Junkies Rush has only been around since 2008 but they already have two music videos making the rounds, and just this year released the EP Sins On Your Sleeves. Guitarist Russ Bridger and bassist Wade Christenson had been working on the project for about a year before drummer Wayne Davies joined in and really helped get things going. The Calgary-based metal trio released their second music video “Broken Pieces” on Jan. 31, 2010. Just a day before our February issue went live and we at Pitch Black were lucky enough …

The Headbanger’s Society at the University of Lethbridge was spawned in April 2009, and it was all because a metal band asked the right person to help find them a gig. About a year ago, Datura, a progressive metal band from Nelson, B.C, approached Calvin Shiu, who is now the president and one of the founders of the Society, in hopes of setting up a show in Lethbridge.
“I was more than happy to help out, but as I went out to look for venues, I started to realize how bad …

As most up-and-coming and well-established bands know, merchandise is a great way to get your name and logo out there. But with so many choices for printing companies and available merchandise, it can be a tad overwhelming for any newbie, and even seasoned musicians, looking to fill their merchandise table with garments for the apparel-hungry fans.
Bassist for the central Alberta band Thunder in Paradise, Bryce Thurston, is no exception.
“We could not find anywhere locally to get all our merch done on time, correctly, and at a decent price. So I …

Richard Christy made his first comedic contribution to The Howard Stern Show in October 1999, just a few months before joining Iced Earth. The drummer, who recorded three albums with the Florida-based metal juggernauts between 2000 and 2004, was simultaneously recruited by Iced Earth guitarist Jon Schaffer for his side project, Demons and Wizards.
Previously, Christy spent three years with metal legends Death, and appears on their 1998 album The Sound of Perseverance [Nuclear Blast, 1998], not to forget a number of other musical groups, including the death metal act Burning …

“Just stop talking about it,” exclaims Angela Gossow of the extreme metal group Arch Enemy. “When you read a review and it says, ‘Oh, by the way, it’s a chick singer.’ That’s just like, ‘Okay, here we go again.’ I wish they’d write on the quality of the vocals and the quality of the band performing.”
She looks forward to the day when the mainstream media focuses on musicianship first, “because so many metal bands have female musicians nowadays, if you look at the big picture.”
She calls the reviews “repetitive,” whether …

The New Year started with a bit of a rough start for The Distillery. The Calgary music venue was hit by a major flood and it was unclear if they would be opened for a show on Jan. 9 with headliners Exit Strategy. Luckily, the bar was able to get everything cleared up enough to open the doors that weekend.
Cast in Stone kicked off the night. CIS has just recently started playing live again after almost a yearlong hiatus. The band had a hard time putting together a full line …

In the first leg of their Evangelia Amerika tour, in support of the recently released Evangelion, Polish blackened death metal legends Behemoth visited with fans before another slaytacular show at The Republik.
Dozens of enthusiastics showed up at Calgary’s Axe Music for a chance to meet the band and score autographs from vocalist/guitarist Adam “Nergal” Darski, bassist Tomasz “Orion” Wróblewski, and percussionist Zbigniew Robert “Inferno” Promiński. Guitarist Patryk “Seth” Sztyber wasn’t along for the meet-and-greet, but joined the rest of the group on stage before a riotous crowd.
Plagued by controversy through …

Not many venues are more than halfway full when the first band hits the stage, especially when the opener is local, and there are three bands before the headliners. That wasn’t the case at The Republik when the mighty Behemoth invaded Calgary for the first of two Alberta shows.
For Calgary’s own death grind quintet Kataplexis, the place was buzzing, in spite of a lineup outside still going through the ticket motions. Their short half hour set only served to intensify the energy; it would seem the excitement of opening such …

Who are some of your favourite hard rock or metal bands?
Kilyakai, Lamb of God, and Textures.
Not to get too cheesy, but since it’s February and all, what band most sets a romantic mood for you?
Tool totally sets the mood for me. Not the lyrics, but the groove and the way the sound of Maynard James Keenan’s vocals are projected is interesting to me.
How do you stay active in Alberta’s music community?
With my time, energy, love. I put everything in it. The metal community is made up of my friends, my …

These days, school and heavy metal are mixing in a variety of ways. Many musicians in our local Alberta bands are also pursuing a post secondary education, but getting a university degree or a college diploma is not an easy task in first place. Throw in the commitments of a band, and your workload seems to increase exponentially. Certain considerations will come up, such as choosing between your band and school. If that opportunity to tour say, Europe, comes up in the middle of a semester do you drop all …

“Prisoner of the Mind” Track List:
1.The Death March of Bataan
2. Nailed to the Cross
3. Vendetta
4. Metal Alliance
5. Prisoner of the Mind
6. Futile Rebellion
7. Going For Glory
8. Ghost Rider
9. Raining Fire
10. Warlord
“We’re really big in Germany, you know,” states Dan Houser, bassist for Calgary, Alta. metal quartet Hellrazer. He’s kidding, but the fact of the matter is, the band does have fans worldwide, thanks to the MySpace universe. With over 24,000 “friends,” Houser cites it as their biggest marketing tool, except when doing “really ballsy things like call up promoters and …

Love is in the air, or maybe it’s all the pollution. Kinda depends on your perspective, I guess.
I’m not much one for the mushy stuff, but either way you look at it, Valentine’s Day is upon us, or VD, as I like to sarcastically refer. I’m more of a Victorian kinda girl. That intriguing era from which came all those really ridiculously insulting cards that come with a shot of vinegar in your Valentine. Never seen ‘em? You’re missing out. I really wish they’d make a comeback so I could …