Tag: montreal metal scene

0 Montreal’s KILLED BY SORROW Unleashes “Betrayal” Off Forthcoming Debut Album “Empires of Excess” Out October 2026

August 25, 2026
by Asher
· Killed By Sorrow · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 25, 2026

Montreal’s KILLED BY SORROW Unleashes “Betrayal” Off Forthcoming Debut Album “Empires of Excess” Out October 2026

Montreal metal outfit Killed By Sorrow has officially announced the release of their first full‑length album, “Empire of Excess,” due out on October 23rd, 2026, to follow EPs “Careless of This Sadness” (2023) and “Time Has Come” (2022). The record marks the band’s most dynamic, emotionally charged, and musically evolved chapter to date.

To give the first glimpse into the album, the band has unveiled the first single, “Betrayal”, a heavy, riff‑driven track built on explosive breakdowns and raw emotional intensity. The song explores the collapse of trust after deep personal betrayal, poisonous lies, emotional wounds, and the breaking point where deception becomes unbearable.

“This is a heavy-punching song with a great breakdown. Great guitar riffs,” adds rhythm guitarist Samuel Ham.

Watch the lyric video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0PWyiTedfs

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/track/0nW7DcnjyCJpw4iBTBYdi6

“Empire of Excess” is a refined evolution of Killed By Sorrow’s early sound, still aggressive, still emotional, but more mature, more atmospheric, and more intentional. With 10 tracks, fans can expect a blend of heaviness and melody that draws listeners into the story behind each one. From its polished, immersive production to its mix of fast, downbeat tracks infused with metalcore, thrash, prog, and punk. The record will take listeners into a deep emotional atmosphere with a track list designed to feel like a journey from start to finish,

“The contributions on this record from our bassist Marty Bersier‑Carpentier have significantly shaped the new sonic direction and have been a real blessing in refining our sound,” adds Ham.

Killed by Sorrow emerged from Montreal’s South Shore metal-music scene in the mid-2000s, carving out their identity with a sound heavily inspired by the emotional intensity of Poison the Well, the razor-sharp riffing of Unearth, and the melodic precision of Trivium. These influences shaped the band’s early songwriting, blending aggression with dynamic melodic structures.

During their formative years, Killed by Sorrow built a reputation through high-energy performances across local venues. A major milestone of this era was sharing the stage with renowned Swedish hardcore band Raised Fist, a moment that reinforced the band’s credibility.

As a group of friends, they have been determined to channel the intensity of the music they loved into something of their own. What began as basement rehearsals has quickly evolved into a serious project as the band discovered a natural chemistry.

Recommended for fans of Unearth, Killswitch Engage, Poison The Well, Trivium, and Lamb of God, “Empire of Excess” is due out on October 23, 2026, and available for pre-save/ pre-order at https://killedbysorrow.bandcamp.com/.

Track Listing:
1. The End is Near – 3:38
2. Empire of Excess – 3:04
3. The Burial – 3:28
4. Betrayal – 3:51
5. Never Give Up – 2:37
6. All My Brothers – 3:18
7. In The Spotlight – 3:17
8. Killed By Sorrow – 3:29
9. Unchained – 3:42
10. Stay In Line – 3:28
Album Length: 33:55

Band Line-up:
Sébastien Mailloux – Vocals
Martin Bersier-Carpentier – Bass
Tommy Forand – Guitar Lead
Samuel Ham – Guitar Rhythm
Mathieu Lassonde – Drums

More info:

https://killedbysorrow.com/

https://www.facebook.com/KilledbySorrow/

https://www.instagram.com/killedbysorrowband

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“Canadian underground hardcore punks in Killed By Sorrow’s newest single, Betrayal, definitely stays loyal to the metalcore scene by actually sounding like thrash metal tones mixed with a hardcore punk grit and attitude. Heavily distorted rhythms sound closer to your traditional hardcore, but paired with your traditional style of hardcore punk vocals, Betrayal lets you know not to cross Killed By Sorrow. Huge basslines underneath and in-the-pocket drumming made this one an interesting approach in a crowded metalcore genre, and it’s more than worth a few listens.” – Metal Institute of Thrashology (2026)

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0 Montreal Thrash Trio OMBRA New Single “Stitches” Is A Moshpit Bruiser! + Debut EP “Night Terror” Out Sept 2026

August 20, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Ombra

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 20, 2026

Montreal Thrash Trio OMBRA New Single “Stitches” Is A Moshpit Bruiser! + Debut EP “Night Terror” Out Sept 2026

Rising Montreal thrash trio OMBRA will release their debut EP, “Night Terror,” on September 14th, 2026, unveiling a raw, conceptual journey through fear, obsession, chemical collapse, and the darker corners of the human psyche.

