Posts By Asher
0 Durham Region – Tour launch/EP release for Oshawa’s Fallen Legion
0 Heavy New York – Audio Review – Widow’s Peak – Graceless
“absolutely relentless and brutal… People who grew up with Cannibal Corpse or people who grew up with Whitechapel can easily appreciate this record.” – Heavy New York
0 #10YearsArmstrong We’re excited to share the next batch of bands for the Armstrong MetalFest 2018 Line Up \m/\m/ Irradiation, Gladius Sky, ODINFIST #metal #concerts #festivals #thingstodo #camping #openair #canadianmetal
We’re excited to share the next batch of bands for the Armstrong MetalFest 2018 Line Up \m/\m/
Irradiation, Gladius Sky, ODINFIST
Get Your 2018 Tickets Now! https://armstrongmetalfest.ca/tickets/
All tickets provide General Admission and grant access to the festival grounds, camping area and arena from 11:00 AM on Friday, July 13, 2018 until 11:59 PM on Sunday, July 14, 2018. Free camping is included.
If you would like to volunteer for this year’s fest, please go to the volunteers section at http://www.armstrongmetalfest.ca
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WCMFA:
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Calgary Metalfest – http://www.calgarymetalfest.com
Days of the Dead Festival – https://www.facebook.com/DaysOfTheDeadRD
Farmageddon Open Air Metal Fest – http://www.farmageddon.ca
Loud as Hell Festival – http://www.loudashell.com
Metalocalypstick Fest – http://metalocalypstickfest.rocks
Metallion Festival – http://www.facebook.com/metallionfestival
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Canada’s Extreme Metal Radio – CEMR – http://www.cemrofficial.com
Metal Master Kingdom – http://www.metalmasterkingdom.com
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Muninn’s Post – http://www.muninnspost.com
Ogologo Media – http://www.ogologo.ca
PureGrainAudio.com – http://www.puregrainaudio.com
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#metal #concerts #festivals #thingstodo #camping #openair #canadianmetal
0 Denied At US Border Question’s Who Is “Color Blind” – Egyptian / Canadian Metal Band MASSIVE SCAR ERA Premiere Protest Video via Decibel Magazine
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 25, 2018
Denied At US Border Question’s Who Is “Color Blind”
Egyptian / Canadian Metal Band MASSIVE SCAR ERA Premiere Protest Video via Decibel Magazine
Photo Credit: My City Photos
Obstacles and persecution, these are just a few of the things Cairo / Vancouver post hardcore band MASSIVE SCAR ERA have become accustom to since first forming in Alexandria, Egypt in 2005 where they were accused of being Satanist for simply just performing the music they love, a form of metal with classical and Middle Eastern influences. Over the years, through all the struggles, band co-founder Cherine Amr decided it was time to relocate to a safe haven where the band’s artistry would be more accepting. With the difficult decision along with other founding member Nancy Mournir, MASSIVE SCAR ERA would be a band working in two continents from two countries. Cherine would relocate to Vancouver, Canada and Nancy would remain in Cairo, Egypt. Over the years, the band has seen much attention for their unique take on metal along with their lyrical messages. They have performed on festivals such as Metalocalypstick (Canada), Total Metal Festival (Italy), Inferno Metal Festival (Norway), FreakStock Festival (Germany), Saxstock Festival (Germany), Metal Asylum, Dubai (UAE), SOS Music Festival (Egypt) and Sweden Rock Festival, but there was one event last year during March 2017, SXSW in Austin, TX, MASSIVE SCAR ERA were denied performing at, even though they had showcased in 2015 and 2013. On their travel to the festival through Canada, the band was blocked from entry at the USA border.
Cherine Amr comments:
“Last year, the band was invited once again to perform at SXSW, although Egypt wasn’t on Trump’s ban list along with being granted the visas from the American embassy, the border agents didn’t allow us into the country. We were given multiple inexplicable excuses.”
This denial fueled MASSIVE SCAR ERA‘s next musical expression / protest in the form of their fifth EP “Color Blind”.
