THE GREATEST UNDERGROUND SHOW ON EARTH
It would be an understatement to simply say that the metal scene in Calgary, Alberta had a good year. It is just an insight to what really is becoming an increasingly huge emergence of the metal scene throughout Canada. Make no mistake, the metal scene has always been consistent and thriving, now it’s just switching gears and hitting the passing lane. Calgary’s metal community has a lot to be proud of, and when I say community, I mean community. This is probably the key ingredient that contributed to its massive success and growth. There are many factors, better support from more venues than in the past, solid promoting and marketing by the local promoters. A solid, loyal, dedicated, and rapidly growing fan base. New emerging bands forming and joining the already growing list of solid seasoned bands. The list goes on. What you are left with is all the ingredients for the scene as a whole to explode into 2006 and blow any misconceptions that metal is on the decline.
Cyclone Records is set to release “The Greatest Underground Show on Earth” on February 28th, a compilation cd featuring 14 of Calgary’s best metal bands showcasing the various sub-genres of metal. With this latest release combined with numerous other recent metal releases including Inner Surge, Wormbox and Ontario’s Pitch Union, Cyclone has let it be known that they are rapidly becoming a leading metal label. Keep Cyclone’s site on your desktop because there are many more exciting upcoming releases in the works right now.
After my first listen to the cd my first thought was, hats off to Phil Demetro and The Lacquer Channel, who mastered this compilation. It is no surprise that they have the reputation as Canada’s premiere mastering facility. Wow, the quality is superb. With such bands as Rush, Peter Gabriel and U2 under their belt it really is no surprise. The entire cd is a crushing assault of pure metal riffage. Every band is unique in style, but the cd still remains true to classic metal form. This great cd is only a small portion of the artists and talent that Calgary has to offer but it serves as an accurate representation that will bring together musicians and fans in the promotion of original music. It captures the essence of what has been building in Calgary over the past year or so. For some it will be an introduction to a scene that they never knew existed, for others it will simply be a reaffirmation of what they have known all along, metal is alive and thriving and is gaining genuine and well deserved recognition from fans, the media and peers.
Yes, we are well into 2006 and I can think of no better way to celebrate the oncoming year than to pick up a copy of “The Greatest Underground Show on Earth” and get a taste of what you are in for in the upcoming year. A year in which everyone is going to be reminded about what real metal is all about and once and for all prove that the scene cannot be ignored any longer.
Congratulations to all of the bands on this cd. It is a huge accomplishment and will be a genuine keeper to be listened to for years to come.
Martin McNeilly
http://www.albertametal.net
