Review: “Life In The City” by Demise of the Crown – Metal Noise “Loaded with creativity in the riff department, there is a theatrical quality and showmanship to the band’s craft that seems to bring out the best in each of the players… Life In The City” gallops through like a thoroughbred race horse and leaves lesser bands trampled in the dust. Soloing into and out of a breakdown section is masterfully done and by the end you’ll be left breathless [8.5/10]” https://metalnoise.net/2020/04/review-life-in-the-city-by-demise-of-the-crown
Posts By Asher
0 Review: “Life In The City” by Demise of the Crown – Metal Noise “Loaded with creativity in the riff department, there is a theatrical quality and showmanship to the band’s craft that seems to bring out the best in each of the players… Life In The City” gallops through like a thoroughbred race horse and leaves lesser bands trampled in the dust. Soloing into and out of a breakdown section is masterfully done and by the end you’ll be left breathless [8.5/10]”
0 Rockshots Records Signs Calgary’s In/Vertigo For Release of EP “Sex, Love & Chaos” July 2020 + New Music Video ‘The Night’
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 28, 2020
For fans Guns N Roses, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Velvet Revolver
Rockshots Records Signs Calgary’s In/Vertigo For Release of EP “Sex, Love & Chaos” July 2020
New Music Video ‘The Night’

Rockshots Records announces their latest signing of In/Vertigo, hard rockers hailing from Calgary, Canada. The band will be releasing their debut EP “Sex, Love and Chaos” this coming July 2020. The four-song record portrays In/Vertigo‘s intensity, drive, and relentless ear drilling musical expressions. It’s a result of their sound, says the band, “Sexy, Passionate and Chaotic. All the songs represent these three things in one or more ways. We want to get their hearts pumping, and veins throbbing. We want to be the soundtrack to your sex life, social life, your highs, your lows, and your deepest introspective moments.”
The EP’s lead single ‘The Night’ is the most groovy and bluesy song on the record, the band explains:
“The Night is the perfect mix of Blues, Sex, Swagger and Rock n Roll. Playing on the Jekyll and Hyde saga of most people’s day persona’s and night persona’s. This new track speaks volumes about how people turn 180 in the evenings and/or weekends, bringing out their darker selves, and overindulging in whatever the night scene has to offer.”
Watch the video for ‘The Night’ HERE.
And Spotify HERE.
Formed in 2016, the quartet delivers relentless, memorable performances at the jet engine decibels of a Boeing 747. Consisting of vocalist Reed Alton, guitarist Shaddy Elsaghir, bassist Duncan McCartney, and drummer Keaton Byfield, the band has already made a mark for itself touring and constantly gigging around Western Canada.
Performing high profile gigs with international acts such as Diamond Head, Age Of Electric, Pop Evil, The Wild!, The Lazy’s has proven the band as young pros, still hungry for bigger stages and even bigger crowds.
Their self-titled demo, recorded under Ronnie Champagne (Alice In Chains, Janes Addiction, Social Distortion) had a limited run of 500 and subsequently sold out.
Currently completing their official EP, set to be released in the summer of 2020, the four-song debut promises to be a rude awakening in the current hard rock drought.
In/Vertigo is the quintessential rock n’ roll act, who comes in with a sonic molotov cocktail of sound, aimed at the music world who unapologetically thirsts for classic/hard rock.
EP pre-order here.
Music Video – ‘Bad Enemy’ here.

Track Listing:
1. Chains
2. Bad Enemy
3. The Night
4. Take It
EP Credits:
-All music, lyrics, and songs were written and recorded by In/Vertigo.
-Produced by Kirill Telichev & In/Vertigo, at the Sound Priory.
-Mixed and edited by Kirill Telichev.
-Engineered by Kirill Telichev. “Take It” partially engineered by Kirill Telichev and Ronnie Champagne at Ghost Iron Studios.
-Pre-production for “Chains” by Reed Shimozawa.
-Mastered by Dan Dubois, at Schematic Sounds.
