Video: "Mamawawa" by Jimbo

Let's talk about some friends from the Great White North. Let's be honest, there's absolutely no nation on this Earth that's better than Canada.

They gave us ice hockey, skunky lagers, and toques. What they didn't know is that we're Americans and when you lend us something, we take it re-purpose it, call it our own, and then pretend like you didn't have a damned thing to do with it.

Also, the St. Louis Blues beat the Winnipeg Jets...the team most pundits were picking for the Stanley Cup.

ST. LOUIS WON THE CUP!

While we're all still getting chills about the Stanley Cup here in The Lou, maybe you've heard Gloria one too many times because you're not in St. Louis.

Maybe you need some Proto-Post-Alterna-Grunge from Kingston, Ontario. If that's the case and you like your music a bit on the political side, Jimbo has a track you should hear.

Also, they've got a new EP coming out this month. Keep an eye on their BANDCAMP for the info.

Taco Grande with Ian Blurton

Ian Blurton

Some days I remember that this December, I'm going to be in Mexico for my tenth wedding anniversary. Hard to believe it's been that long for me.

But while you're thinking about wedded bliss and all those sorts of things, it's really best to start thinking about Veteran Canadian rockers, like Ian Blurton.

Here we have Ian Blurton talking to us about Mexican food. It's very, very strange how the world works out sometimes.

In the meantime, get in on his latest record, Signals Through The Flames, which you can get in CAD!

Seriously, get in on those CADs.

Taco Grande with KOSM's Erik Leonhard

KOSM

If you turn your head slightly to the northwest, but look past the Pacific Northwest South and into the Pacific Northwest North, you'll see that beautiful city of Vancover, British Columbia.

And if you've ever been there, you'll know precisely why back in the day is 48 40 or fight.

But apart from being a target of American Imperialism in the 19th century, Vancouver is also home to KOSM.

This quintet has a brand new EP that's dropping today.

So of course we're going to talk about tacos.

But in the meantime, get with them on the WEB or FACEBOOK.

But in the meantime, TACOS.

Vinyloscopy with Chris McCrimmon of Widow's Peak

Widow's Peak

Let's get down with Widow's Peak. That name brings up two things in my diseased brain:

Totally Metal...and my mom.

My mother has a widow's peak. She's always had it and hates it. I'm totally jealous, because I have a receding hairline. One of us looks way more metal with our hair pulled back into a ponytail...or in my case a man bun like the Ginger Ale dude.

Anyway Widow's Peak is more of the former than the latter, or my mother hasn't been totally open with me.

My newest favorite Calgarians (who aren't Brian Sutter) are about to hit the road all the way across Canada. Though there's only ten provinces in their home and native land, they're going to pound the holy living hell out of all them with their death metal.

Alberta is getting 8 shows. EIGHT SHOWS in Alberta. Widow's Peak is doing this the old fashioned way. 

In the meantime, check out their debut EP, Graceless, which will only cost you $5 CAD ($3.75 USD) via Bandcamp.

The best shredder this side of Medicine Hat, Alberta, talked to us about some records. 

Check it.

Taco Grande with Chaps of Hellnite

Hellnite

Mexican Thrashers Hellnite are getting ready to hit the road across Western Canada.

Look out Stampeders, here comes Hellnite.

Interestingly enough, Paolo took the band from Mexico City, Mexico and relocated them to Edmonton, AB.

That might be the strangest relocation story I've ever personally heard as a pretend journalist and as a fan. It's not uncommon to move your and somewhere more advantageous careerwise, but this one is a bit of a puzzler to me.

Especially considering the climate. Mexico City is a very clement place to live. It goes from 43 to 86. That's kind of like San Francisco.

But Edmonton is a hellish nightmare of a wintery deathland.

Anyway, check out these Mexican Ex-Pats as they crush across Canada. Pick up their latest album on AMAZON.

In the meantime, let's talk about Tacos.

Vinyloscopy With Pastrami of KOSM

KOSM

Once more into the breach we'll go with KOSM.

What more can I tell you that you don't already know?

Well, let's keep it simple.  Our friends are from Canadian Florida. That's right, pals, they're from the greatest city in the world to have not won a Stanley Cup in the NHL: Vancouver, British Columbia.

Now that YOUR St. Louis Blues have joined the club, we can poke fun...so LOOK OUT WINNIPEG!

Oh, I should've warned you in the first round, huh? It's uncertain if KOSM themselves are hockey fans and stereotyping is now appropriate at Glacially Musical, but Canadians LOVE hockey like Germans LOVE David Hasselhoff...so I'm going to assume.

Anyway, this hasn't been about KOSM really, but if you haven't yet, head over to their BANDCAMP page and check out their latest album, Cosmonaut. You can get that for $10 Canadian which is only $7.50 USD.

Now let's talk about records.

Pizza Pie Do or Die with Gone Cosmic

Gone Cosmic

On April 19th, Gone Comsic released their epic thumper of a record, Sideways In Time.

You can preview the disc on BANDCAMP.

The space metal quintet from Calgary recently lent us one of their many members in order to discuss the finer varieties of Pizza.

