? More albums, touring? realized was all the songs are nine, ten minutes of man, you sort of realize this is probably one IB: Yeah the albums will keep coming, there’s just Absolute Underground’s Willow Gamberg catches long, most of them are lacking any clear structure. up with guitarist Ivar Bjørnson of Enslaved, just of the most basic and primeval things that is so much inspiration, so [many] vibrations and It’s not for people that are used to picking up the trademark of what it is to before the Vancouver show on their tour for their new stuff on the radio, expecting a verse and a newest release, RIITIIR. be human… And you can find chorus and so on. I kind of feel proud that we just that in all the cultures, so many Absolute Underground: How’s the tour been believed in the songs even though it was quite years back... [Rituals are] also on so far? different, we just went with it and tried to explore a philosophical level, you have Ivar Bjørnson: It’s been really good. We’ve been that difference…it sometimes feels like we’re to face yourself and put yourself around a couple times since we started touring supplying some kind of fresh air, which is cool. in a position where you give North America around 2007 approximately… AU: What does the album represent for the something away, be willing to let we’re hoping to maintain that level, it’s going up! band or for you personally? part of yourself go and certain There’s more people coming every night. IB: For me, it represents freedom… It’s not like ideas die and then in that process AU: Enslaved has been to Canada plenty of we’ve ever made music to please anyone, but you accomplish something new. times before, right? especially with this one... knowing that there So I guess it’s both a tribute to the IB: We have. And we keep telling our booking would be quite a lot of expectations for this rituals in our history and at the agent that we really want to put an emphasis on one… I’m really proud that we sort of chose the same time a bit of a ritual in itself I Canada because I think it really connects what narrower path and just did what we believed in, guess. we’re doing with the Canadian metal audience. and it’s paying off. So for me it represents integrity AU: You guys were just on the most recent It’s got historical background with the kind of and musical freedom. Barge To Hell cruise, how was that? ideas that keep coming in while on this tour, it happens daily, many times, I have ideas for new bands that are coming out of Canada in the old AU: Speaking of the musical process, other IB: It was amazing! I have to admit that I was stuff... It’s all about just doing the next gig better, days, like Voivod and that kind of stuff… it’s never than the engineering, did you guys do probably, like many other of the artists, a bit the next album better, rehearsing. We’re having a been about being as mainstream as possible, anything differently with this album than with skeptical to begin with, imagining this whole blast as people, I think that’s the most important it’s been about just getting into music, and that your previous releases? binge drinking thing and people in your face all thing... Whatever potential there is for Enslaved, seems to be fitting us really well. the time, but you know there was something IB: Yeah I would say that we spent a lot more time we just make sure that we fulfill that. AU: Glad to hear it. So you guys are touring for rehearsing it, and put a lot more critical light on there that just appealed to us, and during the first To hear samples from RIITIIR, or for more 2012’s Riitiir, released last October… it’s been the basic ideas....it was a much more concrete day I was totally hooked. I think it’s a beautiful information, check out www.enslaved.no called the most progressive or “far out” of your and physical process this time than we’ve ever idea, okay it’s expensive and all that stuff because albums to date; how do you guys respond to done before. It’s kind of weird because that’s how it’s a cruise ship, but it was so cool because

COME VISIT OUR TABLE AT THE CALGARY COMIC AND ENTERTAINMENT EXPO April 26-28

28 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 10th calgary underground film festival April 15 - 21, 2013 AT THE GLOBE CINEMA 617 8TH AVENUE SW

Tickets and festival information are available online at www.calgaryundergroundfilm.com Licensed event - evenings no minors - matinees all ages $10 regular screenings I $8 cuff members - students - seniors I $40 5-film punch card I $140 festival pass

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CUFF2013_AbsoluteUndergroundPrintAd.indd 1 2013-03-17 8:57 PM 30 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv Absolute Film Reviews

TerrorVision / The Video Dead Next up we have Robert Scott’s 1987 Victoria Film Festival 2013: Rating Scream! Factory masterpiece of low budget cinema, all those Little Horrors The Video Dead. I have a VHS-trans- TerrorVision and The Video Dead The movies featured at the Victoria ferred DVD of The Video Dead and double feature Blu-Ray from Scream Film Festival 2013 contained more along with my Video Dead t-shirt, Factory has to be one of my most thrillers than tales of terror. Some I’m a huge fan of this little piece of anticipated releases of 2013. This were highly interpretive, like Behind 80s wonderment. So when I heard is easily the best double feature Elsewhere by Carrado Mariani, a sur- that this, along with TerrorVision, DVD / Blu-Ray to come out since realistic short, while others are more was getting a proper release, I was the Anchor Bay 2003 release of A direct in its approach. With Mariani’s over the moon! I love micro-budget Blade in the Dark / Macabre. I love featurette, he may well have been horror and The Video Dead is up that Shout Factory and its sister making a statement about “The there with some of the best of the company Scream Factory put these Mouse” versus capitalism whereas genre. Following the possessed