For more info:
Rockshots.eu
Invertigoband.com
Facebook.com/getinvertigo
Instagram.com/getinvertigo
About:
In/Vertigo was founded in the spring of 2016 by local Calgary rock veterans Shaddy Elsaghir and Duncan McCartney who had got in contact with local vocalist Reed Alton. After jamming with a few drummers they found their fourth quarter in Keaton ‘Keystone’ Byfield through a reliable recommendation. The quartet immediately found chemistry through both musical and personal commonly related beliefs and goals. Thus creating a tubules force that would wreak havoc throughout Western Canada for the next few years.
Through hard work, relentless ethic, and determination, I/V was able to cement themselves as rock and roll staples within their hometown of Calgary and the rest of the western Canadian provinces. They soon started to open up for bigger named acts such as Diamond Head, Pop Evil, The Wild!, The Lazy’s to name a few, and gaining even more attention and accolades.
Around the rise and constant momentum that the band had been accumulating in 2017, the group recorded a 4 song demo with Ronnie S Champagne (of Alice In Chains, Janes Addiction fame) that sold out a limited print both locally and regionally within the year. By 2018 they recorded a cut of what will be their debut EP: Sex Love & Chaos. This was again a limited print that sold out both within their own homegrown territory and abroad. Backed by a self-financed music video for their song Bad Enemy the band was able to constantly tour and gig nonstop over the next 2 years reaching upwards of 350 shows.
After the success locally and online of Bad Enemy (which had been streamed over 200,000 times on Spotify alone), In/Vertigo was reached out and acquired to perform at the 4th of July festival in Deerfield Beach, Florida in 2019. This marked the first international gig for the Canadian hard rockers, who did not disappoint, performing in front of 3 thousand to a great reception and success.
Due to the snowball effect that had been a product of the band’s efforts, In/Vertigo was signed to Italian heavy metal and hard rock label Rockshot Records. This, along with the momentum that the band has continuously upheld, paves way for the answer in the global market of Hard Rock and Rockn’ Roll: In/Vertigo.
Now currently completing their revamped and polished debut EP Sex Love & Chaos, In/Vertigo along with their label and ever-growing team, set out to launch the next great chapter in rock history. Make way for most up and coming quintessential Rock n Roll act of this generation. They are hungry and armed with a sonic Molotov cocktail of sound, aimed at the music world who unapologetically thirsts for classic/hard rock.
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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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0 All-Star Quintet IMONOLITH Shares Next Weekly Quarantine Session Video ‘Instinct’ via GearGods
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 27, 2020
All-Star Quintet IMONOLITH Shares Next Weekly Quarantine Session Video ‘Instinct’ via GearGods
New Album “State of Being” Out Now!
L-R: Kai Huppunen (Guitars), Brian Waddell (Guitars), Jon Howard (Vocals), Scott Whalen (Bass), Ryan Van Poederooyen (Drums)
Photo by Erich Saide
Kicking off their video series “The Quarantine Sessions” last week during their individual Covid 19 isolation, all-star modern metal band Imonolith has their the next playthrough ready for fans for the track ‘Instinct’ from their recently released debut album “State of Being”.
Watch the playthrough via its premiere on GearGods HERE.
Drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen comments:
“Hey Everyone,
Greetings from the Imonolith Camp!
The music industry has been flipped upside down with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only are bands suffering worldwide but so are the fans and supporters of these bands… they aren’t getting the live shows and entertainment they’re used to all year long. As a result, we’re getting creative in how to stay engaged with those people who support us.
Imonolith came up with an idea called ’The Quarantine Sessions’. This is how it works – From our various living rooms/rehearsal spaces in self Isolation, we are recording videos of ourselves playing through each song off of our debut album ’State of Being’. You can see how we perform these songs on our respective instruments. We release one song every Monday on our Imonolith YouTube page. We already have released ‘Becoming the Enemy’.
You can watch it here.
To keep in touch directly with our supporters, every Tuesday following the video release, we do a live feed on our Instagram page to talk about the song and video we released and do a live Q&A with everyone on the live feed. It’s a great way to stay in touch and keep you all informed about everything to do with Imonolith.
