Heavy TO (that's where I'm gonna be)

Several years ago I missed out on my chance for a road trip to Montreal to catch the inaugural edition of Heavy MTL, the first of Canada's now annual, simultaneous, two-city summer metal festivals. But that was 2008. Since then I've made it to the following Heavy MTL in 2010 and Heavy TO in 2011, and now I'm just about set to cover Heavy TO once again.

Heavy TO 2011

Heavy TO fest takes place this Saturday and Sunday, August 11 and 12, at Downsview Park in Toronto. I'm a little bummed it's the same weekend as Hamilton's Festival of Friends, meaning I miss a free performance by The B-52s. But I'm super excited to be seeing a bunch of bands I haven't seen in a long time or in some cases have never experienced live at all.

I'm going to be spending most of my weekend camped out in front of the two stages at Downsview Park, but I can guarantee that's where you'll find me when these bands are playing:

• Overkill (my one Overkill show was a great performance at Lee's Palace many years ago - I can hardly wait to see them again)
• The Dillinger Escape Plan (I interviewed and then witnessed DEP in a small club in Guelph many years ago. I'm way overdue for more)
• Suicidal Tendencies (when I was 17-18, ST were my favourite band for a while and I think this will be my 5th time checking out their live show. I hope they've still got it!)
• In Flames (yeah, they kinda lost me in recent years, but I've never seen an In Flames show I didn't like)
• Origin (this will be a first time for me - looking forward to it!)
• Fleshgod Apocalypse (possibly the most bombastic band on the bill? the apocalypse awaits!)
• Kataklysm (for how much I appreciate Kataklysm I'm surprised I've so seldom seen them perform...)
• Killswitch Engage (I had my Killswitch Engage moment, including one really enjoyable show. I hope this is another)

I'm also intrigued to see, for the first time, the big name bands and expect them to put on a damn good show, not just headliners System of a Down and, yes, even Slipknot, but also Marilyn Manson. (Manson, I'm putting in a request for "Dope Hat" right now!)

Providing my phone stays charged I expect I'll be sending out the odd live-tweet over the weekend, but I'll be getting a little more wordy for Exclaim.ca, reviewing several bands' performances. Keep an eye out for the review postings if you're so inclined.

summer metal festing (Heavy TO and more)

Now that we're half way through June I'm starting to look ahead to my summer concert plans a bit more seriously. This year I'll be staying fairly close to home, but just in southern Ontario there's more coming up than I can possibly make it out to. Here's a rundown of some of the shows I'm considering or recommend.

I already mentioned this one - this weekend, Invasion Infernale Fest 2012, a two-day black/viking metal festival here in Hamilton. It takes place at The Doors (tonight) and The Corktown (tomorrow).

Though there are some more worthy events planned in June, I might save myself (and my money) until July 2, when The Scorpions hit Molson Amphitheatre in Toronto. If I don't see these guys before they retire my life will be incomplete.

The next couple of weekends look to be a busy one. 3 Inches of Blood are scheduled to play the Casbah in Hamilton on July 5. Plus there's a memorial event at the Opera House in Toronto for fallen metal warrior Rob Cranny on July 7.

Friday the 13th is Iron Maiden day in Toronto, another Molson Amphitheatre show, and they're dragging Alice Cooper along to Sarnia the day after for Bayfest. That same night Shockwave Festival, featuring Voivod and Fear Factory rolls into Toronto, swinging back around to Buffalo the following week (July 21).

Agalloch with Taurus and Muskox hit Toronto on July 23 - a highlight of Inertia Entertainment's strong summer line-up.

And it looks like our local metal festing culminates in August.

• Heavy TO: Last year was a blast and this year's line-up looks to be even more diverse. Never having seen Marilyn Manson or Slipknot, I'm hoping for memorable spectacles from both. Plus I feel a little warm and fuzzy about seeing old favourites like Overkill and Suicidal Tendencies. And I'm definitely looking forward to the bombastic onslaught of Fleshgod Apocalypse (or, as I prefer to call them, Fleshgods of the Apocalypse) and a host of other bands.

• I've never been, but Southern Ontario Metal Festival looks to have some cool bands lined up, including Blackguard and Unexpect.

• And August comes to a close with D-TRASH fest 2012 at the Cave, part of the wind-up to the release of a brand new Schizoid album. (more to come on that in future posts)

 Looks like I might have to stock up on vegan protein balls or something to power me through!
 

march metal continued

A reissue:

Woods of Ypres - Woods IV: The Green Album

A new release:

TesseracT - One

And a page full of Hellbound playlists.

Next up: Agalloch live in London, Ontario!

Catch today's Heavy TO line-up announcement? As much as I love Megadeth, Opeth, and Auf der Maur, and enjoy most of the other bands on the list, it's not much different from last year's Heavy MTL line-up. (my socks have not been rocked)