Two of Canada’s best kept heavy metal secrets united their forces to release this split and it’s a wonderful slap of fun. Both bands are offering one new track and one cover each on that limited tape released by their chums of Chicago’s Hoove Child Records or on digital if you prefer to use modern technology.
Ezra Brooks (a brand of Whiskey) is Shawn Vincent’s solo project. The musician from Calgary is currently known for being the founder and one of the creative brains of Toronto’s epic heavy/doom darlings Smoulder but before the release of their acclaimed debut full length, Vincent released the excellent demo/extended play Target (that the Magickal Realm covered). On Ezra Brooks, his vision of arcane heavy metal can be fully established as he’s the sole man in charge. His contribution here is “The Road to Allinam” and that’s a fantasy (his own world, if I’m not mistaken) heavy epic with strong riffs and a legit bass section in the middle. There’s also a lovely guest solo of Manacle’s Inti Parades as well. The track feels like a normal length one pushed to eight minutes, it works well as I didn’t felt it was overlong at all. There’s no real breaks in the riffage. Shawn isn’t a singer and he knows it so the vocals are pushed back to the background but I love how it gives the band an aura of ancient mysticism. The cover he did is Rotting Christ’s Dive the Deepest Abyss from their classic album Thy Mighty Contract and the epic Greek faster track was a good choice for his style. It brings a slight blackened edge to his side of the split.
Emblem (from Newfoundland) released one of the best heavy metal albums of 2017 with their debut self titled record and then released an explosive track on the Trapped Under Ice compilation (get this if you haven’t yet, it’s incredible), they offer us some more meat while we wait for a followup album. “Silver Springs” is a track about the fountain of youth and it has this truly epic approach with strong vocals from main man Harry Clarke reminiscent of the late Michael Grant (Crescent Shield) with their rough but evocative power. It’s a track full of quality leads and captivating melodies pushed forward by the talented twin guitars of Drew Knees and John Cooper. Emblem are pretty unique and forward thinking for a heavy metal band, maybe it’s due to Newfoundland’s geographical isolation. Their cover here is “Black Wing”, from cult Montréal band Thunder Rider. Pretty much Quebec’s sole answer to Manilla Road. It was cool to see Emblem play this cover live with one or two members of the covered band in attendance. It's a subtle song with clean guitars and an enjoyable tin whistle attack at the end.
The twenty minutes tape does a good job showcasing two of our best bands. They evolve in the same epic heavy metal vacuum but are also entirely different in their own ways. Essential Canadian metal, for sure. I’m very stoked to hear what those two bands can do.
Ezra Brooks on Bandcamp
Emblem on Bandcamp
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