Monday, May 28, 2012

Another Local Metal Video Showcase!!

For the first time in over three weeks, we have a local metal video showcase for you guys on this last Monday of May! It's all about videos this morning, including a new solo performance, plenty of new songs by a resurfacing metal band, a look at a prominent local band's recording process, and leading things off, your first glimpse at a new metal quartet, so here's what you need to know!

It's about time for our first glimpse of new local stoner metal quartet Giwakwa... well, half of them! During a jam session yesterday, footage of Giwakwa guitarist Chris Page and new drummer Chris Thompson playing an original song named "Endless Bummer" was shot by an attendee and posted on to the band's new YouTube channel earlier today, but how does it sound? Catchy heavy riff with solid drumming, and there's definitely a good base here for an original song, but you can tell it needs some extra work. There's no vocals or bass (Jason Bourcier's not featured & Nolan Rainville's still out of town), and the guitar is a bit repetitive early (and lacking a solo), but I like where Giwakwa are going with "Endless Bummer"! If they can build on this with a fuller lineup and the talents they possess, they'll definitely be a band to watch when Nolan comes back home in a few months, so check out this jam of "Endless Bummer" below, and stay tuned for more Giwakwa updates as they roll in!



Next up, while Sault Humane Society Battle of the Bands winners Late & Loud are still on their break, fans can be tided over via a new video on their YouTube channel! Along with a re-upload of a March concert video from another channel, they uploaded a short 59 second video filmed by guitarist Brendan Christie of their home recording setup at "the Tiberi Villa" yesterday, which also features the other band members doing everything from using a broom handle for a musical purpose to laying down. Nothing too shocking, but it's an interesting watch, especially to see the homemade operation for the production of their first demo! Also in recent news, Late & Loud recently indicated on their Facebook page that they're looking for a hot red muscle car to use for their first ever music video, which is planned to be directed by local photographer Allan Brunke, though specifics on the video (including which song the video will be for) have yet to be publicized. I'm definitely curious to hear more on this project, and as details come in, you'll see them here, but for now, give their new recording session video a look below!



Also today, do you guys remember a Sault Ontario metal band named AlterWhite? They were formed early last year by local musicians Mike Matthews & Kevin McCarthy, and were actively using & posting songs to their Facebook page & YouTube channel through last June, but public information on AlterWhite dropped off for almost a year. It was actually nearing time to list them as inactive on the site, but they've surged back into view this month with lots of new updates (including a "show" on May 19th at "Harrison's", that I knew nothing on), but the bulk of the new updates are in the form of six new audio tracks on their YouTube channel! In lieu of their 2011 demos (which were deleted from YouTube, though not Facebook), they've posted a new version of their song "Help From Above" and new tracks named "Anomaly", "Prison of You", "Half Breed", "Proud", and "Wolfbane Blooms" onto YouTube, so click each link to check them out! Note that their re-recordings of their song "Lost Souls" & their old covers weren't among the new uploads, but the band's promising more songs in the next few weeks, so they could be coming then. The new originals have definitely benefited from better recording quality and production, along with mixing the tracks to make everything sound like there's a fuller band, so they're a step above last year!

That said, there's work to be done still. I think Mike overdoes it at times on vocals (though his Hetfield-esque tone is nice to hear), and some songs can be a bit repetitive. Plus, some lack more than others in terms of needing a full band, but AlterWhite are definitely progressing forward well enough! I have no idea why public updates stalled for almost 11 months, but it's nice to see Mike & Kevin keeping at it, and hopefully they can continue to do the right things to move up the local metal ladder! Here's one of the new highlights "Prison of You", but check out more from AlterWhite at the above links, and stay tuned for more from them in the next few weeks!



And finally, here's a surprising new cover from ApocalyptiCDistroyeR frontman Jesse Middaugh, as he posted a cover of Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling In Love With You" onto the band's YouTube channel on Saturday! Jesse's vocals suit the song's mood, but it's too slow paced and simple compared to his talents, but admittedly, this is coming from a guy who isn't a fan of Elvis Presley's music. I might not be the right person to critique it on that basis, but if you wanna hear a well performed cover in a softer style, give Jesse's new video a look below!



That's probably all for today, but stay tuned for more news and our Insipid Brutality album review this week! Thanks everyone!

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