Where tribute is due

>> Metal Made in Quebec marks the 25th anniversary of hard, hairy music chez nous

SPEED THRASH METAL MACHINE: Dead Brain Cells

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Way back when the underground metal scene first reared its ugly, acne-infested head with a windswept mop on top, Montreal was one of the main contenders for metal supremacy. On the international scene, bands like Possessed, Bathory, Metallica, Slayer, Exodus and others were taking points from the U.K.’s Venom, the twin guitars of Judas Priest, the ferocity and volume of Motorhead and adding some much-needed speed, borrowed from the emerging hardcore scene. Forming a Bermuda triangle of thrash metal, the three main hotspots were Montreal, Florida and the South Bay. Montreal was, and is to this day, considered one of the biggest metal markets in the world.

In the fall of 1982, in the remote mining town of Jonquière, there was a band combining their love of Discharge, the Sex Pistols and Motorhead with this new wave of thrash, providing the real ground zero for Montreal metal. “When Voivod formed is when I consider Quebec metal really starting,” says the organizer behind the three-day Metal Made in Quebec festival, Maurice “Two Minutes for Looking So Good” Richard. “There were other hard rock bands like Sword happening before them, but the real beginning of underground metal out of Quebec started from those humble beginnings in Jonquière 25 years ago.”

There can be little doubt about the influence that Voivod has had on metal, or even alternative music altogether. Just ask disparate artists, from Ryan Adams to Steve Albini to Neurosis. It is only fitting that the recently departed Voivod guitarist Denis “Piggy” D’Amour will be posthumously inducted into the Quebec Metal Hall of Fame, the first local musician to receive the honour. This tribute, to take place on Saturday, Sept. 1, will include some words from Voivod singer Denis “Snake” Belanger and others, a special video presentation on the band as well as a 20-minute medley of Voivod’s ’80s output as performed by the band’s bassist, Jean-Yves “Blacky” Theriault, and Martyr guitarist Dan Mongrain. “He was such a humble man and at the same time such an amazing musician. I really wanted to do something special for him, and for his whole family to be coming down for the event makes this whole thing really special to me. I hope, for metal fans who are younger and might not know Voivod, that they’ll realize the effect Piggy had on metal, on a lot of the bands they listen to.”

Looking back, and ahead

This event may come across as a history lesson about the good ol’ days and, to a certain extent, that’s what it will be. Richard has set up the fest so that the first night will feature Quebec metal from the ’90s, with a return from Obliveon, Necrotic Mutation, Demence and Agony, while the second night concentrates on the ’80s, with Dead Brain Cells, Soothsayer, Damnation and the Affected. Finally, on the third night, there is a showcase of Quebec’s current metal prospects with Negativa, Brief Respite, Empathy Denied and Descend Into Nothingness.

True there is some weight to the old adage that those who refuse to acknowledge their history are doomed to repeat it, but Montreal is hardly the elephant’s graveyard of metal. Just look at the worldwide success of Cryptopsy, Kataklysm and the more recently deceased Gorguts, and Montreal still proves to be a major metal player. This city is still best known for its ravenous metal fans though, with many touring acts spending as much time in Quebec alone as they do in the rest of North America. Montreal still boasts the highest attendance on any metal band’s tours, both underground and mainstream. “The Montreal metal scene has never been more vibrant, but unfortunately, it’s also harder for local bands to get on bills because most major tours are usually promoted as a package. That’s why I am so excited about the third night because a lot of local bands just don’t get a chance to play Montreal that often, and people really need to see them.”

Overseeing the reunion of eight bands, on top of the Herculean task of organizing an event with 12 bands over three nights, juggling production costs, arranging promotion, video projection and live filming (and more), Richard hasn’t let the hard work grind him down, even when I speak to him in the 11th hour. “The thing is, if you really like metal, you do it for the passion, not the money, and even after all of these years, I still love it.”

All ages shows at Club Soda from Friday,
Aug. 31–Sunday, Sept. 2, 6:30 p.m. each day.
Tickets cost $25 each on Friday and Saturday,
$10 on Sunday. Three-day passes are available
for $50 (go to www.lemetalstore.com for details)