Tag: Edmonton

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Combichrist

Great Makeup Job on Andy LaPlegua
Great Makeup Job on Andy LaPlegua

Combichrist is an aggrotech and industrial metal music project formed in 2003 by Andy LaPlegua, who is also the founder and singer of Icon of Coil, Panzer AG, Scandinavian Cock and Scandy.

Born as Ole Anders Olsen on September 15, 1975 in Fredrikstad in Norway, Andy LaPlegua, is currently based in Tennessee, United States.

Combichrist is one of the most representative groups of the alternative electronic music scene worldwide. Their sound has taken on different nuances throughout their career, but always with a distinctive electronic tinge.

In 2003, Combichrist released the EP Kiss the Blade. Shortly afterwards came the first full-length album The Joy of Gunz. The album contains mostly instrumental tracks consisting of aggressive beats and samples from movies, something that is not unusual in the genre. In 2004, the EP Sex, Drugs and Industrial was released.

2005 was the year that the band began to define their style of music as TBM (Techno Body Music) with the release of the song “This is TBM” on the compilation album Techno Body Music volume 1.

In 2007, What the Fuck Is Wrong with You People? was released, becoming a best-selling album on both Metropolis Records (USA) and Out of Line (Europe) labels.

During the 2009/10 tour, Combichrist accompanied Rammstein as the opening act for their concerts, which greatly increased their popularity.

In 2013, Combichrist released the album No Redemption, made specifically for the game DmC: Devil May Cry. This album contained more of an industrial metal and metalcore sound, which was something they would keep on their two albums after – We Love You (2014) and This Is Where Death Begins (2016).

While on tour following the release of the album We Love You, Andy proposed to his girlfriend Layna and she excitedly accepted.

In 2013, Combichrist released the album No Redemption, made specifically for the game DmC: Devil May Cry. This album contained more of an industrial metal and metalcore sound, which was something they would keep on their two albums after – We Love You (2014) and This Is Where Death Begins (2016).

I took pictures of Combichrist at New City Suburb in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada:

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Bands

Billy Talent

Due to Physicality of Live Shows, Benjamin Kowalewicz Sings Without Shirt
Due to Physicality of Live Shows, Benjamin Kowalewicz Sings Without Shirt

Billy Talent is a Canadian punk rock band from Mississauga, Ontario. It was formed in 1993 with Benjamin Kowalewicz on vocals, Ian D’Sa on guitar, Jon Gallant on bass, and Aaron Solowoniuk on drums. No formation change was made until Aaron’s departure in 2016. He was replaced with Jordan Hastings of Alexisonfire. In 13 years of existence, Billy Talent has sold more than a million albums in Canada, and nearly three million globally.

Members met and played at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Secondary School under the name of Pezz. They remained underground in the Toronto independent music scene until 2001. The group renamed itself to Billy Talent because of copyrights issues. They then signed a contract with Warner Music Canada and became popular.

I took pictures of Billy Talent on October 18, 2004 during their live show at Red’s in West Edmonton Mall, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada:

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Bands

Alexisonfire

Clean Vocalist for Alexisonfire - Dallas Green
Clean Vocalist for Alexisonfire - Dallas Green

Alexisonfire is a post-hardcore band from St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. The band was formed in 2001.

Alexisonfire has five members. They describe their music as aggressive and full of energy. An exclusive sound, especially thanks to the multiple range of several unique singers.

Dallas Green provides melody with his soft vocals. George Pettit is the opposite with his explosive screams, and with the punk rock vocals of Wade MacNeil, this all forms a one-of-a-kind mix.

As clarified by the band, the name is pronounced “Alexis On Fire” and not “Alex Is On Fire“. It pays tribute to the stripper and porn actress Alexis Fire. She threatened to sue when she found out, but since she never trademarked the name, no lawsuit came to be.

In early August 2011, Alexisonfire disbanded, but in early March 2015, the band announced on their Facebook page that once again they were going to tour.

I took the pictures of Alexisonfire during their live show at Red’s in West Edmonton Mall on April 10, 2005.

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Bands

Agnostic Front

Backlit Roger Miret
Backlit Roger Miret

Agnostic Front is an American hardcore punk band from New York, founded in 1980. They laid the foundation for the hardcore genre, New York branch, and pioneered crossover thrash, the style of combining hard punk with metal.

The band ranks among the most prominent representatives of specific New York hardcore alongside Sick of it All and Madball (Madball’s singer Freddy Cricien is the brother of Agnostic Front’s singer Roger Miret).

Agnostic Front has gone through a number of members in all positions and at the end of 1992 the band broke up. They resumed their activities in May 1996. Since their inception they have released 11 studio albums, 1 compilation, 5 EPs, 4 live albums and 3 DVDs.

I took the pictures of Agnostic Front during their live show in Starlite Room in downtown Edmonton on May 11, 2005.

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Bands

3 Inches of Blood

3 Inches of Blood Headbanging on Stage
3 Inches of Blood Headbanging on Stage

At the time when true metal was being pushed aside by all kinds of nu metal genre, 3 Inches Of Blood hit the eardrums of guitar-powered music fans with old school heavy metal.

Hailing out of Vancouver in British Colombia, Canada, 3 Inches of Blood took all that made metal great in the 1980’s and brought it back to life through the early 2000’s.

3 Inches of Blood continued to play until 2015, when they announced they would be disbanding after two final shows in their hometown.

I took the pictures of 3 Inches of Blood during their live show at Red’s in West Edmonton Mall on April 18, 2005.