Cherine adds:
“The new EP we are planning to release later this year is heavily influenced by this incident; the songs mostly talk about discrimination and stereotype. Plus we continue to introduce pre-colonial Egyptian music to our sound celebrating our Egyptian identity, which means all the violins are in Egyptian scales and microtones don’t follow the guidelines of the Cairo Music Conference (1932) that was held during the British Colonization of Egypt.”
Joining forces with Decibel Magazine, MASSIVE SCAR ERA are sharing their music video for the EP’s title track. The video is collaboration between the band and Vancouver’s Nebula Company Theatre merging modern contemporary dance with metal music to demonstrate the artistic emotions MASSIVE SCAR ERA have felt during their US denial to SXSW in 2017.
Watch “Color Blind” at the following link: https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2018/04/25/watch-massive-scar-era-channel-traditional-egyptian-influence-on-color-blind/
MASSIVE SCAR ERA‘s single “Color Blind” is available for download on Bandcamp here.
1. Color Blind (3:13)
Recording Band Line Up:
– Cherine Amr (Vocalist, Guitar)
– Nancy Mounir (Violin + Percussion + Egyptian Flute)
– Dylan Wijdenes-Charles (Bass)
Live Band Line Up:
– Cherine Amr (Vocalist, Guitar)
– Nancy Mounir (Violin)
– Meghan Engel (Viloin and Cello)
– Dylan Wijdenes-Charles (Bass)
– Allan Heppner (Drums)
For more info:
http://www.massivescarera.com
http://www.facebook.com/massivescarera
http://www.twitter.com/MassiveScarEra
http://www.instagram.com/MassiveScarEra
EPK – https://wp.me/pciNW-bU7
(Bio written by Steve Earles)
– 30 –
“Egypt’s female fronted metal band Massive Scar Era shred a whole new sound.” – Bitch Media
” Massive Scar Era tends to describe itself as a posthardcore act. That doesn’t begin to do the group justice on 30 Years, which might be the most fascinating dark-horse record to come out of the city this year.” The Georgia Straight (Vancouver)
“Fighting every step of the way, Massive Scar Era is determined to bring their music to the world. Amr’s heavy riffs and wailing growls are offset by her singing voice and middle-eastern steeped violin. It all comes together for some truly unique hardcore music. The anger in “My Ground,” their last single, speaks to every touring female musician who has ever faced sexism (read: all of them), and the groove in “Pray” would get even the staunchest arms-crossed-at-the-back-of-the-crowd concert goer moving. We can all be thankful they’ve stood their ground, and that their new EP, 30 Years, comes out.” – Beatroute (BC)
—
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | ashermedia@gmail.com
Facebook | @AsherMedia | Hire Us
0 Decibel Mag Premiere: Full EP Stream: Brutal Tech Death Metal WIDOW’S PEAK Debut “Graceless”
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 25, 2018
For fans of Aborted, Dying Fetus, Necrophagist, Cattle Decapitation, Cannibal Corpse
Decibel Mag Premiere: Full EP Stream: Brutal Tech Death Metal WIDOW’S PEAK Debut “Graceless”
Debut EP Out April 27th
(Photo Credit: Hazzard @Hazzardous Material)
While many metal bands find inspiration from supernatural sources, myths, and legends, WIDOW’S PEAK find influence from true life horror, from the depths of cruelty, terror and pain that man(un)kind so readily descends to. WIDOW’S PEAK is an aural catalogue of carnage, a metallic mausoleum of pain, a sonic symphony of suffering. Their music does not reach for the stars, but rather for the cold void that surrounds them, the darkness that lives in the soul of man. Make no mistake; WIDOW’S PEAK’s ferocity is the music of the spears, metal dripping with blood, bile and venom!
Set to unleash their debut EP “Graceless” this Friday, April 27th, these brutal technical death metal tyrants have teamed up with Decibel Magazine to pummel your senses with its full stream premiere at the following link: https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2018/04/25/full-ep-stream-widows-peak-graceless/
The band comments:
“Graceless” is a jagged and angular approach to technical death metal that fuses tales of perverse violence with the sounds of chaos. We set out to create something that’s brutal and overwhelming, but never loses sight of the underlying groove. We feel that this EP is exactly that: 20 minutes of bang-your-head, balls-to-the-wall madness that any fan of extreme metal will appreciate.”