This week we’re releasing a playthrough of one of the most popular songs on the album so far, ‘Instinct’. We’re honoured to have Gear Gods premiering this for us! Hope you guys enjoy it and we look forward to seeing you guys on Tuesday at our Instagram page to talk about the video, answer questions and hang!
Big thanks to Gear Gods for the premiere and to all our supporters for your awesome support.
Be safe out there and stay tuned for much more to come from all of us in the Imonolith Camp.”
Follow Imonolith‘s videos at the following links:
YouTube Page
https://www.youtube.com/imonolith
Instagram Page
https://www.instagram.com/imonolithband/
Imonolith features drummer Ryan Van Poederooyen (Devin Townsend Project) guitarist Brian ‘Beav’ Wadell (Devin Townsend Project), Jon Howard (Threat Signal), guitarist Kai Huppunen (Methods of Mayhem, Noise Therapy) and Scott Whalen (Econoline Crush). The collective of heavy-hitting players is at the top of their game recently releasing their debut album “State of Being” on March 27th. The album features special guest appearances from Jens Kidman (Meshuggah) and famed Swedish vocalist Johannes Eckerström and is made up of 10 hook-laden, riff-heavy tracks that center around the theme of how people deal with various stages of life.
The album has already seen the release of four singles and videos – ‘Hollow’, the 2019 debut single that made big waves, racking up 216K Spotify streams, ‘Instinct’, ‘Dig’; and the most recent single, ‘Becoming The Enemy’. With the release of these singles, Imonolith has already received worldwide praise that has garnered them a massive number of streams and attention from the media and fans alike.
Check out the videos here
‘Hollow’ – here.
‘Instinct’ – here.
‘Dig’ – here.
‘Becoming The Enemy’ – here.
“State of Being” is available in exclusive vinyl and CD formats at www.imonolithband.com, or you can stream the album at the service of your choice here: https://lnk.to/stateofbeing.

Track Listing:
1. State of Being (1:17) (intro)
2. Becoming The Enemy (3:44) (feat. Johannes Eckerstrom)
3. Instinct (3:43)
4. Dig (4:12)
5. The Mourning (3:13)
6. Forgone (4:37)
7. Breathe (3:49)
8. The Reign (3:41) (feat. Jens Kidman)
9. We Never Forget (4:06)
10. Hollow (3:39)
11. Persevere (4:06)
Album Length: 40:12
For more info:
Imonolithband.com
Facebook.com/imonolithband
EPK
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“A force to be reckoned with.” – Metal Hammer
“Given the members’ diverse musical backgrounds, IMONOLITH don’t fit any obvious metal genre tag. Van Poederooyen and Wadell bring elements of prog, while Howard’s vocals are rooted in the metalcore and extreme metal.” – Consequence of Sound
“‘State of Being’ is built on a backbone of pure heaviness, hard-hitting riffs and irresistible hooks which keep the album burning at high intensity from start to finish.” – Sonic Perspectives
“Those looking for something that knows how to groove hard, offer a catchy chorus, or knock you flat on your back over the course of an album will find ‘State of Being’ to be an immersive listen.” – Dead Rhetoric
“A winning combination that works perfectly.” – The Rock Pit
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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
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0 Rockshots Records: ISLE OF THE CROSS New Music Video ‘Stars’; Debut Album “Excelsis” Out Now!

(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 27, 2020
For fans of Symphony X, Ayreon, Opeth
Progressive-death metal band ISLE OF THE CROSS have unleashed their new video ‘Stars’ in support of their debut album “Excelsis” released this past February via Rockshots Records. The track is a tale of the enrapturing love of two, who befall an early death, yet vow their unending devotion to reunite beyond this life and for eternity.
Watch the video at this link HERE.
Infusing a blend from the avant-garde realms of extreme, symphonic, melodic, and technical death-metal, ISLE OF THE CROSS is led by composer and multi-instrumentalist Je Schneider.