two classic, low-budget 80s horror Quinn Spicker’s piece, Harvey’s television theme, The Video Dead is flicks together. And this is the first Dream, is very sublime as it looks at about an unsuspecting family that time either has officially been put how terror can be felt while living moves into a house containing a on any kind of home-video format with a loved one struggling with TV that is a host to the living dead. since they were on VHS. There has Alzheimer’s. Both are interesting Watching what they think is a late been some crappy bootleg transfers concepts that try to expand on the night monster movie turns out to be floating around (any real cinephile theory that true horror is an isolating a portal for the horde of flesh eaters out there most likely had a copy) but experience. Unfortunately, neither of to enter our world and wreck havoc. now we can own an amazing version these two shorts really succeeds at Of course, this is what most zombie of these two gems. First up on the an emotional level. The impact is not movie fans want; mindless gore and double bill is TerrorVision, a campy understood until these two films are a ridiculous plot with over-the-top sci-fi/horror/ comedy about an alien- discussed much later. situations. This is a nice lost classic infested television set owned by the At least fans of animation and Chris- in an otherwise over-played genre. Gaston, a graduate from the Univer- who the killer is. This film is perhaps ceeds in blending one practical set modern, swinging family, the Putter- topher Plummer may enjoy Kali Le Both films have great transfers and sity of Victoria. This short suggests the best of the eight films shown. with CGI magic in a tale where most mans. The new satellite dish bought Petit Vampire. Plummer does a great the special features are so good it’s a cosmic terror is at work. Gaston of Canada is wrapped in an eternal by the family picks up a transmission job narrating this tale. And this short Between Red Valentine and the almost worth picking up for them succeeds in creating the interest, but arctic winter. The lesson taught in from an alien world that accidentally brings the artistic style of Picasso to mystery spy thriller Shadowplay, by alone. I’m not digging on zombies the pacing could be better to get to this tale is that everyone has to ex- sends an evil monster into their celluloid life. The blacks have texture BC resident Ed Osghian, they made as much as I used to these days, the crux of what kind of terror lurks perience that rite of passage before TV. The family must now fight off and the shadows are alive. In this up the highlights of the night. The but with films like The Video Dead within the light. being welcomed into a tribe. this massive glob of goop before it story, Kali struggles with the need to Victoria Film Festival’s Little Horrors coming out, I can easily say that I’m devours all of mankind. The special make friends, though he is unable. Even the noir style gets played up in program is not necessarily about In this case, this special program not disappointed in any way. Plus effects and laugh-out-loud story are Fans of horror may want to draw Red Valentine. This short is very well scaring audiences silly. Instead, the inaugurates those looking for the the line-up of releases from Scream sure to fill any horror fanatic with comparisons to the H.P. Lovecraft’s stylized. The colours are engaging night deals with how the isolation next generation of filmmakers, to Factory is almost mind-blowing! glee. Directed by Ted Nicolaou and short, “The Outsider.” and the plot requires viewers to of the individual is treated in a see who can craft a better story Stay tuned… pay attention to every single detail cinematic sense, and that can be than those for an experience at the starring Gerrit Graham, Jon Gries And this author may well have -Cody No Teeth in order to solve the mystery. This terrifying in itself. The finale, Frost, Victoria Film Festival. and Diane Franklin, TerrorVision is inspired a few moments in Bardo movie is the most engaging because seems to reinforce that point. This definitely worth every penny. Light, a piece developed by Connor -Ed Sum viewers are also trying to figure out cinematography of this tale suc- Business Profile Van Isle Promotions Interview by Cam D’Andrade A lot of the good shows in Victoria, BC are hardcore, wild, epic, and of course, adult only. We’ve got a lot of young rockers out there looking to get into this legendary scene that all of their older friends keep talking about. This is where Cameron Francheschini and the rest of the rad guys at Van Isle Promotions step in and bring shows to life for the everyday teenage music fanatic. Absolute Underground: Who are you and what do you do? Cameron Francheschini: Well basically I’m the co-owner and founder of Van Isle Promotions. We put on all ages shows in Victoria, and all-ages shows. AA shows are very we’re all awesome guys! important to me because I think that everyone deserves to be able to AU: What gave you the idea/ enjoy live music. Also, since I’m only inspiration for VIP? 18, hosting bar shows is currently not CF: My interest in shows started possible, haha. when I started going to them, and AU: What are all the bands that you realized how amazing they were and guys promote? how much fun everyone had at them. Ever since then I just wanted to help CF: We promote all the bands that do put them on and get more and more shows with us, or any band that we shows happening in Victoria. hear of and think is awesome. AU: Are you open to taking on new bands? CF: I want this scene to flourish. So yes, I’m very open to taking on new AU: How long have you guys been bands. Everyone that plays music has up and running? a right to be heard. CF: I think we became public right AU: What do you see for VIP’s before June, and our first show future as a company? Are there was August 31st, 2012. But I’d been any? throwing the idea of it back and