holiday tidbits

Did you know there's a vegetarian food bank? I just found out today - courtesy of Niagara Action for Animals. The Ontario Vegetarian Food Bank has two locations in Toronto, providing food aid for vegetarians of various spiritual, ethical, and health-conscious persuasions, and meat eaters as well. From their website:

The Ontario Vegetarian Food Bank (OVFB) is the only one of its kind in North America and was officially opened on May 11th, 2008. We provide fresh fruits and vegetables along with “vegetarian friendly” non-perishable food items to our clients. Along with these foods, we also provide counselling and referrals to other social services in the GTA.

Volunteer or make a donation if you want to help out.

And if it's the animals you're partial to helping... drop by the Savage Garden (Toronto) for a charity fashion event featuring by To Die for Designs, Cinched Tight, Cyberdog, Lip Service, and Vexy. DJs Razorgrrl, Panzer Glamour, and Pale provide the soundtrack and all proceeds go to Haven of the Heart, WSPA and Soar. It all starts 9pm on Boxing Day.

a concept album about the exploitation of animals

A few days before Adrian Bromley died, he sent me an email about one of the upcoming releases he was doing PR for through his company, Ixmati Media. I'd heard of the band, Deadlock, before, and knew there was a vegan connection in there somewhere. Reading through the song titles of the new record, Manifesto, it was pretty clear that the band's concerns about animals persist: "Martyr to Science," "Seal Slayer"...

I received the album in the mail today from LifeForce Records. I've only given it one listen, so the jury's still out as far as my assessment of the music goes (on first hearing it seems a little heavy on the melody side of the melody:aggression ratio) but I have to respect Deadlock's willingness to take an unequivocal ethical stance.

The description on the slip cover describes Manifesto as an album of "melancholy and dark undertones" but with a "positive outlook," despite its "conceptual storyline" about "mankind's gorging and exploitation of animals" - more positive, in fact, than Earth.Revolt (2005) or Wolves (2007). I'm actually still waiting to snag myself a copy of Wolves, which I found about through Herbivore magazine not too long after it came out... Apparently there's a lot of indie material before Earth.Revolt that I haven't heard either.

There's already a video for the track “The Brave / Agony Applause” up on YouTube - check it out, if you're so inclined - some interesting imagery, probably not what you'd expect.

metal scene loses one of its finest...

... and I lose a great friend.

Adrian Bromley - metal journalist, editor, publicist, and generally pretty incredible guy - passed away in his sleep yesterday. Most recently Adrian has been known as the co-editor of Unrestrained magazine and owner/publicist of Ixmati Media but for the past fifteen years and more he's been known as one of the metal scene's strongest supporters and most vibrant members.

Memorial notices for Adrian have been posted at Bravewords.com and Eye as well as numerous other sites - a clear indication of how much an impact he has had on the (metal) world.

My first knowledge of Adrian was during his days as a writer for M.E.A.T. magazine (Metal Events Around Toronto, I think it stood for). I remember reading his work for some time and then finally seeing him as well - when a friend pointed him out (in his Monster Voodoo Machine shirt) at a Slayer show. I met the man about a year later, around the time he and Gino Filicetti were launching Chronicles of Chaos. They interviewed Burton C. Bell, I interviewed Dino Cazares, but before that the three of us chatted for some time, waiting for Fear Factory to ditch Much Music for us.

Before long Adrian and I were corresponding and talking on the phone and have stayed in touched ever since. Back in the early days of our friendship Adrian supported my band with reviews, an interview, cd sales. I wrote a little for him then and much for him later. We hung out at shows and the odd party and bought each other drinks. We took a road trip to Montreal (along with a few others) for Voivod's last CD release party. He played host and tour guide for me and a good friend in New York City. He worked as liasion between me and the bands I interviewed (and occasionally befriended). He introduced me to the delightful feline, Yosemite. And he's left an indelible impact on my life.

Adrian Bromley will be missed - by his family, his friends, his colleagues, his cat, and by me.

Intertia Entertainment will host an event in honour of Adrian at the Opera House in Toronto on January 17, 2009.

UPDATE: The Bromley family is accepting donations in memory of Adrian - all donations will go toward funeral arrangements and any remaining funds will be given to charity in Adrian's honour.