“Graceless” is available for pre-order on the Bandcamp here.
Track Listing:
1. Debt Collector (3:47)
2. CBT (3:47)
3. Overseer (2:02)
4. Headless (2:58)
5. Mother Misery (3:34)
6. Graceless (3:25)
EP Length: 19:35
WIDOW’S PEAK is:
Patricio Cereceda-Paulsen – Drums
Chris McCrimmon – Lead Guitar
Matt Yeomans – Vocals
Scott Cressman – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Mike Jones – Bass, Vocals
Show Dates:
April 27 – Calgary, AB – Distortion (CD Release) – info
June 7 – Calgary, AB – Distortion – Decimate MetalFest – info
Aug 3 – Drumheller, AB – Dinosaur Downs Stampede Grounds – Loud As Hell Fest – info
Aug 10 – Vanderhoof, BC – Brookside Resort – Metallion Festival – info
For more info:
https://www.facebook.com/widowspeakdm
https://twitter.com/widowspeakdm
https://www.instagram.com/Widowspeakdm
EPK – https://wp.me/pciNW-bre
(Bio written by Steve Earles)
– 30 –
“Canadian technical death metal outfit Widow’s Peak might be more man than machine, judging by Graceless, their new EP. Starting from the second you hit play, Widow’s Peak attack with blistering fretwork, relentless drumming and a diverse vocal performance.” – Decibel Magazine
“an inventive display of breathtaking destructiveness married to kaleidoscopic, head-spinning instrumental performances, and further reveals an unconventional taste in melody that makes the song even more fascinating….but there’s still more to be said about the song. In broad strokes, it’s complete balls-to-the-wall mayhem, mostly rushing ahead in the red zone, from the barrage of percussive tumult to the mutilating riffs and the deranged, insectile leads. And to add to the feeling of lunatic savagery, the bullet-spitting vocals veer from monster roars to banshee shrieks.” – No Clean Singing (Track Review – Mother’s Misery)
“Brewing in the darkest depths and the most pungent of bowels of Calgary, Alberta, Widow’s Peak comes spewing forth with their debut EP titled Graceless. This is a demented, dark and incredibly vile release filled with six full tracks that are sure to rip your scalp right off your skull. ” – Cadaver Garden
“Friends of technical death metal will rejoice over the technically precise and relentlessly brutal wave of destruction resounding on the soon to be released debut EP from Widow’s Peak. The Canadians from Calgary, Alberta are still pretty much an underground tip but “Graceless” is a promising move to get this band more well-deserved attention.” – Overdrive Music Mag
“The songs are savage and ferocious affairs, featuring head-spinning technicality that’s offset by brutal riffs and belligerent rhythms. With plenty of blast and groove, as well as sickening guttural growls, Graceless is sure to keep fans of extremity happy.” – Wonderbox Metal
“Groovy killer rhythms, twisted paces and just catching rhythms, enough sick to be supported by all the fans into technical death metal! ” – Sick and Destroy
“Lyrically vile and discomforting, they focus on the strangely perverse and dark aspects of the human condition and real life events” – Ursound
—
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | ashermedia@gmail.com
Facebook | @AsherMedia | Hire Us
0 Metal Warriors VALYRIA Attempt “The Crossing” via Metal-Rules + New EP “Into The Dying of Time” Out May 18th
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – April 25, 2018
For fans of Wintersun, Omnium Gatherum, Dragonforce, Children of Bodom, Blind Guardian, Kalmah, Insomnium
Metal Warriors VALYRIA Attempt “The Crossing” via Metal-Rules
New EP “Into The Dying of Time” Out May 18th
L-R – Andrew Traynor – Guitar/Vocals, Mitchell Stykalo – Drums, Jeremy Puffer – Guitar/Vocals, Cam Dakus – Bass/ Lead Vocals
With the world becoming a darker place by the day, we need more metal bands that deal in Realistic Escapism; that is escapism that draws from events in the real world (see Joseph Campbell’s seminal ‘Hero With A Thousand Faces’ for more) and helps the listeners cope heroically with their own daily battles. The aural equivalent of the work of George R.R. Martin!