forth CF: VIP’s goals for the future are with the other guys for a few months just to keep putting on shows that beforehand. we ourselves, as well as the crowd AU: Are there any bands that and people that attend our shows, you specifically favor within the are proud of. Hopefully we’ll keep industry? building up momentum and will be CF: We don’t give favour to any genre able to bring in bigger and better or bands. We just want to be able to bands with time but right now it’s put on shows for bands that people just about going as long and hard as love. If we think that the Victoria we can with it. crowd would be into a show with a For more information, check specific band, we’ll do it. out http://www.facebook.com/ AU: Do you guys do just all-ages VanIslePromotions shows? CF: As of right now, yes we’re only read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 31 Absolute Album Reviews A Fucking Elephant- Seven Inches cial soundtrack of the phoenix rising songs on it, there’s a little more than Nefarious Industries from the ashes in order to claim its 40 minutes on here. There’s also only dark rebirth. 500 copies available so I’ll only be This two-song release is a real working with a digital copy. interesting blurb coming from the Then, just as you think the hounds more adventurous side of metal. of the underworld are going to be It all starts off with “Prophesy Born It’s played by a mind-mangling sent upon you, Windhand unleashes From Dismal Terrain”, and it’s a good two-piece that fashion their entirely its psychedelic, acid-drenched start. Straight-up black metal, in my instrumental sounds out of what doom metal to take you sideways in opinion. A pretty good first song seems like discarded Cornelius this blackened dream. Their sound with a solid tempo that gets your Cardew scores deemed too crazy for is built around the echoing wail head moving. This is before the human performance. coming from the singer that seems band starts to get really experimen- to ride the waves of crushing doom tal. “Cold Winds Howled Across the On paper, the guitar-and-drums blitzes effortlessly. The vocals are Desolation” is a perfect name for duo appears to take a minimalist definitely the standout feature, as how the next song feels and sounds. approach, but the music definitely slow elongated vowels turn words You definitely get the feeling of doesn’t feel that way. Based around into an impression of what it must desolation. Lots of atmosphere and a two-handed tapping technique, be like to look down upon a river bleakness from start to end. Dare I intricate guitar patterns are woven of molten gold flowing towards say it’s also got some tasty guitar riff- atop complex and versatile drum- Mordor. ing. This really has a mid-90s black ming which calls to mind the fine art metal feeling to it, kind of like early of instrumental rock when played Both acts have the tendency to call Ulver. Constant drumming keeps by voiceless wizards Don Caberello. into the night air in hopes they can the pace while guitars meander Recorded by Colin Marston, the Czar awaken Cthulhu. If the ol’ mountain in and out. The vocals are howled of thought-provoking hard music, monster does show, you’d have to and growled over the soundscape. this 7” is more sonic destruction admit that would be one hell of a Right about the middle of “The Apex than music and is definitely not for blues jam! of Suffering” I started to get the the masses, just for us diehards of -Dan Potter Bathory tingles. That feeling where experimental metal, thank-you very you think you’re getting the exact much! Abiotic- Symbiosis ancient warrior feeling that the artist -Dan Potter Metal Blade was trying to give you. Maybe that’s just the brain damage talking, but These guys create an atmosphere that’s the feeling I get with the last Warbeast/Philip Anselmo-War of filled with sheer terror, like being the Gargantuas two songs. The album ends better eyed closely by a predator that has than it starts, slow, droning and Housecore chosen you as its next meal. Even atmospheric. While we excitedly wait for the solo so, what’s really interesting is that I’ve listened to this album dozens release from Mr. Anselmo, an early beneath the creepy, down-tuned of times now and I really enjoy it. gift is in the offering. In War of The staccato riffs and wailing speed It’s black metal in a way that hasn’t Gargantuas, a tantalizing glimpse of metal lies a desire to progress to the been done a lot in the last 15 to 20 what may come is belted out with next level in “hard music”. years. If you like the atmospheric true southern rage. Not only are There is definitely a bias in favour sound layering of Ulver or maybe these two new tracks awesome, but of the more modern genres of Hate Forest, this is something you Philip proves he’s still a stand-up guy metal, as the distinct classical vibe would be totally into. All the songs by including thrash titans Warbeast so closely linked with death metal is were full and, though this might be beside him during his much-wel- complimented by post-production a bad word for this genre of metal, comed return. glitch and jazzy breakdowns. The metal can be brutal at times as its catchy. I’ll continue listening to “Conflict” is the first we hear of the complexities in sound and rhythm this, even if I just have it on in the legendary vocalist, and it really threaten to turn you into a PhD background. I have no idea where brings back some cool vibes built student in mathematics. to find it and of the number of their upon the feel-good fury of the sadly limited releases, but the internet is out-of-commission metal goliaths Luckily, just as it gets too dense, wonderful for that. he has played for in the past. Overall, a metallic euro-vibe prevails with -Michael F. Carnage Anselmo’s tough-guy howl has aged ethereal melodic interludes led well; he still sounds confused and mostly by the soaring guitar solo the time changes in the songs. I’m in about 3 or 4 