Check it out below and be on the look out for superfluous U's!

I joke about the Canadian usage of the letter U, but it's always really cool getting folks from other countries to give us the lowdown on their hometowns, record stores, or just pizza in general.

Sometimes getting a look from an outside perspective is cleansing and pizza is delicious.

1. Pizza is the world's most perfect food. This is not up for debate. Please define pizza as based on your geographical location.

Classic Spins with Jon Howard of Imonolith

Imonolith

Have you ever wanted some of your favorite and most popular (and therefore best) modern metal acts to get together and write tunes?

What if The Devin Townsend Project, Strapping Young Lad, Threat Signal, and the mighty Fear Factory all found themselves in the studio and recording?

Well, then TECHNICALLY, from a certain point of view, you'd have Imonolith. This Canadian five piece has members from all of those bands, and even more.

You can check out the video for their latest single HOLLOW.

But for now, let's talk about music with John Howard.

1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite. Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why?

Vinyloscopy with Centuries of Decay

Centuries of Decay

If it's been a little while since you've heard some atmospheric metal, you may wish to take the time to check out Centuries of Decay.

You might find that their name and their style don't necessarily make you think of what most people would refer to as Atmospheric Metal, but that doesn't really mean a whole lot.

They play loud and hard, but they create a vibe...or an atmosphere of brutality.

If you're lucky enough to be Canadian, you can glimpse these fellows live on the stages starting next month as they trek across the provinces of their home and native land.

Classic Spins with Chrisitan M. Theriault of Backstabber

Backstabber

It's time to had back to less traveled areas of the Great White North.

Here in the States, when we hear the name Quebec spoken...immediately, we think of the very cosmopolitan city of Montreal.

Some of us hockey fans will also consider Quebec City too, but there are a great number of other square miles...I mean kilometers in the Province of Quebec to explore.

Today's subject, Backstabber is from the town of Rouyn Noranda, PQ.

I have no idea where that is. You can learn a bit about the place on Wikipedia though. There's no shortage of educational opportunities at their BANDCAMP page as well.

But let's learn about records now.

Classic Spins with Marc Durkee

Marc Durkee

There are so many different cool places in the Great White North.

Interestingly enough, this is my second article on a Canadian and I'm presently listening to The Great White North by Bob & Doug McKenzie. 

This all just happens to be a series of happy coincidences.

Also, in another coincidence, Marc Durkee is another progressive metaller, but he's from the other side of Canada. 

Hailing from Nova Scotia, he's been making music but now he's releasing it under his own name.

Check that stuff out on BANDCAMP and read more below.

1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite. Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why?

Taco Grande with Ferdy Belland of Phaeton

Phaeton

Welcome to the latest column on Glacially Musical:

Taco Grande.

This column's title was lovingly stolen from the Weird Al Yankovic song of the same name. 

Let's face facts, tacos are delicious and they deserve a bit more recognition.

What makes them perfect for musicians is that they're easy to eat while you're on the road. It's hand food, like sandwiches, but way better.

For our first go, we have indie instrumental prog metallers from the uncivilized center of British Columbia, Phaeton.

If it escaped your sphere of influence and didn't go into your personal orbit, check out their self titled debut record on BANDCAMP.

Pizza Pie Do or Die with Zero Fire

Zero Fire

If you haven't by now, check out Zero Fire.

You'll be glad that you did.

In the meantime, let's talk pizza while you check out their BANDCAMP.

Talking Pizza with Canadians is always my favorite.

They add those cute, little, superfluous U's and talk about Canada.

Oh wait, I mean Caunada.

1. Pizza is the world's most perfect food. This is not up for debate. Please define pizza as based on your geographical location.

ET: Pizza in Hamilton and Ontario at large is just a mirror of other types of pizza across the globe. We have our typical chains — Domino's, Pizza Hut, Papa John's; with the added bonus of Ontario's least favourite pizza company, Pizza Pizza. 

Classic Spins with Getaway Van

Getaway VAn

Let's get back together with Getaway Van.

It would appear that they're trying to lose us, but when you're so fancy you have a legit website, how hard you really trying?

By the way, check out GETAWAY VAN's site.

In the meantime, let's get spinning.

1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite. Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why?

Charlie: I honestly can’t say that I necessarily have a favourite concept album, as it’s not a driving factor for me in my music tastes.

 However, if it counts, I’d probably go with Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness by The Smashing Pumpkins.


Zack: That's a tough one.  Hmmm, lately I've been really loving ‘In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel’. 

The music is beautiful, ranging from incredibly soulful, and emotional acoustic ballads, to intense, almost punk rock adventures through the narrator's story.  With themes of love, loss, and the Holocaust it's hard not to let this one get in your head, and heart.

Pizza Pie Do or Die with Adam Pell of Accursed Spawn

Accursed Spawn

When you need something to smile about, Ottawa, Ontario might just have something for you, or maybe it's just me, being a hockey fan here in St. Louis, MO.

Though 98% of all NHL fans believe in the lie of the Original Six. There were actually four original teams in the National Hockey League and only two of them still exist. Of the two that do not, one was the Ottawa Senators.