Indeed, Alberta power-influenced progressive death metal band VALYRIA take their name from the works of the aforementioned Martin.
As the band explains. “Valyria is a ruined city in the world of Essos, the world in which George R.R. Martin’s ‘A Song of Fire and Ice’ takes place. Valyria is a city of wonderment, magic and untold power. The aesthetic Martin creates within his novels is a similar atmosphere to that we as a band try to conjure with our music.”
Influenced by Wintersun, The Faceless, Dragonforce, Blind Guardian and Omnium Gatherum, VALYRIA describes their sound as “dramatic, complex, uplifting, emotional, technical” something their fans will be able to hear on their new EP “Into The Dying of Time”, which features such soon-to-be-classics as “Steel Inquisition”, “Tome of The Shattered Vessels”, “Of Sky and Sea”, “The Crossing” and “Floating World”.
Joining forces with Metal-Rules.com, VALYRIA reveal their second single “The Crossing” at the following link: http://www.metal-rules.com/2018/04/25/metal-warriors-valyria-attempt-the-crossing-via-metal-rules-new-ep-into-the-dying-of-time-out-may-18th/
The band comments:
“‘The Crossing’ is the most succinct example of our sound – equal parts djent, death and power metal, with even a tiny hint of skate punk. This song is filled with glittering keyboard and guitar melodies, brutal chugging, and soaring vocal harmonies, surrounding a lush clean section that builds up into trade-off solos book ending the album’s heaviest breakdown. ‘The Crossing’ is based on Haruki Murakami’s novel ‘Hard Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World’, an existential cyberpunk odyssey that sees our protagonist confront and cross through his own demise and live on in the world of dreams.
VALYRIA’s EP “Into The Dying of Time” will be released on May 18, 2018 and available for pre-order on Bandcamp here.
Song Stream – “Steel Inquisition” – https://youtu.be/4NJMnPw9XIo
Track Listing:
1. The Final Empire (Intro) (0:52)
2. Steel Inquisition (6:17)
3. Tome of Shattered Vessels (5:58)
4. Of Sky and Sea (6:35)
5. The Crossing (5:38)
6. Floating World (4:26)
7. Into the Dying of Time (Outro) (2:02)
EP Length: 31:51
VALYRIA is:
Jeremy Puffer – Guitar and Vocals
Cam Dakus – Bass and Lead Vocals
Andrew Traynor – Guitar and Vocals
Mitchell Stykalo – Drums
https://www.facebook.com/ValyrianSteelCanada
https://twitter.com/valyriayeg
EPK – https://wp.me/pciNW-bLG
(Bio written by Steve Earles)
– 30 –
“Where these guys really excel is in structure and atmosphere. As I said, this track reminds me of something like Rhapsody of Fire, Ensiferum or Wintersun… it definitely has that epic melodeath style sound and you don’t need me to tell you that.”-The Grim Tower,
“The album is a keeper for any melo-death fan looking for a fresh & different sound.” – Metalium
“With Collatus , Valyria has made a really successful first album: well played, well interpreted, with a very advanced songwriting and a good dose of originality. 9/10” – Metallifer
—
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780 | ashermedia@gmail.com
Facebook | @AsherMedia | Hire Us
0 All Around Metal – Discreto esordio per i greci Sense Of Fear
0 Cadaver Garden – Widow’s Peak – Graceless
https://cadavergarden.com/2018/04/24/widows-peak-graceless/
Brewing in the darkest depths and the most pungent of bowels of Calgary, Alberta, Widow’s Peak comes spewing forth with their debut EP titled Graceless. This is a demented, dark and incredibly vile release filled with six full tracks that are sure to rip your scalp right off your skull.
