Metalfest is about to erupt upon Black Pirates Pub for two raucous nights.
Thursday, June 16 will see Without Mercy, Striker, and Kreise perform. Friday, June 17 Aegaeon, Depths of Hatred, and Slavestate play. Solartide and Femur are also on the bill. Cover is $10 nightly.
DJ Temple isn’t the name of metal’s sickest DJ. In fact, he isn’t a music spinning DJ at all. Karate master and guitar slinger DJ Temple is the founding member of Canadian metal titans, death metal band, Without Mercy.
Also known as The Ginger Tornado (for real) Temple has become accustomed to having people grab his hair, and having his songs Chasm and Slit featured in Rock Band 3. Make no mistake, the music is equipped with death metal signature guttural vocals and distorted guitars.
Music is his full-time job. And he’s humbled by the fact that music which he wrote in his hometown of Abbotsford, BC has reached as far as Thunder Bay.
“This all happening because I wrote a bunch of songs a few months ago and released it. We’re playing 23 shows in 30 days and I get the opportunity to do this. It’s awesome.”
Temple is more than happy to chat about it from his hotel room, on a day off, chilling in Winnipeg. If anyone wants to help these road dogs out, bring them air fresheners. By the time they hit Thunder Bay, they’re going need them!
Angie Valente, tbnewswatch: Has Without Mercy ever played Thunder Bay?
DJ Temple: This will be our first time. We’ve never played past Winnipeg before, this is going to be nuts. We’ve been hearing about the venue for years. We’re super stoked for it. It’s the first time that we’ve been able to make Thunder Bay work logistically, so we’re pretty jacked about that.
AV: You’re taking part in MetalFest, a 2 day festival, rather than a typical one-off gig. Any thoughts on the event?
DT: There are amazing acts playing, we looked at the bill. We can’t believe it. This is our first time out and this is what we’re being included in! We have a really cool time slot too. If you look at it from our perspective, we wanted to play and we got offered the festival.
AV: How’s the tour been treating you so far?
DT: It’s been cool. We’re playing places we haven’t played before. The crowd reaction is so crazy in some of the towns. The surreal part is people knowing your lyrics, it’s dope. I’ve never experienced that. They’re screaming along. It’s like a night off for me, we pass the mic along, and they lose themselves in the pit. It’s a great time.
AV: What do you attribute the sing-alongs to?
DT: Our music videos play a role. We have lots of different publicity and promotion happening that is reaching a wider based audience. The content is also translating well. We’re singing about a lot of real life stuff. It’s relatable. Things like I’ve got a dick-head boss or teacher or step-father. Songs relate to people that way. At the end of the day it makes people move. You want to move and get into it.
AV: How is the mosh pit action? Is everyone taking part?
DT: Both girls and boys are moshing. The mosh pit is alive and well, we’re seeing it in true form. The art of enjoyment and expression is alive and well.
AV: Last month you re-released the EP Mouichido featuring Mark Hunter of Chimaira. What did Mark bring to the mix?
DT: Aside from the obvious that he adds clout to the record, Mark and I had been talking for months about various projects. I presented the idea and he was into it, the stars aligned! He was super cool about doing it and he added a cool vocal dynamic. My biggest regret is that we couldn’t hangout and develop it even further.
AV: Your singer is intense. Listening to him makes my throat sore!
DT: The technology is actually mind blowing. There’s so much to it. Pushing air through at a rapid pace. It’s channeled through their throat and tongue placement. It’s a technical form, which is sick.
AV: How long have you been playing guitar?
DT: I’ve been playing seriously for 14 years. I started the band so I’ve been playing in the band for ten years. We formed in 2006, that’s when we started playing live.
AV: Without Mercy have been around for a decade. How has the state of metal changed?
DT: We’ve seen the flow. It’s something that speaks to a group of people and people gravitate to it. We stay true and true to real situations.
Striker are a power heavy metal band that hail from the depths of Edmonton, AB. They bring with them a new wave of heavy metal, and a motto of “full speed or no speed.” Touring in support of their latest (and fourth) studio album, “Stand in the Fire” they are currently on a Canadian tour of the same name. The record was released on their own indie label, Record Breaking Records. Striker are proud endorsers of local Edmonton craft beer Yellowhead Beer. Bottoms up.
Metalfest hits Black Pirates Pub for two days only. Without Mercy, Striker, and Kreise play Thursday, June 16.
Aegaeon, Depths of Hatred, and Slavestate play Friday, June 17. Solartide and Femur are also on the bill. Cover is $10 nightly.