Who moved to St. Louis to become the St. Louis Eagles.

Anyway, that has nothing to do with Canada's Capitol City Catterwaullers: Accursed Spawn.

If you're into that heavy music livin', smash down their latest record on BANDCAMP. You even get to buy in Canadian Dollars!

For the low, low price of six Twonies, you can slam your face to The Virulent Host.

But for now, let's talk pizza.

LP Review: "Signals Through The Flame" by Ian Blurton

Signals Through The Flame

So, there's this gentleman by the name of Ian Blurton who just so happens to be a 35 year veteran of the Canadian music scene.

Thirty Five years!

When he started, Kiss was old and Zeppelin had already broken up. Yes, time is making fools of us all is it not?

In those three and a half decades, Blurton has played in 40 bands and more than that, he's produced, engineered, mixed, etc over 100 records. Hmm, is there anything this jack of all trades has never done?

Yes, it's released a solo record. Unlike folks like Ace Frehley, David Gilmour, Roger Waters, and others, he could in fact wait to release that overly self-indulgent album.

The album itself is why I am here speaking to you today though and what of it? It's that sort of side rock that gives off a faint whiff of metal, but mostly retreats back into hard rock territory.

This record is the farthest thing from self-indulgent. There's nary a guitar solo that's in poor taste. They all service the song and the player second as Satan intended. Signals Through The Flame just strikes all of the right notes.

It's a little spacey and a little normal. This album is always straddling two lines. Two armies are fighting over an imaginary line in the dirt. This disc is the result of those two armies moving forward and retreating.

RELEASE 6/7/19 BANDCAMP

LP Review: "Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring" by Smoulder

Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring

Respect the process.

That's what Ben Folds told us during his all request paper airplane tour thing and it stuck with me. The all encompassing and all powerful process helps me.

Today the process was kind of a failure. After skimming through over a hundred emails to find the quality, the goal, the diamond in the rough...the process had come up empty.

Then this little script flipper came up.

Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring is the debut album by a set of Torontonians.

In some ways, it's the epitome of 80's Heavy Metal. Look at that cover. It's colorful, cool, and straight out of Conan The Barbarian.

The tracks are riffy and thick. The kind of music that the person who hates heavy metal in 2019 can really sink his teeth into. For me, I love metal in 2019 and this album still kicks major ass.

Smoulder respected the process and came out swinging with this thumper of a debut record. Here's to hoping is all up from here.

RELEASE 4/26/19 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

Beer Thirty With Erik Leonhard of KOSM

KOSM

Again, because I'm cold it's time to check out another warmer weather band. 

So allow me to introduce you to Vancouver's own: KOSM.

Here's a band that loves HP Lovecraft. They just released a concept record based on Lovecraft's stories.

Personally, I haven't read any of the man's work, but his influence in pop culture and metal cannot be denied.

If you're into metal, beer, and Chutulu, READ ON! But, check out COSMONAUT while you're doing that.

1. My personal favorite beer style is the might Double India Pale Ale. The best DIPA in the world is STLIPA by Urban Chestnut. 

Tell me about your favorite style.

I like IPAs quite a bit. I think I lot of people dismiss them immediately because of the bitter taste, but there’s nothing quite as refreshing as an ice cold IPA on a hot day. 

Really though, my favourite style of beer is probably German Wheat Beer. I specify German mostly just because of their purity laws. 

I find that a lot of producers of wheat beer get really carried away with adding a ton of fruit flavours. There’s nothing really wrong with this, but in my opinion you can’t beat a plain wheat beer. 

My favourite is Franziskaner, which is tragically not available in B.C., Canada, where I live. 

Beer Thirty With Malacoda's Vlad Prokhorov

Are you familiar with the strange beings of Malacoda?

They're from a town in Ontario...Oaklville. Honestly, that superfluous L quite bothers me. There's no reason for that L to exist unless the city of Oaklville, ON was in some sort of feud with Oakville, Manitoba.

This scenario only works if Oaklville is in the part of Ontario that threatened secession in order to join Manitoba. It's the area of Canada I refer to as Manitario.

But I'm fairly certain no one else does.

In the mean time, get your horror rock on with them...but first let's have a beer.

1. My personal favorite beer style is the might Double India Pale Ale. The best DIPA in the world is STLIPA by Urban Chestnut. 

Tell me about your favorite style.

Bookin It With Ciarán Neely and Davey Whiteof Pterodactyl Problems

Pterodactlyl Problems

The Torontonian quartet, Pterodactyl Problems, who've been idle lo these past five years are back.

They're bigger than ever?

They're ready to crush all our faces off with their comeback LP, Esoteric Hobbies.

You're just going to have to look into that album HERE. This disc is interesting because it's a reunion/comeback/debut album.

In the meantime, let's talk about books! 

1. I try to read at least two books per month, and mostly fail, what's your goal and reality?

C: There's no real specific amount I'd like to read, and I think it'd be hard to make a goal on that since the amount of free time I have is so inconsistent. 

I think my goals are more about how much of that free time I spend on reading. Billions of dollars are spent nowadays, figuring out how to make your electronics all as stimulating as possible, and keep your focus glued to them.