0 Third Eye Cinema – Another Awe-Inspiring Aggregation of Anomalies and Anomie, otherwise Accepted and Acknowledged as the April Roundup, Sense of Fear – Rockshots Records, Widow’s Peak, Accursed Spawn, Ominous Eclipse, HALLUX
0 EPK – Massive Scar Era – Color Blind (2018) (single)
Massive Scar Era – Color Blind (2018) (single)
Release Date: April 25, 2018
For fans of Seether, Jinjer, Kittie, Alternative Metal bands and metal bands with cultural influences, Arch Enemy, Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, Epica
MassiveScarEra.com | Facebook | Twitter | Soundcloud | Youtube | Instagram | Bandcamp
Publicist – Jon Asher – ashermedia(@)gmail.com
“Egypt’s female fronted metal band Massive Scar Era shred a whole new sound.” – Bitch Media
” Massive Scar Era tends to describe itself as a posthardcore act. That doesn’t begin to do the group justice on 30 Years, which might be the most fascinating dark-horse record to come out of the city this year.” The Georgia Straight (Vancouver)
“Fighting every step of the way, Massive Scar Era is determined to bring their music to the world. Amr’s heavy riffs and wailing growls are offset by her singing voice and middle-eastern steeped violin. It all comes together for some truly unique hardcore music. The anger in “My Ground,” their last single, speaks to every touring female musician who has ever faced sexism (read: all of them), and the groove in “Pray” would get even the staunchest arms-crossed-at-the-back-of-the-crowd concert goer moving. We can all be thankful they’ve stood their ground, and that their new EP, 30 Years, comes out.” – Beatroute (BC)
1. Color Blind (3:13)
Single Credits:
• All songs performed by: Cherine Amr, Nancy Mounir, Dylan Wijdenes-Charles, and Allan Heppner
• All songs written by: Cherine Amr, Nancy Mounir, Dylan Wijdenes-Charles, and Allan Heppner
• Produced by: Massive Scar Era + Matt Roach
• Mixed and Engineered by: Matt Roach
• Mastered by: Dan Swano
• Album Artwork by: Mohamed El-Sherbieny
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
• Album Band Line Up:
– Cherine Amr (Vocalist, Guitar)
– Nancy Mounir (Violin + Percussion + Egyptian Flute)
– Dylan Wijdenes-Charles (Bass)
Live Band Line Up:
– Cherine Amr (Vocalist, Guitar)
– Nancy Mounir (Violin)
– Meghan Engel (Viloin and Cello)
– Dylan Wijdenes-Charles (Bass)
– Allan Heppner (Drums)
Discography:
2018 – Color Blind (single)
2016 – 30 Years (EP)
2012 – Comes Around You (EP)
2011 – Precautionary Measures (EP)
2010 – Unfamiliar Territory (EP)
2006 – Reincarnation (EP)
Shared Stage with:
Kreator, Dream Theatre, Dimmu Borgir, Septic Flesh, The Algorithm, Moonspell
Tours and Festivals:
2017 – Metalocalypstick (Lone Butte, BC)
2016 – Metalocalypstick (Valemount, BC)
2015 – SXSW (Austin, TX)
2014 – Total Metal Festival (Italy)
2014 – Inferno Metal Festival (Norway)
2013 – FreakStock Festival (Borgenstreich, Germany)
2013 – SXSW (Austin, TX)
2012 – Saxstock Festival (Germany)
2012 – Slot Art Festival (Poland)
2011 – Whiskey A Go Go (Los Angeles)
2011 – Metal Asylum, Dubai (UAE)
2011 – Cornerstone Festival, USA
2010 – Dubai Film Festival (UAE)
2010 – Cornerstone Festival (Marietta, IL)
2007 – SOS Music Festival (Egypt)
2008 – Sweden Rock Festival (Sweden)
Music Placements:
Egyptian Award Winning film: MICROPHONE
Endorsements:
Skate Impact (Egypt)
L-R – Cherine Amr (Guitar + Vocals), Allan Heppner (Session Drummer), Nancy Mounir (Violin + Percussion + Egyptian Flute), Dylan Wijdenes-Charles (Bass) – Photo Credit – MY CITY PHOTOS
Even the place, Alexandria, Massive Scar Era formed in is unique, historical, and special, like the band themselves.