years. Some people song on here. It’s the longest one angry as hell about a whole lot of breaks that scream dedication to the Chosen- Resolution not citing this as a detriment at all. think they are too mainstream too, at almost 8 minutes, but it has “Asch’s Paradigm” is full of changes because they have toured with some great tempo changes and I things. hardest of crafts; metal. Meanwhile, Self-released the screeching of a scornful witch and harsh then clean vocals, fast Danzig and are signed to Metal just like the feel of it. Warbeast adds some gasoline to Chosen is a band from Ireland that relays the lyrical content as if the then slow rythym. It’s a pretty cool Blade, but I disagree. I don’t think Overall I think this is a pretty solid the flames with “Birth of a Psycho”, has released a bunch of EPs over whole world were damned to an song, actually. you have to be on an obscure label album. It starts well and ends well where they kick out some relentless the last 8 years but has now finally eternity of torture by wind chimes. It seems most songs mix it up and that only releases 666 copies to be a and there wasn’t a song on there thrash, the kind only old-schoolers released a full-length. They’re only a Then, just when you thought it contain a blend of styles. I could good black metal band. Either way, that I didn’t like at all. Each song has have the guts to play. It’s interesting two-piece, but any metal fan knows couldn’t get any heavier, the tempo see how people would not like this this is their second release on Metal great drumming and there is solid to hear this pairing of an old-school that that sort of line-up can totally breaks down and a grinding stomp approach too much as, to some Blade. guitar work to be heard at several legend making his return while a work out. The thing I usually like finishes things off. Utterly tooth- people, these songs might seem The title track starts off with a good points. I’m a sucker for a good riff new group playing it old-school about a two-piece band is that it loosening! a little too busy, but in the end it’s bit of atmosphere, keeping it mid- and was happy to hear quite a style moves on up the ladder. All in usually has a great groove to it. It an album I’ll listen to again. I think tempo throughout the whole song. few. It all had a pretty evil feeling the name of sticking it to the powers -Dan Potter forces the guitar and drums/percus- my best advice with this one is that For “Acid Gate” and “Psychic Waters” to it, which I think is the point of sion to work together in a way it that be! you’ll have to listen to it more than they speed it up a bit and you can the genre. They do have a video doesn’t usually in a full band. -Dan Potter Bastard Sapling- Dragged from a few times. I haven’t decided yet really hear the Marduk influence. that’s pretty easy to find, so I’m sure Our Restless Trance The whole thing starts with a whether or not it’s a regular release Autarch’s chanting on “Acid Gate” anyone can locate their music on decent intro; as usual, it lasts about or one of those hidden gems that could give people chills. Then the Internet. They look to have a Cough/Windhand- Reflection of Forcefield Records a minute before the metal begins. will just grow on you over the first there’s a brief instrumental that pretty DIY attitude, so they’d likely the Negative Bastard Sapling are black metal from The second song has a shorter intro week you listen to it. I guess I’m go- sounds a lot like the background appreciate the $10 if you bought a Relapse Records Richmond, Virginia. Doesn’t exactly followed by some clean vocals and ing to have to figure that out. music in an old horror film. After CD. In my uneducated and nearly seem like the place where frostbit- Cough kicks things off with a stellar then growling and solid riffing. The this, I think the album really comes pointless rating system, I’d give this ten Satan would find musicians. -Michael F. Carnage 17-minute epic track titled “Athame”. formula plays through the 3rd song together. The last 4 songs are the one 4 goats out of 5. Makes me more think of colonial Preceding the evocation of deep an- with a first minute and a half of best, in my opinion. “Chained to theme-parks or civil war re-enact- -Michael F. Carnage guish and pain-injected rage is some classical guitar. Maybe it’s just me Lightning Swords of Death- Decay” has a good grinding quality ments but hey, I don’t judge. From vampire-friendly organ playing fit but I can see a lot of Meshuggah Baphometic Chaosium throughout the whole song, not what I can tell, they have released for a Black Mass held somewhere influence in this. They seem to be Metal Blade Records really ever speeding up, but keeping two EPs and this is their first full- trying to pack as much as they can down below in the bottomless pit Lightning Swords of Death from L.A. you interested. I would have to say length; even though it only has four into every song here. There’s a lot of itself. This track may well be the offi- has released their first new material “Epicyclarium” would be my favorite

