Blogs

You’re dead to me, Canadian Music Week!

Canadian Music Week has always been the first weekend in March, and as such, I’ve adjusted/cleared my schedule accordingly for the past few years. But this year, they’ve decided to make a change, moving the event to the fourth weekend of the month. The official reasoning I’ve heard is they want to have it after SXSW, as if that would entice more bands to come up and play here. Hey, there are tons of amazing metal bands that just played SXSW–and I don’t see a single one on the bill for Canadian Music Week.

An open letter, and challenge, to Tommy Lee and Mötley Crüe

I’m Jay H. Gorania, a long time fan from way back when. You might remember me. I wrote you a letter when I was in the second grade in the early ’80s. Your address was available in the pages of some metal magazine. At any rate, I have a bone to pick with y’all.

Not only did you fail to respond to a boy who loved your band’s music, but you didn’t even have the courtesy to have an assistant pretend that they were you with a response letter. Screw you.

All That is Heavy II: Ottawa is Doomed!

When they did the first edition of this event, a fundraiser for local college radio station CKCU, I remember thinking, “Damn, that’s a great lineup!” Featuring four of Southern Ontario’s finest–Electric Magma, Gypsy Chief Goliath, Blood Ceremony and Sons of OTIS–there was really no reason that show couldn’t have happened in Toronto, cept nobody had the initiative to book it. But when I saw the bill for the sequel this year… Well, let’s just say the organizers are kicking it up a notch, and I definitely plan on heading up to the nation’s capital for this one.

Talking Blasphemous Baking With Metalcakes’ Kathy Bejma

There’s something evil baking in the kitchen of Kathy Bejma, a Chi-town native who’s creative to the max with her concept of merging metal with cupcakes. Developed in 2008, Metalcakes is a culinary tribute to her favourite bands, baking with supreme passion whilst listening to the most blasphemous of records. From the simple topping of whipped cream to the intricacy of edible flowers, Bejma’s blog includes a detailed account of each process, sharing her recipes with a global following.

Ola Mazzuca in conversation with Kathy Bejma about her blasphemous cupcake creations.

Section 302!? Damn you, Iron Maiden Fan Club!

Y’know, whenever I’ve seen Maiden at the ACC in the spring or the fall, I’ve always been able to get floors, but I’ve had no such luck at the Molson Ampitheatre. I was up on the Live Nation website as soon as the clock struck 10 this morning, and as a result of my efforts, I’m stuck up in Section 302, Row L–and it’s still costing me more than I ever paid for floors indoors!

A tale of two tours…

In case you missed the last episode of Days of our Black Sabbath, the band has pulled out of all but one of its upcoming European dates, citing Tony Iommi’s health issues. Meanwhile, drummer Bill Ward issued a public statement that he still wants to take part in the reunion, but is still waiting for a signable contract…

I’ve got these two Troubles troublin’ me…

If Black Sabbath are the grandfathers of doom, Trouble would be one of its uncles (along with Candlemass, Saint Vitus and Witchfinder General). But while grandpa’s mad ravings have been grabbing headlines lately, what with the whole Bill Ward fiasco, Uncle Trouble has been through quite the shakeup himself. In fact, it seems that there’s not one, but two Troubles nowadays. Say what?

So I missed the NFC Championship to see Ghost, but should I skip the Super Bowl for some Slow Southern Steel?

I gotta say, I’ve been pretty stoked for Slow Southern Steel ever since I first heard of the concept a couple years back. A documentary on the southern sludge scene starring Kylesa, Eyehategod, Sourvein, Zoroaster, Dixie Witch and Weedeater, to name but a few, directed by CT from Rwake, sure sounds like it’s right up my alley. And now that the film’s finally ready for release, they’re taking the show on the road, with screenings in 19 US cities opening for Zoroaster and sludge supergroup Hail! Hornet (feat. Dixie Dave, T.Roy et al). To say that I’m awfully tempted would be an understatement…