Everybody wins

Back on June 11, I headed over to Mavericks to check out Edmonton's Striker, who were on tour behind their newish album, Play To Win (I was invited by their PR folks at Asher Media). Also on the bill: Local thrash giants Infrared and Cornwall's Unknown, who started things off; I've seen them before, at House of Targ. This time around they were performing as a trio. Here's guitarist and vocalist Joe!



Percussive action with Neight!



Bass action with Jay!



And so on!



More Neight!



The whole lot!



Extra Joe!



Neight sings!



Unknown action!



Jay sings!



Infrared put on a great show (come to think of it, Unknown was on the same bill at Targ the last time I saw them); here's drummer Alain!



Guitar action with Armin!



Bass action with Mike!



Guitar action with Kirk!



More Mike!



Armin sings!



Mike sings!



Infrared action!



And so on!



More Alain!



Headbanging action!



Even more Kirk!



Alain sings!



On to striker, who really seem to enjoy hamming things up on stage - they're proud carriers of the 1980s power metal torch! Here's new bassist Pete and returning guitarist Chris!



Guitar action with Tim!



Dan sings!



Pete sings!



More Dan!



Hair-tossing action!



Adam hits!



Tongue action!



More Adam!



Extra Chris!



Striking action!



A fun night out for fans of old school metal!

Metal thoughts

As both a giant nerd and a heavy metal fan, it's probably no surprise that I'm a longtime fan of The Lord Weird Slough Feg. I was glad to hear they had a new album out, and even happier to hear they were planning a summer tour that included a stop in Ottawa.  Also on the bill, likker New York trio Sanhedrin, Montrealers Cauchemar and locals Rockin' Engine, who kicked things off witha hard-rocking set. Here's guitarist Steve and drummer Joel!



Bass action with JP!



Guitar action with Ste Vy Leff!



More Joel!



Extra Ste!



Singalong action!



Rockin' Action!



Guitar action!



Upstanding action!



Cauchemar were on next; they sounded really good! Here's Andre on bass!



Gripping action with Annick!



Nightmarish action with Francoise and Joel!



More Annick!



Extra Andre!



More Joel!



Rhythm section action!



Sanhedrin played a great set as well. Here's Erica!



Guitar action with Jeremy!



Singalong action!



Nathan hits!



Extra Jeremy!



Extra Erica!



More Jeremy!



More Nathan!



Feedback action!



Hair-tossing action!



Slough Feg was everything I'd hoped to be; here's main man Mike Scalzi.



Percussive action with Jeff!



Mike sings!



Bass action with Adrian!



Lordly action!



More guitar action with Angelo and Mike!



Weird action!



Extra Angelo!



The whole lot!



Even more guitar!



Adrian sings!



More Jeff!



Metal action!



Porkpie hat action!



Super stuff!