Basalisk demo EP Review

 The first time I heard this band it was live as local openers for Montreal's Barn Burner. During their set, I could hear the influence of bands such as Iron Maiden, Mastodon and Scale the Summit. A quick glance at their ReverbNation page reveals their influences listed as those three bands. Whether it's a lucky coincidence or they changed it after reading my live tweets that stated as much, I don't know. What I do know is that combination, with some Children of Bodom and Metallica thrown into the mix makes for four tracks that I feel are very good as they are but hint at the promise for even better things to come. This demo material is mostly based on concepts/songs first conceived about 6-7 years ago. Thus they reflect the struggles of later adolescence yet convey a maturity not seen in some people twice their age.

“Undone” is poetic representation of a common problem with those in their late teens and early 20's. You struggle to define yourself but it doesn't really work. So as the depression sets in, drugs become the answer of choice. Of course, in most cases, this only exacerbates the problem. It works for the moment but eventually you will become “Undone”. This hits home with me. In my first year of university, I sank hard trying to be what I thought others wanted and when that didn't work, I turned the drinking from social party guy to literally sitting alone drinking my sorrows away. I came “Undone”. It's in this song I heard the most Mastodon influence. Especially in the powerful chorus. It's fitting for just screaming it out to release whatever it is you have bottled up inside. “Reject. The Flesh. Upheaval. Destroy. Embrace. The Death. Becoming. Undone.”

“Chasing Me” opens with a sweet Iron Maiden style lick before evolving into a deeply personal and somewhat cryptic tome full of struggle and pain. Despite feeling hopeless, the character still retains enough fight to carry on. The duality of pain and anger (those feelings almost always run together) is reflected in vocalist James Wartman's vocal style which balances maturity and malice..

On instrumental “Abaddon” keyboardist Matt Kidson really gets to stretch his fingers out. It's still a guitar driven track but the keys are given more room to find their way to the forefront. The band's prog tendencies are on full display here. This is the track that made me think of Scale the Summit. It's like waves of the heavy, punchy (think Metallica's Justice and Metallica) and the softer, soaring keyboard parts. Drummer Thomas Fleming shows off here as well with timely accents and fills and does more than simply keep the beat. I got over my instru-metal phase a few years ago but I can still be swayed on occasion and this song does the trick. It actually opened me up to try the new Pelican EP that I was going to pass over.

The organ-ic tone of the keys on “Antitheist” really sets the mood for this track which is basically calling out organized religion. An infectious and groovy riff plays with the creepy keys until Wartman boils over with unrestrained venom. The frustration of the previous track's trials take their toll and he lashes out. It's placement at the end of the EP is quite cathartic. It also works well as a show closer.

The EP was recorded – rather hastily – for Band Slam Kingston prior the performance at which I first saw them. At the time of the recording they were without a bassist. Between then and the show they added Greg Sheir on bass and his addition really beefs up the overall sound and completes the band. Basalisk is working on revamped versions of the songs on this demo that include Shier as well as new tracks. The band is surprising themselves with the direction of the new material so I imagine us listeners will be surprised as well. Whether they get heavier (my hope for anyone) or proggier makes no matter. Basalisk, in my opinion, are a band to watch for in the Kingston scene. Hopefully they can get the opportunity to showcase themselves more in the area as well as spread their music beyond the region. Other cities (and you!) deserve to hear this band.

www.facebook.com/Basalisk1

www.reverbnation.com/Basalisk

www.twitter.com/BasaliskBand

BARN BURNER and guests at The Mansion, Feb. 25, 2012

Some things in life are a given. The oceans will be salty. The government will suck. And Barn Burner will put on a great show. It's natural. It's logical. It's a universal law. In this case, Barn Burner just happened to be headlining. As an added bonus, the three local support acts didn't totally suck. Win-win!