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32 read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv Send Us your Live Reviews by Email [email protected] sented at this Monster but F.T.W. event? the general What kind consensus was of music did they rocked the Absolute Live Reviews these F.T.W. fucker good, or Meshuggah/Intronaut trade off on screaming and yelling people groove so it said on the Feb 27, Macewan Hall Ballroom, while the band plays an ultra-ag- to? Read on and journey into a two- Interweb. The Calgary AB gressive, almost djent-like at times, night event at a seedy bar in Victoria, Injectors from form of metal not unlike what you B.C., Canada and you shall see. Abbotsford took Meshuggah is the only band that would hear on a record by Meshug- the stage next. when listening to, I am able to crack The first evening I scan the crowd gah, with speedy riffs like those on Now I sensed a my neck in places I couldn’t before. and see various fashions of men and a Devildriver song. The outfits were, taste of Vancou- As they bend rhythms which have women. The jean vest with patches fittingly, like what Manson would ver skateboarder the word “poly” prefacing them, is common and I recognize some of have worn during his ‘95 Smells in this band’s the original djentlemens’ brand of the patches, but there’s also greas- Like Children tour. Leather pants. music as catch-22, eating-its-own-tail song- ers, tatty-clad folks, black leather, Ripped fishnets. It was nice to see a well as some writing, is a new beast live. Without bearded and the odd metal dude. band have fun and look sexy while tire-smoking numerous takes in the studio, the Then two uniformed police enter the they are doing it. Goblin’s Suspiria and a little four- band is left to account for all of its bar and immediately narrow in on soundtrack main theme sets the wheel drive. wizardry, and besides feeling like an attractive young woman. I guess I had heard so many amazing things solo…shirtless. mood before the plain black curtains Remember what the old T-shirt you are being bear-hugged by the cops need to pick up chicks too so about the openers, read review after fall down and a Bladerunner-style, said… “Injection’s nice but I’d rather -Allison Drinnan Juggernaught, the mathematical I watch as they check her ID. She review about how they are so gosh- Pris makeup-faced Manson imposes be blown”. You might ask yourself, appeal of Meshuggah is always in denies them any reason for further darn great, and I had always tried to his presence. In addition to the did The Injectors deliver as well as a tow. How many notes can they fit investigation so these two fuzz walk get into it, because there must be a Metal Alliance Tour: Anthrax, makeup, he is sporting a hybrid blower? I will say YES. Would I like to into this bar? As many as it takes to around, checkin’ out the men in the reason so many other people are. Exodus, High On Fire, Municipal skull/gas mask apparatus. “Hey, see this band again? I will say YES. make Jens Kidman’s eyes roll back room. I guess cops need to pick up Waste, Holy Grail Cruel World” is the opening track, Get your fast hesher rock here, boys! The true test would be at Dickens i into his head. men too, but after a quick cruise March 30th, The Commodore from his latest album Born Villain, they leave the bar empty-hand- This being the second night, the Enslaved have become critical dar- Vancouver, BC With Animals as Leaders not making and behind the man a conjoined cuffed. On their way out ,they shake dance floor was a little more crowd- lings as well, but they have definitely With a bill that boasts so many it across the border, a longer Me- cross illuminates while smoke rises hands with a moustache guy in a ed and there was definitely a higher earned their stripes. They have been experienced industry heavyweights, shuggah set was expected. Though from either side of the stage. The vest, who I figure is their informant. I compression ratio. More people making genre-defining music since it’s only to be expected that the looking at past setlists online, it returning Twiggy Ramirez has traded the 90s and they don’t need to have my eye on this guy. meant more out-of-control dancing, aptly-named Metal Alliance would looked to be a regular-sized one. in his granny dress for one that so The Stockers took the stage right follow any trends or take an ironic Intronaut opened with a generous, I hear the stage liven up; the first provide a crushing show. looks more like a butcher’s, which band was Kentucky Womanizer from into the crowd’s faces. These guys picture in front of an abandoned “spacey”, “djenty”, melodic form of Manson dons soon into his set. After are greasers that don’t prescribe to barn or in a kitchen to prove it. They First off, California’s Holy Grail took metal that felt right at home with parts unknown. Toe-tappin’ rock the stage; not to be deterred by the the hefty beat of “Disposable Teens”, with a twist of sexy lady on the front. the retro, 50s-era rock-a-billy that take their photos in the woods, Meshuggah. They are one of the “The Love Song” brings on more was popular a few years back. Their because, let me tell you – they prob- early set time, these true rock stars I focused for a few minutes on this kicked it into high gear, immediately hundreds of bands Meshuggah have crowd participation with the “GUNS, music is rocker music, but no stand- ably fucking live there. band, as the lead lady on the stage inciting a mosh pit in the already- influenced in the past few years. GOD and GOVERNMENT” chorus up bass. This is a garage band and takes an electric angle grinder to Okay, ranting and raving aside – this packed floor crowd. Exhibiting Why not have a full on djent-fest? being fit for a shock bolt pedestal. the audience goes off in response her crotch; luckily for her she was show, overall, was pretty damn classic dramatic flair, they amped Starting with “Swarm”, Meshuggah But we can’t have everything right to their music. I kinda felt like I wearing a steel Jill that protected good. I arrived just in time for Royal up the audience with stage antics, emerged with a backdrop featuring away. Pope outfit for this, cake for was in Detroit seeing some of that her baby-maker. Sparks flew from Thunder, missing the opening act shout-outs to the next performers the artwork of their latest album, that, American flag for this, beer cut- early rock/punk from the 70s, you her crotch but I was pulled away Ancient Wisdom. The band, hail- and of course, their signature fun Koloss, which the set tonight mainly ting knife microphone for that. For to a table of some local gang (not know, the kind of garage rock that ing from Atlanta, can thank their brand of old-school power metal featured tracks from. The furious this tour Manson has lots of trinkets, gang…. team) members. Sadly