Dark Tranquility perform live at The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Justin Michael Carriere By: Justin Michael Carriere Toronto, Canada - I have a confession: I am a death metal neophyte. For whatever reason, the genre just had not been on my radar for the longest time. Enter The Scandinavian Heavy Arts Tour (how bad ass is that title?!) … Dark Tranquility, early originators of melodic death metal, and fellow Swedes Soen ushered me into a new dimension

Niall Gunovski of PEACE BOND performs live at The Spot in Newmarket. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Newmarket, Ontario - You just never know what you are in for when you walk through the doors of The Spot on a Saturday night. Usually, based on the almost eligible band names on flyers posted around town and announcements on Instagram, you can be sure whoever is on the bill will be loud. However, for this show, tucked in amongst the chaotic fonts was an unusual

By: Mike Johnston - In another addition to Jack White’s ever expanding musical universe, this feels like an origin story. While part of The White Stripes duo, he became instrumental in the garage rock movement of the early 2000s. White’s double single release earlier this April saw a return to form in both sound, and chart performance. White’s diverse sound is hard to quantify, yet, “G.O.D and the Broken Ribs” feels like exactly that. Signature vocal distortions sprawl over a

Burning Witches perform live at The Garrison in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - Another night, another Garrison show, and honestly, I’m not complaining. I’m loving this venue more with every visit, even with the lack of a photo pit. But as a fan, it gets you as close as you possibly can get, and as a photojournalist, it allows close interaction with the fans. As Toronto finally shakes off the last of its winter hibernation, the str

Floral Park (L-R): Matt Deir, Julian Antonini, and Rob Bourrie By: Michael Drukarsh - The local craft brewery in Newmarket, The Market Brewing Company , seemed like a very appropriate place to meet for this month’s Local Artist Spotlight. The casual atmosphere suited Matt Deir, guitarist and lead vocalist, as he arrived sporting his denim and trademark cowboy boots. Following closely behind him, Julian Antonini lead guitarist and vocalist and Rob Bourrie on stand up bass an

Wacken Metal Battle Canada; Ontario Finals at The Garrison. Photo By: Michael Drukarsh By: Michael Drukarsh Toronto, Ontario - As part of the official WOA Warm-Up parties and in celebration of Wacken Open Air 's 35th anniversary, 35 concerts happened in 35 different countries on April 18th, 2026. Hosted once again by The Garrison in downtown Toronto, The Wacken Metal Battle Canada Ontario finals saw three bands, Dawn Vally, Misothronos, and Gravearth battled it out on stag

Wrong Way Records (l-r: Store Manager Adam Rayfield, Newmarket Mayor John Taylor, Owner/General Manager Ray Pelletier By: Michael Drukarsh Newmarket, Ontario - The doors to Wrong Way Records in Newmarket opened at 8:00 am on April 18 to celebrate Record Store Day Canada 2026 (RSDC). Arriving just after 8, I figured I would be there to watch as things got set up and ready for the day. Turns out, I was late... With growing anticipation of the special vinyl releases in honor

Raven perform live at The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, Canada. Photo By: Jay Broderick By: Jay Broderick Toronto, Canada - Thirty‑five minutes before "doors" (which is actually a curtain), the Horseshoe Tavern was already buzzing... a full line running from the curtains at the back of the bar area out through the front door, metalheads of all ages shoulder‑to‑shoulder, waiting for a night of pure, sweat‑drenched heavy metal thanks again to Inertia Entertainment . The air ha

Puscifer perform live at OLG Stage in Niagara Falls, Canada. Photo By: Justin Michael Carriere By: Justin Michael Carriere Niagara Falls, Canada - Puscifer . If you know you know... if not, then I’mma tell ya!! When you step into the Pusciverse, the chaos is palpable. A theatrical world of storytelling populated with characters straight out of a Hunter S. Thompson novel. Maynard James Keenan brought his merry band of misfits to a near capacity OLG Stage crowd at the Fallsv