KEEW back on the radio (May 22) and IASPM Canada comes to Hamilton (May 23-26)

If you've been following along, you know that Kill Eat Exploit the Weak started as a campus/community radio program but went off the air (after many years) when I moved away from Kitchener-Waterloo. You'd also know that I've been dabbling in campus radio again during the last couple of summers, co-hosting a fill-in show for McMaster's CFMU 93.3FM on Saturday nights: Hellbound Summer Metal Meltdown.

hellbound summer metal meltdown continues (plus more to read)

Hellbound's Summer Metal Meltdown is on air again tonight on CFMU 93.3 FM. We're down at least one voice since Heavy Metal Adam is off gallivanting around Europe but the show goes on!

And while I'm on the subject of Hellbound... Our Maryland Deathfest recap continues with Day 2 and Day 3. Plus Hellbound's 2nd birthday celebrations are ongoing as well, with more staff interrogations. Mine went up this week!

With all this going on, among other things, I'm having a hard time keeping up on all the cool new releases that have been coming out lately (never mind the mediocre and bad ones...). I did manage to cover a couple things for exclaim.ca though, including

the North American release of Anathema's We're Here Because We're Here

and the new Amorphis, The Beginning of Times.

more post-MDF fun

Wooeee! Hellbound.ca's MDF day 1 recap is up now. Check it out. (more to come)

Don't forget to read our 2nd birthday celebratory staff interviews while you're there, especially the one with Kieran, the oldest son of Hellbound overlord, Sean.

... and, in my last post, I totally forgot to mention my favourite Maryland Deathfest purchases!

I'm cheap, on a tight budget, and get totally overwhelmed when there's too much selection. With multiple vendors, official merch tents, and scores upon scores of clothes, patches, pins, cds, vinyl, and even cassettes, the shopping-oriented part of my poor brain had a minor short circuit at the fest. Despite that I came out with a souvenir MDF shirt, a couple Kylesa records I hadn't gotten around to picking up before, and - I am excited to add - a Cemetary shirt plus a double Morgion album from Relapse. After being soothed by Solinari earlier this morning I'm now peacefully dooming out to Among Majestic Ruin.

stronger than metal (I am not) and happy birthday, hellbound!

Monday evening I arrived home from Maryland Deathfest: four nights and two afternoons of live metal bombardment, sandwiched by two days of first class heavy metal roadtripping. It was an amazing time with awesome people. I, however, am now a lump of aching, viral-infested quasi-human flesh. Was it worth it? Of course! Will I again sit in a vehicle (admittedly, a comfy one) for sevenish hours each way and stand on concrete for four days - all in the name of metal? Don't doubt it! (that's assuming I survive the recovery process...)

My initial review of the four-day MDFest is already up at exclaim.ca. And stay tuned for Hellbound's MDF coverage of the performances, to which I will contribute, starting this Friday. For now, I'll just say that I was delighted to be provided with free water and to a selection of vegan/veg food to eat while I was there: veggie burgers, veggie penne, hummus and chips, fruit salad, all provided by the on-site food tent, plus veggie and fruit kebabs offered by the Hollywood Diner just outside the gates. I'd also like to throw some heavy metal horns of thanks to the hotel staff who greeted us warmly every time we made our way through the front doors, and to one man in particular, who made sure to say goodbye at the end of his shift and give us a cheery 'see you next year'.

We Hellbounders will have our say about the music, plus some live photography courtesy of Albert Mansour. But I know Kevin Stewart-Panko was engaged in some people-watching as well so I expect some amusing quips on more than just the bands. If you're looking for more insight into the festival experience, check out the four part MDF round up already in process at Toronto in Metal - as told by a chick. Alexx and her dude Kevin generously chauffeured me and Heavy Metal Adam to Baltimore, and I look forward to her entertaining commentary, photos, and links to live fest video clips.

And speaking of Hellbound.ca, we're two years old today! I'm thrilled to have been a part of things for the past two years and look forward to many many more. Celebrate with us on the site or, if you like, by tuning in to hear some of us hosting Hellbound's Summer Metal Meltdown on McMaster's CFMU this Saturday night at 10:30pm.

p.s. my review of the new epic My Dying Bride - Evinta, is also now up at exclaim.ca.

Maryland Deathfest and other updates

Ever been to an American metal festival? I haven't. But that's about to change. Tomorrow I embark on a heavy metal road trip, tagging along with three veterans to this year's Maryland Deathfest in Baltimore.

I'm particularly pumped to see Cathedral - probably for the last time, sadly. I saw them perform once in 1993 and it's about time for a follow-up. I missed Kylesa their last fewvisits to southern Ontario, so I'm looking forward to that because I've been digging their latest album. And though mid-era Corrosion of Conformity is my favourite version of that band, I won't turn my nose up at their vintage line-up, or at the Aura Noir set scheduled right before. And Marduk? Sure. Neurosis? Absolutely! Even more absolute: Voivod. Can't wait! I'm also geared up for Hooded Menace, Inquisition, Skinless, Ghost, Nuclear Assault and more, plus hoping for some delightful sonic surprises.

Check out Hellbound's MDF previews for a run down of a few of the bands:

• Maryland Deathfest Preview #1: Thursday, May 26
• Maryland Deathfest Preview #2: Friday, May 27

Last week's Hellbound Summer Metal Meltdown was our MDF preview show on McMaster's CFMU. I'm not sure when I'm back on air again but I'll try to remember to post a reminder.

I've been caught up in legitimate (ack!) work and academic conferencing (Popular Culture Association of Canada inaugural conference) so my review writing has fallen a little behind. Stay tuned for my thought's on My Dying Bride's new symphonic epic Evinta. But in the meantime, a belated link to my review of Samael's Lux Mundi. And I may tweet from the fest if my digital tether remains intact.