the happened before the afro became vocalist/bassist Mlny Parsonz for the with racing dual guitars and strong toys, and confetti, and most of them “Combustion” leads into “Transfix- Womanizer band finished their set fashionable. That’s The Stockers. appeal of their set. vocals that stole the show. Next up, ion”, from Destroy Erase Improve, the are tossed into the hands of the and I probably missed a good show. The end was near and what better Parsonz’s bluesy effortless vocals Municipal Waste played a blistering oldest song the band would play to- stringy-fingered audience members. I figured a woman with a grinder way to end the evening than with are a breath of fresh air as they punk-edged set, fairly straightfor- night. The slow crawl into the exas- At times, his voice sounds lazy (to must be the perfect fit in this crowd. an American band that goes by the rise through the thick riffs of Royal ward, to provide fuel for the circle peratingly heavy “Behind the Sun” is an ear who has heard it at its peak name of The Spittin’ Cobras?. The Thunder’s doom-y sound. Her vocals pits forming in the growing crowd. a high point in the midst of the fast, for so long on the early albums), The next band was an import band has had a few years of touring ranged from sultry to sweet to Loud, in-your-face punk attitude punishing songs around it. The infa- but by no means is Manson not an number from the mainland. La under their belts, but this is the first just plain heart-aching. Although prefominated as they continued mous Catch 33 album, which is one energetic Schlockmeister. During Chinga… What the fuck?… Must be time they have executed their music Parsonz was a shining beacon of Holy Grail’s energy, though with song split up into several pieces, is “mOBSCENE”, anyone standing next French or something. La Chinga is a in this city. Unlike the previous hope for a band I thought was all slightly less direct interaction with showcased in “Mind’s Mirror”, which to the dancing Manson would have three-piece that resembled the likes bands that played, the Cobras have hype, the performance as a whole the crowd. has the band take a smoke break been kicked (ask John 5). The peak of something from the 70s. Can you a blast of that wicked metal in their was somewhat forgettable with Following up was High on Fire, who back stage, only to emerge with performance comes in the form of say a heaping helping of fuzzed-out rock-n-roll. The singer was a scream- the band getting tiresome by the played in Vancouver just recently, the snarling riff of “In Death - Is Life”, “Coma White” from Mechanical Ani- Led Zeppelin riffs? Their pace made the people scuttle around like hip- er. You just wanted to raise your fist second last song. on Dec.16th. True to form, their set complete with neon green lights mals. The ballad, in which Manson and yell, “Hell Yeah!”, then your head was a punishingly loud, balls-to-the- pies on Red Bull. They really ripped Pallbearer was up next, and pro- flashing behind the band. People is shot like JFK in the music video, is would start banging. They ripped, wall affair that had the entire venue and when they finished their set, the vided what I expected from them. with epilepsy beware - you won’t the emotional peak (for the hardcore and they even covered an oldie by shaking like a living entity. Though crowd sounded like they wanted They do sound bone-crushingly be carried out from getting busted fans) – for the whole family there is the late, great Dio. Many girls on the they endorsed a slightly less frenetic more and they wanted it bad. heavy live, much like their album up in the pit, but because your eyes “Sweet Dreams” - accompanied by a dance floor even knew the lyrics and pace and chiller crowd than Munici- The mainliner for the night enters Sorrow and Extinction . They shook are also rolled back into your skulls dimmed lamp above him, the lyrics sang into the mic with the singer. pal Waste, they were by no means and with a heavy “buzzzzz” of guitar the building with their sludgy mix of from having a seizure from the light of abuse and being abused never Wow, what a great band to end this slow; they kept it heavy and groovy sound and I realize it’s time for a psychedelic riffs and chugging bass. show. Was it a good enough beating truly get old, because we all know event with. Just when you had for- without letting the energy drop for hit of the band called Buzzard. Live Vocalist/guitarist Brett Campbell has for the four-year wait for the band to someone like this. Only now, there gotten the title of this event, “F.T.W.”, a second, and lucky they did, as the Buzzard is kinda like getting stoned a fluttering range of vocals, which come back through town? Whoever is less onstage cutting during this and all was fun and nothing was pace picked right back up as Exodus using a 4-barrel carburetor. Buzzard were difficult to appreciate as they experienced “Bleed” would say yes. song, and perhaps in the audience fucked, out of the corner of my eye I took the stage. equals heavy, riffed-down rock in were barley audible over the buzz- -Ryan Dyer as well. The wild card, as shown on see a young Asian guy snake his way The floor, which had been filling the vein of 70s doom metal. With a ing of their music. prior set lists, was “King Kill 33°”, only through the crowd and attack an steadily, was suddenly packed to the resurgence of dudes growing their it was a fairly lackluster, instrumental old man. This was fucked. The dance They were great for about 2 songs back. Exodus ripped through their Marilyn Manson/Butcher Babies hair, growing beards and riding version of the song while Manson floor cleared as the two head-locked – which, for Pallbearer, is about 23 longer set at high speed, channeling motorcycles, I think this music fits Feb 8th, The Stampede Corral, prepared backstage for the peak it out until they separated. I was told minutes. By song four I was plan- the spirit of true old-school thrash well