Today, the band is presenting the EP’s second single, “Stitches,” to follow their explosive first track, “Hysteria.”

A haunting exploration of obsession, beauty, and the price of transformation. “Stitches” digs into the psychological spiral of chasing perfection, where flesh becomes a canvas, pain becomes currency, and identity fractures under the knife. Musically, the track blends groove‑driven speed and aggression, showcasing the band’s signature mix of raw emotion and razor‑sharp riffing.

Listen to “Stitches” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FimmvegfZ_M

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/track/56xkN49mwjkZwetnNN2T6M

Formed by lifelong friends Giuseppe “G” Criniti (vocals/guitar), Marco Sisti (guitar/bass), and Nico‑Angelo Sisti (drums), OMBRA emerged in late 2020 after G and Marco departed their hard‑rock/progressive project NRTH to pursue a heavier, more aggressive sound. Nico, Marco’s cousin and a well‑known drummer in the Montreal scene, joined shortly after leaving Hidden Pride. With all three members having grown up together in Lachine (a borough within the city of Montreal), the band’s formation felt natural, inevitable, and rooted in decades of shared history.

Written between 2021 and 2026, the band’s debut EP “Night Terror” reflects the band’s lived experiences and observations of a decade marked by upheaval, media distortion, obsession, chemical escape, and psychological unraveling. The EP is intentionally designed as a continuous front‑to‑back experience, culminating in the intense emotional climax of the title track.

“Our objective is to encourage people to explore their own minds, make their own opinions, and live true to themselves. This EP is our commentary on the major events and emotional weight of the last decade,” says Giuseppe “G” Criniti.

Across its five songs, “Night Terror” traces a rising arc of mental tension. Opening track “Hysteria” confronts societal panic and media‑driven chaos; “Stitches” plunges into obsession and the painful pursuit of transformation; “Blue Dream” captures chemical escapism collapsing into paranoia and possession; “Night Terror” delivers a visceral mental freefall where everything goes wrong; and “So It Goes” closes the experience with an instrumental moment of acceptance, peace, and forward motion.

Recommended for fans of Power Trip, High On Fire, Motörhead, Mastodon, Testament, and Rammstein, “Night Terror” will be available on all digital platforms on September 14, 2026.

First Single – “Hysteria” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7mDZ-4uXrY

Track Listing:
1. Hysteria (4:15)
2. Stitches (4:43)
3. Blue Dream (3:46)
4. Night Terror (5:44)
5. So It Goes (3:06)

Album and Live Band Lineup:
Giuseppe Criniti – Vocals / Lead Guitar
Marco Sisti – Rhythm Guitar / Bass
Nico-Angelo Sisti – Drums

More info:

https://ombra.band/

https://www.instagram.com/@abandcalledombra

https://www.facebook.com/people/OMBRA/61582909783052/

About:

OMBRA is a Montreal metal trio formed by lifelong friends Giuseppe “G” Criniti, Marco Sisti, and Nico‑Angelo Sisti. Rooted in old‑school thrash, sludge, groove metal, and psychedelic rock, the band blends heavy riffs with emotional honesty and modern storytelling. Their mission is to encourage listeners to think freely, explore their own minds, and express themselves without compromise.

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“OMBRA emerges in ‘Hysteria’ as a force that transforms social chaos into high-impact art. Advancing with the brutality of thrash metal and the structure of hard rock, the track shapes a sound that feels like both a siren and a sentence at the same time. Sharp and relentless, the riffs dialogue with drums that tear through the silence, while the vocals echo indignation and lucidity, a manifesto in the form of distortion. The band builds tension with precision: there is weight, but also clarity; fury, but control.” – Roadie Metal

“Delivering high-quality extreme metal that blends elements of thrash metal with other influences full of raw aggressiveness, a cinematic atmosphere with no soft edges, like a punch to the gut!” – Metal Junkbox

