Electric Sleep in Hi-Fi

Newfoundland's sHeavy are one of my favourite metal bands. Unfortunately they don't get the recognition they deserve in their homeland - most of their bread and butter is in the U.S. and Europe. The group's last album was the stoner-space rock megalith Synchronized in 2002; since thing things were fairly quiet, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear they were coming to Mavericks to play a triple bill with Iron Giant and The Double Pumpers. I was kind of surprised that they played first, but they still rocked out.

Steve Hennessey does bear an uncanny vocal resemblance to Ozzy Osbourne, but with less swearing. He certainly moves about a lot on stage ... nice flares!



Dan Moore plays some barefoot wah.



Keith Foley on bass.



The band pulled along a second guitarist for their mini-tour of Ontario; I believe this is Tommy Boland who also helped out on their live DVD recording, but I can't see his face, so if it's a case of mistaken ID I apologize in advance ...



Original drummer Ren Squires has departed. His replacement was Kevin Dominic, but if hearsay is correct this is actually an even newer drummer named Alex.



Rock action!



All together now!



Their new album Republic? is out imminently.

• Show reminder: Robot Kill City, Viscera's Recital, Sleeping Pilot and The Bridegroom play Mavericks; Ottawa webzine Fountain is holding a shindig at the Avant-Garde Bar with Haligonians Sharp Like Knives, Be Bad and Gilbert Switzer, The Love and Terror Cult from Toronto and Strawman Fallacy from Mississauga.