Deveined was certainly not waiting for the end to come.
The local metal band is also the host and chief organizing force behind the Metallion Festival that just scored its third success only a couple of weeks ago. The band is becoming well known across Canada for welcoming a host of power players to the Prince George outdoor stage.
It was nonetheless a fist-pumping day when they got a call from the people arranging the tour dates for Canadian metal megaband Kataklysm. It had been three years since these music mavericks had released their international hit album Waiting For The End To Come, and it was time to release a new package to the world. The tour for Of Ghosts And Gods was in need of a Prince George date, but no local backer was known.
When Deveined was called for their advice - mutual friends were involved in the process - they simply took on the role themselves.
"All I hope for is to break even, but this can lead to many opportunities which hopefully end up with Metallion Festival reaping the benefits," said Deveined drummer Brad Foster.
Had Metallion ever approached Kataklysm about appearing at the festival in past years?
"Nope. We weren't at that level," Foster said, but as a one-off concert, the situation changed.
They got to this position because of Metallion, if the Kataklysm sales are as strong as Foster anticipates it will turn back into Metallion resources, and then Metallion will be able to grow and evolve and more realistically be able to bring in Kataklysm and bands of that size.
"It's a giant cycle of metal," Foster said.
For those unfamiliar with metal music or Kataklysm in specific, they were nominated for the Juno Award for Best Metal Album, won Metal Band of the Year at the Canadian Indie Awards, they've built solid fan bases on every populated continent (they were the first Canadian metal band to ever perform live in South Africa) and right now they are part of the Ozzfest super-cast on the same tour as such luminaries as Hatebreed, Suicidal Tendencies, Megadeth, Disturbed and, of course, headliners Black Sabbath.
The band is in the metal elite now, but it took them 25 years to climb there from their base in Montreal.
Of Ghosts And Gods is their 12th studio album.
They come to Prince George on Oct. 3 for a show at The Generator along with special musical guests Carach Angren, Flesh Martyr and Deveined.
Tickets will be $20 in advance (locations to be announced) and $25 at the door.
