Bash for thrash

It might seem like I spend my time camped out at the House of Targ; with Mugshots, Raw Sugar, The Daily Grind and (the soon-to-return) Gabba Hey out of action, there hasn't been the same opportunity to catch live music at some of my favourite venues (not to mention the winter slowdown). However, I do still head downtown on occasion, and a week ago I paid a rare visit to Ritual to catch some metal action; Sweden's Enforcer is on tour with Canucks Cauldron and California combos Warbringer (who are co-headlining) and Exmortus, who kicked things off with some thrashy sounds. Here's frontman Jadran Gonzalez!



Mike Cosio is under there somewhere.



Headbanging action! (That's guitarist David Rivera at left, drummer Mario Mortus at right.)



Guitar action!



David sings a bit!



Rhythm section action!



Grimacing action with Mario!



Tippy-tappy action!



Hairy action!



Extra David!



Cauldron played next; Jason Decay's folks came up from Pembroke to check them out (Mrs. Decay told me to take a picture of her young man, so I did!).



He's under there somewhere.



Percussive action with Myles!



Heated action!



Jason sings!



Guitaraction with Ian Chains, seen quite recently at Targ slinging his axe with Chainbreaker!



Ian sings!



Rhythm section action!



Myles sings!



Rhythm section action!



Extra Ian!



Enforcer have been making quite a name for themselves with their NWOBHM-styled speed metal; they certainly act and dress with a certain 1980s flair. Here's the appropriately attired Olof Wikstrand!



Vocal action with Tobias Lindqvist!



Guitar action with Joseph Tholl!



More Tobias!



Percussive action with Chris Stephenson!



Even more Tobias!



Extra Olof!



Fretful action!



More Chris!



Gripping action!



And so on!



More guitar action!



Horned action!



It was co-headliners Warbringer's turn to end the night, which they did with some thrashy death sounds. Here's singer John Kevill and Jadran from Exmortus pulling double duty at right.



Jessie Sanchez of numerous bands (including Others) handles bass duties.



Facemaking action with Jadran!



Carlos Cruz hits!



The shouty bit!



Faceoff action with Adam Carroll's back!



Extra Cruz!



More Adam!



And so on!



A good time was had by all!



Even better, there wasn't the usual dire lineup at the coat-check when things wrapped up.