The debut full length “Excelsis” is a concept release based on a tale of two lovers amidst betrayal, murder and their search to reunite in the afterlife. From the immediate and vicious thrust of the opening track ‘Sacrifice’, the listener is quickly catapulted into an enigmatic journey of sonic power. From the furious to the melodious opuses on the album, the listener is enveloped in a dynamic exploration until the very end. At the heart of ISLE OF THE CROSS is the conveyance of depth, poignancy, and redemption through the endurance of tragedy.
‘Excelsis’ was produced, mixed and mastered by Je Schneider.
Album available at Rockshots Records’ official store – http://bit.ly/Excelsis_CD
Spotify
Apple Music

Track Listing:
1. Sacrifice (4:14)
2. Tartarus (8:25)
3. Excelsis (4:35)
4. The Wolf, Pt. I. Invocation (1:09)
5. The Wolf, Pt. II. Sanctuary (7:20)
6. Stars (6:25)
7. Empyrean (7:42)
8. Paradigm (4:21)
9. Breatheia (5:57)
10. The 9th Circle, Pt. I. Caina (2:28)
11. The 9th Circle, Pt. II. Judecca (0:53)
12. The 9th Circle, Pt. III. Inferno (8:34)
Album Length: 1:02:04
ISLE OF THE CROSS is:
Je Schneider – Lead Songwriter & Lyricist, Multi-Instrumentalist, Vocalist
Eric Gillette – Lead Guitar
Diane Lee – Vocals
Eric Castiglia – Vocals
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#.514.581.5780
asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia
0 LOUD AS HELL Forced To Cancel 2020 Line Up Due To Covid 19 Precautions
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 27, 2020
LOUD AS HELL Forced To Cancel 2020 Line Up Due To Covid 19 Precautions
Western Canada’s Decibel Breaking Metal Fest
Social Media Hashtag #LAH9
Loud As Hell 2020 Line-Up Spotify Playlist here.
Western Canada’s decibel breaking festival LOUD AS HELL announces the cancellation of their 2020 line up that was to be held from July 31st to August 2nd. The decision comes after the Alberta government’s extended ban on mass gatherings in the province as part of the strategy against the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We tried to wait it out. This just means next year will be twice as crazy. Please stay safe everyone. We love you all.” adds festival organizer Geoff Bourrie.
Those who have already purchased tickets for the LAH 2020, have the option of a full refund or to have purchased tickets honoured to be used for LAH 2021 or LAH 2022. For ticket refunds, please contact at loudashellfestival[@]gmail.com for processing.
The 2020 line up was to be the ninth consecutive year of heavy metal and camping in the prairie badlands of Drumheller, Alberta. The festival was planned to roar from the Dinosaur Downs Stampede Grounds from July 31st to August 2nd. The three nights of music were to include headliners Denver’s extreme metal titans ALLEGAEON, Toronto heavy metal acrobats SKULL FIST plus brutal progressive death from Vancouver’s NECK OF THE WOODS. The line up also featured an array of supporting acts from across Canada and beyond that included bilingual death metal from Quebec with INSURRECTION, Toledo, OH deathcore THE CONVALESCENCE, Mexican thrashers LEGACY, Edmonton warriors RAVENOUS plus the explosive fury from Vancouver’s WEST OF HELL among the 41 bands that were planned to perform. (full line up listed below).