with that retro style. Oh yeah, Calgary AB energetic anthems of the night, later it was a skateboard-team war ning my next beer selection for the with their mobile, high energy stage and did I mention Buzzard are fuckin’ “I think I’m cleared of my illness... “Antichrist Superstar” and “The Beau- issue and not an ageism attack. They evening and wondering if Enslaved performance. The vocalist, Rob heavy? Hope to see some vinyl from except AIDS.” Marilyn Manson tiful People”. The former is always a should ban skateboarders next time. would play some of my favourite Dukes, was particuarly involved with these guys soon! I have been reserv- sardonically states midway through sight to behold, with fists pumping Anyway The Spittin’ Cobras never tunes. the crowd, actively orchestrating ing a spot in between my Black his set at the generously almost-full in unison to the opening thumps. missed a beat, and F.T.W. came to an Last up was Enslaved. I’ve seen circle pits within the crowd and en- Sabbath and Earthride records… Stampede Corral during the Hey, It is probably the closest and safest end with a happy crowd. Basically, them a few times live before and couraging them along at intervals. if you don’t know these bands I Cruel World tour. The illness the recreation of what it may have felt “F.T.W.”=Good times in a retro rocker each time has been stellar. Their These guys are the real deal, and suggest you get off the back of your 44-year-old shock rocker is talking like to be part of Hitler’s rallies, only way, but if you’re lookin’ for big songs have a grand feel to them with shows like this, they prove girlfriend’s bike and walk! about here is one that plagued him instead of Sieg Heiling, fists pump to motorbikes and Bob Seger or Rice that makes me think they would be exactly why they deserve that label. offstage and on, and resulting in a message of the Antichrist rising. If Friday night is over and it’s way past Rockets and rap, this will not be the perfect for a majestic Hollywood Finally, it was time for Anthrax. him vomiting and collapsing during only the E. Elias Merhige music video my bedtime, so I ride my bike home event for you. blockbuster. Unsurprisingly, the crowd went nuts. the band’s final song, “The Beautiful was playing behind the band. “Fuck to Mum. They played all of the Among the it!” - the chorus of “Irresponsible It was time to leave when I spotted Vocalist and bassist Grutle Kjellson People” at their Saskatoon date. Day 2, Feb 3- F.T.W. the guy from the previous night who is almost like a cartoon character on Living album, but in sides, starting While I don’t fully believe this and Hate Anthem” says it all. The nihilistic with side A, throwing in a few other I had to go to work a few hours after I thought was a police informant. stage with his dramatic facial expres- think the guy maybe just got too energy of a Marilyn Manson concert songs, and then continuing on to I arrived home, unlike the many I wandered up to him and started sions and crowd banter. Throwing sloshed in order to make it through can’t be summed up in any other side B, and finally closing with some fortunate soldiers of F.T.W. who some idle conversation. He smiles at his arms in the air and growling in having to play in the middle of the lyric; it always surprises me that an greatest hits... A nice change from probably woke up in the tank or on me through his moustache and asks Norwegian – You feel like he is a Canadian prairies, it was good to artist made it to the mainstream other bands who play complete the front lawn in the afternoon. My me if I know where he could get a re-incarnated King of Norway or a see the show come fully intact to with this lyric behind him, but then albums live. They also paid various day was a knuckle-busting plethora large amount of drugs. I shake my Norse God. Calgary – a city which has had a again, Nietschze is a little bit main- tributes to fellow heavy metal of work that ended with me getting head “no”….but I give him a wink rocky history with “The God of Fuck”, stream too. It was a surprise addition Arve Isdal is perhaps the best heroes, playing a tribute to Dio and home at 5:00 to collapse on the and tell him I know where he can dating back to ‘97 when his show at to the Calgary show. Did hearing it guitarist in metal right now. I am Dimebag with “In the End”, as well as kitchen floor and fall asleep. I was get a large amount of sexy time. The Max Bell Arena was infamously feel the same as it did when Manson not just saying that because of his covering AC/DC and singing along awakened by hot dinner. I ate and I gently put my arm around him cancelled. Since then, Manson played it in ‘97? Who knows. I wasn’t wise choice to never wear a shirt. His with Rainbow’s “Long Live Rock N fell asleep again on the table. 10:00, and felt what I thought was a gun has returned once to The Jubilee there. But I think it’s close. solos are consistently mesmerizing, Roll”, which played at the conclusion the bell rang and I returned to the holster... Whew, what a night! Auditorium, where assigned seating -Ryan Dyer again, not just because he chooses of their set. bar for more F.T.W. The bar had killed the buzz that is the freedom -Love, Mary Openheadr not to wear a shirt. All in all, the Metal Alliance tour reached sold-out capacity. The table to dance around wherever you want They played old black metal classics was truly a gathering of titans, each F.T.W. III 2013 reserved for the good folks at Steve and light up joints, and here, tonight from the early 90s and included making their own substantial mark Drane Harley Davidson was full with Enslaved, Pallbearer, Royal at The Corral we look to have all of Feb 2, 3 2013, Logan’s Tavern, more progressive selections off of in heavy metal history. They are all the real men of Harley Davidson Thunder, Ancient Wisdom the planets aligned - “The moon has Victoria, BC 2010’s Axioma Ethica Odini and their famous for a reason, and as proved motorcycling