The night's festivities were kicked off by a band called Basalisk. This young band really impressed me. Definitely not a one-dimensional band, they mixed a handful of styles into their songs. I could hear influences ranging from Iron Maiden, to latter-day Mastodon and other proggy outfits. The keyboards were a pleasant surprise. I'm not much for keyboards unless  they're Hammonds and I was worried the Korgs would remind me too much of Dragonforce but that wasn't the case at all. I could put it this way, when I noticed the drummer was wearing a Scale The Summit shirt, I was not in the least surprised. The band gave me a copy of their demo and I look forward to giving it the full treatment in a future KofN post.

 I have to be honest. I don't remember much of Ponderous Chain. Their set coincided with the peak of my 3 tall cans of PBR buzz. I haven't seen them play with a clear head yet. It's not intentional though. The tiny stage at The Mansion can tend to hinder the performance of the band but these guys didn't let it get in the way. However, the somewhat technically precise nature of their music doesn't necessarily lend itself to much in the way of jumping around and such. I originally labelled them "Meshuggah-core". While not entirely inaccurate, it was kind of an off the cuff remark. While not nearly as "djent" as Meshuggah, that "flavour" struck me along with their otherwise melodic deathcore sound. I'd have to hear them again to really figure it out, but I can say, their performances have been improving each time I see them.

As of yet, I have been unable to find any sort of internet presence for Vera Pearl. Thus, I had no idea what to expect. Sometimes that's for the best. You can't be disappointed that way. There would be no chance of disappointment anyway. Vera Pearl floored me. Despite being down a couple regular members and having the venerable Dan Vokey (ex-I Hate Sally, ex-The Chariot) fill in on bass/vocals, they still delivered an extremely energetic and intense show. Math-core, noise-core, whatever you want to call it, it hit me like a cinder block to the face. Complicated arrangements, red-faced screams/bellows/yells, absolutely crushing (on a small kit) drums and a tight, tight performance left nothing to be desired. Except more of it. These guys could do some damage on the Canadian scene alongside KEN Mode and Fuck The Facts. And beyond.

 With what little hearing I had left at this point, it was time to damage some other parts of my body. You guessed it. Bangin' time! Montreal's Barn Burner blew the roof off that place. By my estimate, the turnout was low for a Saturday night. But what may have lacked in numbers, was counter-balanced by enthusiasm. Adequately lubricated by $4.25 tall cans of PBR, the gathering of bangers put on a clinic in "How To Fuck Up Your Neck." But that's typical for a Barn Burner show. Tunes like "Scum of the Earth" and "Holy Smokes" were made for banging your head. The Kingston show was originally supposed to be in support of Priestess (as I assume the rest of the date on the mini-tour were). But from what I hear Priestess is pretty much kaput. Barn Burner decided to press on and as such, turned the string of dates into headlining gigs. Deservedly so. During part of guitarist/vocalist K. Keegan's always entertaining between song banter, he informed the attendees that the last handful of shows all went very well. He said "That's what we call steady giggin'".That would actually sound pretty good as the name of their as yet untitled third album. Bangers III: Steady Giggin' sounds pretty good to me. In fact, Barn Burner played two songs from said (unsaid?) album. The first was untitled and the second was dubbed "No Rest For The WIccan".Both were rip-tacular. Don't you just love the BB play on words? As on other setlist inclusions such as "Beer Today, Bong Tomorrow "(one of my personal faves), "Dark Side of the Barn", and "Brohemoth". Their phenomenal set was bookended by "Earth's Crust" and "Wizard Island". They say "Saturday night's alright for fighting". Not this Saturday night. This Saturday night was alright for banging. I can't think of a better band for a night of beers, bongs, bangin', and the brotherhood of metal camaraderie. All hail the Giggernaut!!

Barn Burner's most recent release, Bangers II: Scum of the Earth is now available on vinyl! Get it here: www.barnburner.bigcartel.com  But, um, save me one will ya? I've been busy.

www.twitter.com/MetalMatt_KofN