Kermit the Frog once sang, “It’s not easy being green.” More than 40 years have passed since he first sang that song of the same name and the Muppet is probably the most famous frog in North American history. It wasn’t easy being an all-girl group in those days either, and while the hairstyles, clothes and roles women take on in music have changed – at least in the hard rock and metal realm – the realities of stereotypes still creep into the mix.
“When people hear the phrase ‘girl band,’ …

Gales of Avalon have officially released the music video for “Cold Dark Valleys” one of 12 tracks from the band’s full-length debut Black Island.
Directed and edited by Ryan Leininger in the group’s hometown of Calgary, Alta., the new video tells part of the story illustrated through the upcoming concept album.
“It follows two survivors of a boat crash as they make there way across a deserted island. They are both broken and beaten, yet they keep forging on. There may be light at the end of the cold dark valley, there …

A summer trip to Europe in 2009, and a few metal festivals later, and Striker found themselves signed on to Germany’s Iron Kodex Records. A representative heard the band’s original four song demo, written by founding members Dan Cleary and guitarist Ian Sandercock two years prior.
The Edmonton, Alta.-based Striker has since released another collection of songs, their first release through Iron Kodex. Road Warrior was written by the quintet as a collective, and the six song EP, released March 31, 2009, gives listeners a taste of the fierce metal that …

What first started as a joke during a high school math class soon evolved into “a melodic metal band focusing on grotesque and absurd lyrics made to make you laugh out loud when read,” explained Corpse Vapour guitarist Logan Wilson.
“The band name is more of a joke. In a way though, it’s a pretty original name for the genre. Chaotic, fast and funny could be used to describe the name, as well as the music,” Wilson added.
In the year since first forming in Sherwood Park, Alta., Corpse Vapour has released …

“When I was growing up in small-town Montreal, I would travel 40 minutes on the train just to go and get one record. I’d buy it, and then on the way home I’d look at the artwork and read the lyrics and credits and everything, just frothing at the mouth until I could run home off the train and play the record for the first time, never having heard it. Those days are long gone for the most part, but I’m glad that some people still enjoy that,” says Megadeth …

Formed in 1997 as Crucible of Agony, the industrial death metal act from Sydney Australia changed their name to The Amenta in 2001. The following year, they released their debut album, a three-song EP entitled Mictlan. Two years later, Occasus [Listenable, 2004] hit the music market. It would be another five years before their second full-length album nOn [Listenable, 2009] would reach store shelves. But even longer in the making was the band’s North American debut.
That’s about to change.
The Monsters of Death Tour, featuring Vader, Decrepit Birth Warbringer, Augury and, …

“We’ve done a lot of support stuff, so it’s cool to go out and finally play our own tour, and to play longer,” says Trivium guitarist Corey Beaulieu during a recent phone interview.
“Not a lot of fans have had the chance to hear us play a full set, they’ve only seen the support tours where we perform for maybe 30 minutes.”
The thrash metallers from Orlando, Fla. were gearing up for a show in Portland, Ore. during the first leg of their headlining tour, the band’s first since 2006, and Beaulieu …

The first ever Metal Conference was held in Calgary, Alta. on Oct. 2 as part of Noctis Valkyries, an annual festival put on by Scarab Productions. Upon arriving at the Ramada Inn, everyone was greeted by Terese Fleming and her well-organized Noctis crew. Each guest received a warm welcome, the schedule for the day, and lots of free swag, which included stickers buttoms, music samplers, and even a copy of Divinity’s Allegory and Kilyakai’s single “Without Warning,” from their latest album.
The conference rooms were named after some favourite metal bands: …

MacEwan Hall was packed on Oct. 2 with those who came out to see Children of Bodom on their first headlining tour through Calgary, Alta., but a large portion of the young crowd was excited to see the two openers as well. However, the key word here is “young.” The beer garden, which usually ends up crammed with the over-18 crowd between bands was practically empty the whole night. It seems the Club Night show of Noctis III at The Distillery was able to lure most everyone of legal age …

For those who attended the metal conference portion of Noctis III: Tritagonist Metal Festival, and even those who joined the crowd afterward at The Distillery, just around the corner from the conference venue, the club night show was a real treat. Headlined by Chicago, Ill. metal act Novembers Doom, the place was nearly packed by the time show openers Tosca hit the stage. The Calgary, Alta.-based two-woman sludge act – one on guitar and vocals, the other on drums – did an awesome job warming up the audience for what …

We Found the Body is one of those bands that never disappoint, no matter where they perform, or how many people are in the crowd. Their Oct. 9 show in Red Deer, Alta. at Cheers North was no exception.
Red Deer’s Cain & Abel quietly opened the show with an original half hour acoustic set. Not what you’d expect at a show promoted as “a night of metal mayhem,” but the duo, armed only with guitars and vocals, was a fitting and well-received choice nonetheless.
Of Thorn and Vine came up next …

Fictional metal act Dethklok came to life Oct. 6 at the Big Four Building in Calgary, Alta. Mostly backlit and in front of giant screen displaying music videos and shorts from the hit cartoon series, Metalocalypse creator Brandon Small, taking on the role of frontman and guitarist, was joined on stage by bassist Bryan Beller, guitarist Mike Keneally and drummer Gene Hoglan in front of a diverse and enthusiastic crowd.
Opening the show was Oakland, Calif. three-piece High on Fire, a group that never disappoints. Fronted by guitar virtuoso Matt Pike, …

If you are in a band, chances are you’ve at least thought about getting a manager, or an agent, or both. But what’s the difference between the two? What do they do? And for that matter, does your band really need either of them?
When the term agent is used in conjunction with the music business, it generally means a booking agent. As the name would imply, a booking agent’s job is to book shows for the artists he or she is representing. In doing so, they negotiate minimum payments, the …

“The Physics Demos” Track List:
1. White Flag
2. Locust Years
3. Safe Harbor (B-side)
4. Wrapped Around a Bullet (Acoustic)
5. Safe Harbor (Black Flag)
“We’ve never been that type of band to have some big scheme to write a certain style of music or do anything we could to become these self-indulgent rock stars. It simply began as four guys doing what they love,” explains drummer Nathan Navetto, on Somastate’s 2006 formation. “It really just started out as us dudes jamming in random basements and a big ol’ woodshop.”
The heavy hitting rockers from High …

What’s spinning on your CD player or iPod right now?
My all-time favourite albums are Dimmu Borgir Death Cult Armageddon, Poison – Look What the Cat Dragged In, and Kataklysm – Shadows and Dust.
Favourite local venue to get your live music fix?
I always have a great time at The Starlite Room but anywhere that allows metal bands to play is wicked!
What is the best hard rock or metal show you have attended so far this year?
AC/DC in the pouring rain was so much fun!

We have some really exciting news this month from the Pitch Black office. The highly-anticipated 2010 Alberta Metal Maidens calendar is now available! The 13-month calendar features a number of the Metal Maidens featured on the webzine throughout 2009, as well as some you’ve never seen before. The calendar’s official launch took place at Sacred Ally’s fourth anniversary show at Big Al’s in Calgary, Alta. on Halloween night and everyone was so supportive, I can’t begin to tell you all how grateful we are for the support of our readers.
If …