Loud As Hell 2020 Line-Up:
Allegaeon (Denver, CO)
Apprentice (Vancouver, BC)
Atavistia (Vancouver, BC)
Black Water Burial (Vancouver, BC)
Born For Tomorrow (Calgary, AB)
Call Of The Siren (Edmonton, AB)
Deadlights (Medicine Hat, AB)
Dead Ringer (Portage la Prairie, MB)
Divinity (Calgary, AB)
Exterminatus (Vancouver, BC)
Forsaken Rite (Edmonton, AB)
Hammerdrone (Calgary, AB)
Hazzerd (Calgary, AB)
Hyperia (Calgary, AB)
Illyrian (Calgary, AB)
Immunize (Edmonton, AB)
Insurrection (Gatineau, QC)
Iron Kingdom (Vancouver, BC)
Kosm (Vancouver, BC)
League Of Corruption (Vancouver, BC)
Legacy (León, Gto, MX)
Mechatomic (Calgary, AB)
Meggido (Calgary, AB)
Neck Of The Woods (Vancouver, BC)
Nomad (Enderby, BC)
Ophelia Falling (Vancouver, BC)
Quietus (Edmonton, AB)
Ravenous (Calgary, AB)
Revanchist (Lethbridge, AB)
Skull Fist (Toronto, ON)
Side Step The Crow (Saskatoon, SK)
Sol Runner (Edmonton, AB)
The Convalescence (Toledo, OH)
Thrust (Los Angeles, CA)
Tortured Saint (London, ON)
Truent (Vancouver, BC)
Tymo (Edmonton, AB)
Vultures (Victoria, BC)
Wasted Heretics (Saskatoon, SK)
West Of Hell (Vancouver, BC)
Widows Peak (Calgary, AB)
Last year’s sold-out 2019 edition melted the faces off of metalheads with its line up featuring Goatwhore, Anciients, Planet Eater, Untimely Demise, BornBroken, Arrival of Autumn, Legacy, VX36 and more.
Video – Goatwhore @ Loud As Hell 2019: https://youtu.be/-9-5dRnRLcQ
Video – Anciients @ Loud As Hell 2019: https://youtu.be/T7GLAeCgN-8
About:
LOUD AS HELL is presented by Loud As Hell Productions, Jurassic Ink Custom Tattoo, Prairie Fire Events, and Asher Media Relations. LAH always work their hardest to deliver the best lineup in the West ready to melt your face off. Featuring bands from across Western Canada and beyond, you won’t want to miss any of it. And don’t forget about their freak shows, burlesque dancers, clinics, vendors and dinosaurs!
More info:
LoudAsHell.com
Facebook.com/LoudAsHellFestival
Twitter: @LoudAsHellFest
Instagram: @LoudAsHellFestival
Social Media Hashtag #LAH9
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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
asher(@)ashermediarelations.com
Facebook @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia
Instagram @AsherMedia
0 Black Pestilence – Hail the Flesh (Infernal Blackened Punk) – Deaf Sparrow “They can smash extremely well, and their blend of black metal aesthetic with punk attitude is a perfect fit”
Black Pestilence – Hail the Flesh (Infernal Blackened Punk) – Deaf Sparrow “They can smash extremely well, and their blend of black metal aesthetic with punk attitude is a perfect fit” https://www.deafsparrow.com/2020/04/24/black-pestilence-hail-the-flesh-infernal-blackened-punk/
0 The Independent Voice Ezine – Black Pestilence – Hail The Flesh “First things first, it’s not every day you hear black metal as fun as this! That is partly because of the exciting thrash and not-so-serious punk influences, but also because the songwriting is very strong. ” 4/ 5
The Independent Voice Ezine – Black Pestilence – Hail The Flesh “First things first, it’s not every day you hear black metal as fun as this! That is partly because of the exciting thrash and not-so-serious punk influences, but also because the songwriting is very strong. ” 4/ 5 https://www.theindependentvoice.org/2020/04/01/black-pestilence-hail-the-flesh/
0 Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life – Album Review: Black Pestilence – Hail the Flesh (Self Released) “They really don’t have another gear beyond ‘top’ which makes for a splitting headache of heavy but one that satisfies. After all there are only 9 tracks and as Godless spits and snarls, Frauds to the Throne exudes filthy groove, My Will to Power rages hard and Ephemeral drags the suffering out, the over-riding thought is Black Pestilence have impressed.” 8/10
Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life – Album Review: Black Pestilence – Hail the Flesh (Self Released) “They really don’t have another gear beyond ‘top’ which makes for a splitting headache of heavy but one that satisfies. After all there are only 9 tracks and as Godless spits and snarls, Frauds to the Throne exudes filthy groove, My Will to Power rages hard and Ephemeral drags the suffering out, the over-riding thought is Black Pestilence have impressed.” 8/10 https://www.gbhbl.com/album-review-black-pestilence-hail-the-flesh-self-released/
0 Cave Metal CHAKA Shares New Video ‘Flak’ Off “Neanderthal Tales” EP

(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 27, 2020
For fans of Celtic Frost, Slayer, Voivod, Death, Possessed
Cave Metal CHAKA Shares New Video ‘Flak’ Off “Neanderthal Tales” EP

Primal, thrashy cave metal CHAKA, a side-project from Darkside NYC bassist Mark Sokoll, is sharing with fans the new music video for ‘Flak’ in support of the EP “Neanderthal Tales”, a primal barrage of prehistoric metal power released this past December.