“From the moment we hear the sound of sirens, gunshots, and helicopters flying overhead, we know we’re going to encounter a strong track both in sound and lyrics, because the soundscape they create from the very first seconds already feels dense… the drums and guitar move between agility and the creation of a track full of suspense and tension.” – Poppunkers

‘STITCHES’, the new single from the Canadian trio OMBRA, arrives like an open cut: direct, intense, and impossible to ignore. The song crosses the border between hard rock and thrash metal with aggressiveness, transforming psychological tension into dense and precise sound.” – Roadie Music

“OMBRA is an incredible discovery! A band that shows us metal is more alive than ever… it is the perfect soundtrack to start a mosh and let out all our anger. It maintains brutal riffs worthy of any Metallica fan, an imposing guttural voice… it is 100% recommended!” – End Sessions

“I really felt it wasn’t a song made to sound pretty. It’s dark, heavy, and direct… The story it tells ,a woman who keeps reconstructing herself to fit in, hit me hard… It’s not a song that accompanies you in the background; it’s one that confronts you. It ends and leaves you with that knot in your chest.” – Rockola Indie

“Stitches’ hits hard with a dark and visceral vision of the oversexualization of women and the price of chasing perfection… It is raw, uncomfortable, and impossible to ignore.” – Poppunkers

“Stitches’ explores the limits between obsession, beauty, and self-destruction. The track dives into the mind of someone who seeks perfection at any cost… Musically, it combines aggressiveness and atmosphere, with a fast, dense, and confrontational sound… a sharp and suffocating sonority that amplifies the emotional tension. ‘Stitches’ transforms psychological horror into sonic impact.” – Metal Never Die

“The band delivers one of their darkest and most intense compositions to date. The last single before the release of the EP Night Terror, the track dives deeply into themes such as dependency, paranoia, and the destructive consequences of escaping reality. Combining dense and melodic passages with explosions of weight and aggressiveness, creating a sound experience that is as engaging as it is disturbing.” – Metal Junkbox

‘Blue Dream’ delivers suffocating, volatile metal with heavy riffs depicting psychological terror, chemical dependency, and mental collapse in a dense, cinematic sound.” – Whiplash

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0 Out Now! Montreal Blackened Thrash SHROUD Lifts The Veil To Debut Album “Pax Nocturna”

June 4, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Shroud

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – June 4, 2026

Out Now! Montreal Blackened Thrash SHROUD Lifts The Veil To Debut Album “Pax Nocturna”

L-R – Justin Cournoyer – Bass, Matteo Conti – Guitar and Vocals, Zack Osiris – Drums, Jordan Barillaro – Guitar

Rising from the shadows of Quebec’s extreme‑metal underground, SHROUD proudly announce the official release of their debut full‑length album, “Pax Nocturna,” available everywhere on June 4th, 2026. A blistering fusion of Blackened Thrash with elements of Death and Melodic metal, the album marks a defining first chapter for one of Montreal’s most intense and uncompromising new acts.

SHROUD began when guitarist/vocalist Matteo Conti approached drummer Zack Osiris (Warsenal) during the height of the COVID‑19 lockdowns. With their previous projects stalled and the music scene frozen, the pair began writing together in Montreal at a time when even leaving the house felt taboo. Despite the restrictions, the creative spark was undeniable. Week after week, riffs and ideas evolved into the earliest form of what would become “Pax Nocturna.”

As the world reopened in 2022, the band solidified with Justin Cournoyer joining on bass, and Jordan Barillaro recruited after filling in for their first show in November 2022. The chemistry was immediate. SHROUD was born, united, focused, and driven.

SHROUD’s sonic identity is rooted in Black and Thrash metal, sharpened by the aggression of Death metal and the atmosphere of Melodic metal. The band describes the album as a rollercoaster, fast, punishing, dynamic, and immersive, yet always unmistakably SHROUD.

Fans of extreme metal will find a record crafted for them. It’s intense, tightly executed, and overflowing with raw energy. Its lyrical depth explores philosophy, anti‑religion, the abyss and the darkest corners of human existence. The overarching concept is Satanic Gnosticism, a rejection of imposed order and corrupt leadership, and an embrace of the chaos from which humanity originates.

“It’s the acknowledgement that we are our own gods and masters. It is peace within the night. It is Pax Nocturna,” adds vocalist/guitarist Matteo Conti.