in this city. This is February 15, Dickens, Calgary, AB now eclipsed the sun.” Opening the F.T.W. “Forever Two Wheels” or F.T.W. latest, 2012’s RIITIIR. particularly in the cases of Anthrax a plug for that fine shop that has This was a night filled with a show were The Butcher Babies, a “Fuck the World”. I ride a bike on a Although the crowd was somewhat and Exodus, they’ve shown us just supported the F.T.W. event for the plethora of Pitchfork darlings – how potent and relevant they still feisty, leather-clad California band daily basis but my bike doesn’t have more aggressive than at previous last two years, so get your arse down awkward nerds with big beards, they are, and will continue to be in days that likes to shriek and sing about a 650 or 1200 CC engine resting Enslaved shows I have attended, there and support them. take pictures holding a dog to be to come. blood and violence while blending under my crotch…. The motorcycle the band put on a clinic in powerful Unfortunately my late arrival meant ironic, they’re in a SXSW showcase, four or five musical styles together community has many factions, so progressive metal and how to play a -Willow Gamberg per song. The dual female vocalists what kind of people were repre- I missed the performance by Island shit like that. read absoluteunderground.ca watch absoluteunderground.tv 33 considered “punk rock” is sonically much records, Vic different than what you guys play. (Ruggiero, keys/ Why do you think this is? vocals) wrote most of the material, but toxic toast MG: We really embody punk. We’re on later albums, doing our own thing our own way. AU: How did this connection come about? Isn’t that punk? What’s the most punk you guys have all written songs. How did this MG: A bathhouse. We met in a Turkish bathhouse. thing in the world: playing punk collaborative style come about? He was getting a massage. rock to a punk rock audience, or jazz GP: I think it’s important for the longevity of a to a punk rock audience? You’re all band to have everyone feel invested, where you’re GP: In the East Village. The Slackers wearing your punk rock outfit and I show up in a not just playing other people’s songs. I think it MG: Yeah, and he was in the not-happy-ending suit and tie. keeps it fresh. section. We were in that section too, because the By Michael Luis GP: For me, all the music fans I know listen to all sorts of different stuff. Like you’ll probably find New York’s The Slackers have been combining ska, hardcore guys who hear ska, and they’re like “Hey, dub, reggae, and rock n’ roll for over 20 years. The I like this too.” Hellcat Records group brought their energetic AU: You guys are on Hellcat Records... Do you stage show to Victoria, Nanaimo and Vancouver think that some of this punk/ska stuff could be early this March. I sat down with bassist Marcus related to what Tim (Armstrong) does? Geard and trombonist/vocalist Glen Pine after their Victoria show. GP: When you look at what The Clash did, seeing the connection with Jamaican music and what was going on in England, Tim is from that same Absolute Underground: What keeps bringing lineage. He was just deliberate about it. you guys back to Victoria? AU: It’s like when you get one of those Give Glen Pine: We’ve been here a number of times ‘Em the Boot compilations, and there’s a really and the folks here have been so fantastic, really heavy hardcore song, and then you guys, supportive. The people really know the music and and then another punk song, and then The are into the music, and it’s such a beautiful place. Aggrolites or something. For us, the shows are great, really well-attended MG: And I think he gets punk rock. I think that was and enthusiastic, and we get the fortune to arrive really cool of him. by boat and see the beautiful nature coming in. GP: Definitely. And I feel like in some ways, as a AU: Since you guys have such a large catalog musician, you have to a bit of a historian and say of music, how do you pick what to put into the “This is stuff I liked growing up and I want to keep set list? this stuff going.” GP: Dice. The farmer’s almanac. MG: I think just over time we all evolved as full service is very expensive and I don’t have that AU: Awesome, I also noticed you guys have songwriters. The Slackers is a very competitive kind of money. Marcus Geard: A Ouija board. We have a custom- made a very concentrated effort to tour Japan. organization. We all bring songs, but you bring a GP: We were snapping towels. made dartboard that we throw ninja stars at. What are the Japanese fans like? song, it has to beat one of Vic’s songs to make its But truthfully, I write the set lists. I keep the sets MG: And we were doing it on the upbeat. MG: Really awesome, actually. You hear a lot of way onto a record. from most of the shows we do. I referenced the people say Japanese audiences are reserved, but GP: And he was like “You play ska? We should AU: You’re in Canada, and you’ve worked a lot set list from the last time we were here, so we they’re not so much reserved, it’s just they listen. hang out!” with Chris Murray, a Canadian, most notably didn’t play more than two or three of the same They’re respectful and they appreciate good songs as last time. We just mix it up. It’s got to be on the Slackness album. music. Check out The Slackers at www.theslackers.com constantly changing. You could come follow us for MG: I’m a big Chris Murray fan. It always blows my GP: They have a better understanding of shit too. 30 days, and see different songs every night. mind how he can get on stage in front of huge Follow Michael Luis on Twitter: @MichaelACLuis A Japanese ska fan is bound to have a three-foot- amounts of people with just him and his acoustic AU: You guys are very popular in the punk deep collection of vinyl. community even though what could be guitar and get people dancing and singing. AU: Another thing I noticed was on earlier

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