The video for ‘Flak’, is the band clad in surplus gear with patriotic face paint.
Sokoll adds:
“An uptempo song about Kamikaze attacks during WW2. I tried to evoke the horror of being attacked by unconventional suicide planes.”
The video for ‘Flak’ can be seen on YouTube HERE.
Expecting fans to receive the new offering “Neanderthal Tales” with enthusiasm, Sokoll hopes listeners will enjoy the heaviness of the music and the thought-provoking lyrics. Focused on science topics, such as the theory of evolution and mankind’s place in the universe; Sokoll likes to write about subjects that have not yet been explored. Carrying forward with an abundance of motivation, Sokoll quotes that “fans can expect a lot more productivity”.
A live show from CHAKA includes a heavily dressed stage including a monolith and artificial cairns as the backdrop for a very visceral and primal Heavy Metal experience.
“Neanderthal Tales” was released in December 2019 and is suitable for fans of Celtic Frost, Venom, and Motorhead.
CD, stream, and download available at the following links: Chaka2.bandcamp.com, Spotify, iTunes.

Track Listing:
1. Flak (2:43)
2. The Battle Hath Begun (3:28)
3. Anthroapology (2:32)
4. Defekt (1:19)
EP Length: 10:04
EP Credits:
• All songs performed by: Mark S. Sokoll
• All songs written by: Mark S. Sokoll
• Produced by: CHAKA
• Mixed by: Seth Abelson
• Mastered by: Seth Abelson
• Album Artwork by: Tydal Canon
EP Band Line Up:
Mark S. Sokoll: Bass guitar and vocals
Ty Canon: All guitars
Jim Sullivan: Drums
Rick Beenders: Drums
Rich O’Brien; Drums
About:
Chaka is a side-project from Darkside NYC’s bassist, Mark Sokoll. Their sound is in the vein of old Celtic Frost, Venom, Cro-Mags, and Black Sabbath. Mark has been playing the bass guitar since 1986 which is the same year he joined Terminal Confusion (NYHC). After playing bass guitar and singing background vocals for numerous other Punk and Metal bands in the NYC scene, (Hypoxia, Leeway, The Downlow NYHC, F*Bomb, etc.) Mark released his first solo EP in December of 2019 titled “Neanderthal Tales”.
Chaka’s music is described as “Cro-Magnon Cave Metal mixed with hardcore Punk Rock elements.” This EP features tales of Kamikaze pilot attacks, a history of weapons from the Dawn of Man until modernity, embracing evolution, and finally: hemispheres in conflict.
InEffect Hardcore magazine described the EP, in part, as: “Perhaps what Metalheads in leather vests marching down the street with torches would use as their theme songs” and “Gives off a Carnivore vibe with that heavy, heavy bass sound”.
The Neanderthal Tales EP is a return to brutal Heavy Metal with a primal barrage of prehistoric power. Let the regression begin!
Please visit http://www.neanderthaltales.com to hear the full EP for free, to watch the video for the first single, “Flak”, and to check out all things CHAKA.
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0 Calgary Guardian “Five Minutes With” Local Metalcore Band The Luminary Plot
Calgary Guardian “Five Minutes With” Local Metalcore Band The Luminary Plot https://calgaryguardian.com/the-luminary-plot/






