Expain – Pinching Nerves (EP) (2017)
For fans of Revocation, Vektor, Municipal Waste, The Black Dahlia Murder
Release Date: September 15, 2017
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“Hold on to your balls, for Expain could be positioned as Canada’s next great metal export.” – Global Metal Apocalypse
“they are a superb and well balanced blend of progressive and technical with a strong leaning towards thrash/death with some jazzy elements in the mix for good measure, a potent combination that sets them aside from pretty much everyone else.” – Metal Talk
“Hailing from Canada, EXPAIN is not your run-of-the-mill thrash metal band. No, no, they’ve definitely got something different to bring to the party. Sure, all the requirements are there: ferocious drumming, slicing riffs, and ripping vocals, but it’s the structures of these songs that definitely stand out” – Amps and Green Screens
“a band built on displaying technical skills behind the instruments. A heavy and potent mixture of thrash and jazz metal, Vancouver, Canada’s Expain is hoping to become a staple in a genre built on technical skill and speed” – Under The Gun Review
“In my metal induced coma, I am inclined to say this band should not be sniffed at or trifled with, they are some serious thrash metal impresarios… For Fans Of: Uber thrash with a touch of jazz.” – All About The Rock
“Wildly diverse band that combines elements of thrash, punk, tech metal and even some jazz with an off-the-wall comedic streak.” Prog NW Metal Zone
1. They Live (4:20)
2. The Witch Is Dead (3:48)
3. Pinching Nerves (3:06)
4. Corridors Of The Mind ft. guest guitar solo Dan Mongrain (Voivod, Martyr) (3:54)
5. Pathways (4:11)
6. Torch Formula (3:11)
EP Length: 22:32
EP Credits:
• All songs performed by: Sean ip, Eli Slamang, Nikko Whitworth, Ryan Idris, Pat Peeve
• All songs written by: Pat Peeve, Nikko Whitworth, Eli Slamang, Sean Ip, Eli Slamang
• Produced by: Matt Roach at Rain City in Vancouver
• Mixed by: Matt Roach
• Mastered by: Allan Douches
• Album Artwork by: Andrei Bouzikov
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
EP Line Up:
Vocals – Sean Ip
Guitar – Pat Peeve
Guitar – Eli Slamang
Bass – Nikko whitworth
Drums – Ryan Idris
Live Line Up:
Vocals – Sean Ip
Guitar – Pat Peeve
Guitar – Eli Slamang
Bass – Alex Giles
Drums – Ryan Idris
Shared stage with:
Suffocation, Gorod, Revocation, Cannibis Corpse, Archspire, Powerman 5000, Nylithia, West Of Hell, Unleash The Archers, Mortillery, Into Eternity, Thor, Terrifier, Divinity
Tours & Festivals:
2017 – Western Canadian Tour (BC/AB) w/ Divinity
2016/2017 – Loud As Hell Metal Fest
2016 – Western Canadian Tour (BC/AB) w/ Nylithia
2014 – Canadian Tour w/Slagduster
2013 – Western Canadian Tour (BC/AB)
2013/ 2014 – Armstrong Metal Fest
2013 – Medicine Hat Metal Fest
Hailing from the Pacific North West, progressive thrash metallers Expain have spent almost a decade crafting their unique blend of melodic, unrelenting, bouncy trash metal. With recent additions of Eli Slamang on guitar (Ex-Skull Vultures) and Sean Ip on vocals (The Hallowed Catharsis) their new EP “Pinching Nerves” is a cacophonous flurry of pounding drums, harmony laden riffs and in your face, catchy vocals to follow their 2014 debut album. The EP also features a guest solo from ex-Martyr and current Voivod shredder Daniel Mongrain.
What the press says:
“…this group takes various elements of their influences – which includes punk, jazz, classical, world, pop, and even country – and melds them into some serious stunning thrash metal.” – Pure Grain Audio
“For some parts it reminds me of the instrumental genius of latter Annihilator/Jeff Waters’ material…” – Brutalism
“Expain is a solid five-piece that conjures the best of metal. Not exactly thrash, nor progressive or even metalcore, but certainly a lot of the above, it swims in raging waters where technique, grooves, speed and melody meet. Beautified with an artwork from no other than artist Tony Koehl (Deamon, Gorgasm, Malignancy, Heavy Lord, and many, many more), this first album has many attributes to attract both eyes and ears. – Metal Made In Canada
“a perfect blend of the technical and melodic, combining together to create a sound that is incredibly unique and forthright. I have listened to the album several times now, and each time I find myself enjoying some new dimension to the sound, or some new aspect of the music. It just keeps getting better.” – Vancouver Metal
“a powerful album that plays host to melodic riffs, vengeful beats and impressive vocal. All in all the time chugged by with just over half an hour (36 minutes and 14 seconds to be precise) and is certainly an album that doesn’t out stay its welcome.” – Demented Magazine
“It’s one of the finest independently released albums I’ve ever heard in my life. From the short intro track ‘Bacchus’ all the way to the perfect closer in ‘Eating A Beating Heart,’ there’s so many quality thrashers on the disc. ‘The King’ is a personal favorite of mine as the musicianship is ridiculously tight. ‘Aggressions Progressions’ has an absolutely beautiful dueling solo section and ‘Manatee’ has a sick bass solo. Overall it’s 11 tracks of pure thrash mayhem” – Broken Neck Radio
“very well written, catchy songs of melodic Thrash Metal. It’s not bad, and certainly has some good Death metal parts as well, brutal riffs, insane blasting and raw vocals, so i’ll have to wait and hear what they do next. Their progressive influences is something cool and accurate as they could be, the playing is impressive, sometimes very much so. The super thick production is great too and a good idea. Somebody tell me why these guys aren’t signed?” – Soul Grinder Zine
“The band comes racing out of the gate with three dementedly heavy fist-pumpers….a promising metal act that is well worth a listen.” – Discorder (E.P.E.P Review)
“a strong mixture of early Thrash and Crossover Thrash concepts, blending them with a Melodic Death Metal sound, and plenty of energetic aggression.” – Apochs Metal Review (E.P.E.P Review)
“Don’t leave your children alone with The Almighty Excruciating Pain” – Metal Sucks (E.P.E.P Review)