The cover art draws from the dark fantasy of Yoshitaka Amano, the surreal horror of Zdzisław Beksiński, and the mythic grandeur of The Lord of the Rings. The imagery depicts the four band members in ritualistic worship of Murmur, the Archduke and Lord of Hell, symbolising philosophy, music, and the pursuit of higher consciousness.

On stage, SHROUD deliver a level of intensity, tightness, and emotional ferocity that sets them apart. Their performances blend hate, love, determination, and pure sonic violence, a presence that has already earned them slots alongside Exciter, Midnight, Wraith, Goatwhore, Vitriol, Necrofier, Wormwitch, Spiter, Gudsforladt, Tomarumvoid, Angelus Apatrida, Sorguinazia, and more.

Local Montreal fans can see them perform this Friday, June 5th, for their album release show at Foufounes Electriques with support from Lüger, Katö and Burning Sanctum. More info at https://www.facebook.com/events/1636052210962146

Recommended for fans of Watain, Dissection, Hellripper, Skeletonwitch, and Necrophobic, “Pax Nocturna”, out June 4th, 2026, is available on all digital platforms and CD and Vinyl.

CD / Vinyl – https://shroudmtl.bandcamp.com/album/pax-nocturna

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/album/5dfAWpVKaWlsdSBYNZ8L1H

All Creation – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4okttHfnlg

The Eternal Void – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ56_laldDc

Track Listing:
1. Pax Nocturna (0:43)
2. The Eternal Void (5:09)
3. The Zealot (5:15)
4. Merciless Tyrants (5:59)
5. Darkest Night (4:45)
6. Diablivion (5:28)
7. Death Blows Over (4:18)
8. All Creation (5:29)
9. Abaddon (7:55)
Album Length: 45:05

Album and Live Band lineup:
Matteo Conti – Guitar and Vocals
Jordan Barillaro – Guitar
Zack Osiris – Drums
Justin Cournoyer – Bass

More info:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086688022343

https://www.instagram.com/shroud.mtl

About: Emerging from the depths below, Shroud formed in 2022 when Conti and Osiris began writing together during the pandemic. With the later addition of Barillaro and Cournoyer, the band’s lineup solidified into a unit defined by technical skill, raw aggression, and a shared vision of darkness. Their sound, blistering riffs, thunderous drums, and vocals echoing through the void, has quickly earned them recognition as one of Montreal’s most promising extreme‑metal acts. Now, with Pax Nocturna, Shroud is ready to unleash its full power.

Album Recording Credits:
– All songs performed by: Matteo Conti, Zack Osiris, Jordan Barillaro, Justin Cournoyer
– All songs written by: Matteo Conti and Zack Osiris
– Produced by: Shroud and Jordan Barillaro
– Mixed by: Jordan Barillaro
– Album Art by: Justin Cournoyer
– Mastered by: Tore Stjerna

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“Imagine the ferocity, the grit and attitude of ‘Power n Pain’ era Whiplash, add the nocturnal melodic majesty of Necrophobic, and then a heaping helping of D-beat (always appreciated). Vicious, limb twitchin’ and about as infectious as something you believe you might have picked up on a recent European vacation, but wish you hadn’t. Recc for fans of SkeletonWitch, Necrophobic, Hellripper and others who successfully manage to imbue ragin’ Thrash insanity with an exquisite sense of darkness. This scatches the itch, then successfully obliterates it!” 94/100 – Cult Metal Flix

“A definite early AOTY candidate with strong claims, 5 star Black/Thrash!… There’s a high amount of crushing chugging riffs across this full length and the leadwork is absolutely scorching across the board, shreddy solos with that classic heavy metal, Thrash phrasing with a few mid-paced ones thrown in that are topped off with a couple of whammy bar accents and tremolos in them. Some of these riffs just will absolutely pummel you, as they’re fast and unrelenting as hell; also, there’s one or two solos that appear in a single track too. The vocals on this aren’t just high black metal screams, but there’s creepy deep spoken word vocals, chants and a few death growls also; if you’re into absolutely groove filled Blackened Thrash then absolutely look no further than this masterpiece, absolutely don’t sleep on it, a definite AOTY contender personally. Rating: 10/10!” – Drako’s Metal Reviews

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jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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