From the moment of its establishment by Alexander the Great, Alexandria was always a melting pot of different, creeds, colours, cultures and ideas, like it’s great Pharos Lighthouse, one of the Wonder of the Ancient World, it stood as a shining beacon of courage, culture and change in the world (not for nothing was the Great Library Established there, would that it still stood today, but it was destroyed by barbarians, enemies of truth and change, a cursory glance at the news today will tell you nothing has changed there, as the great 21st century philosopher John Grey said recently: “Human beings never learn and never evolve…Gas attacks on children in Syria, the recreation of the Cold War…there is no evidence human progress is inevitable.”)
Yet, the individual with always have the courage to progress, such an individual hails from Alexandria, Egypt, guitarist and vocalist Cherine Amr.
The courageous Cherine started her musical journey in 2005 when only a teenager. Due to her family’s restrictions, she was only allowed to play music with other women; so she formed the all-female Massive Scar Era.
The travails the band has faced throughout their careers would fill many bios, and we can only salute their courage and conviction, this is a band that truly deserve all our support.
Cherine formed a musical partnership with violinist Nancy Mounir; they melded their distinctive musical backgrounds to create something truly special and original, which combines Middle Eastern music with metal. Massive Scar Era began to attract an audience, allowing them to tour Europe and North America.
Make no mistake, Massive Scar Era’s path has been hard. Even though they were invited to perform at SXSW last year, they were unable to do so (despite Egypt not being on the Trump Ban List).
Their new EP, aptly titled ‘Colour Blind’ will be released this year. We should all aim to live in a world that is blind not just to colour, race, and religion.
Cherine says that the EP is “heavily influenced by the incident at SXSW. The songs talk about discrimination and stereotype. We continue to introduce pre-colonial Egyptian music to our sound, celebrating the Egyptian identity, which means all the violin’s Egyptian scales and microtones in this EP do not follow the guidelines of the Cairo Music Conference (1932) that was held during the British Colonization of Egypt. Plus with the addition of Dylan Widjenes-Charles to the band as our bassist. He’s an indigenous guitarist, bassist, and songwriter from Musqueam that is heavily influenced by Edge of Sanity, Opeth, Ihsan, and Porcupine Tree. He has been my creative companion for COLOR BLIND. Dylan grew up on the reserve and his life wasn’t easy, we all know the discrimination that indigenous people are facing and 25 years ago, things were even worse than now. The experiences we share as band members are quite similar and this what made the creative process smoother because we all understood, felt, and lived what the songs are actually talking about.”
Influenced by Egyptian folk music, metalcore, hardcore, metal and punk, Cherine describes Massive Scar Era’s music as a “colourful fusion of metal, pop, and Egyptian music.”
Cherine explains the band’s name refers “simply to the trauma the world is living in today.”
Cherine can promise that, unlike so many bands, Massive Scar Era can truly give their fans a unique listening experience. “We incorporate a lot Egyptian elements in our music, even the accent in the singing gives the band an identity in its sound. We want to project how we feel and deliver another perspective of music that is 100% influenced by all the sexism and discrimination we face. It’s not common for women to lead the writing process, we usually see contributions in the lyrics or vocals but the full production of leadership isn’t common…With that in mind, our experiences are different and this would reflect by nature in our writing. Nature’s biological diversity can be a reason why people experience certain things and we just feel that our experience as women of color in a male-dominated industry/society/culture hasn’t been represented yet.”
Massive Scar Era have more music to offer but are “constrained by financial resources, this is why we release EPs only, but we have the capacity to write more if we have the resources.”
Their unique experiences have created a unique sound. “We have been around for 13 years now. Our music has become more mature because we evolved as people. Nancy has explored a lot of sounds and studied a lot of traditional Egyptian pre-colonial music, which influenced her compositions. She also continuously explores other folk instruments from many parts of the world which opens the door to new ideas in the arrangements.”
Yet despite hardships that would have broken lesser bands, Massive Scar Era “are bright on stage and we have a positive energy and attitude.”
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