The thunder rolls again this summer at Brookside Resort.
The Metallion Festival has announced the lineup for their 2016 realm of metal fury. It is the third annual rendering of this fleshy festival thick with drums, plump with bass, juicy with guitars and serrated with lashing vocals.
The festival was the invention of local metal band Deveined and the past two versions were so successful the hat-trick was set up for this coming Aug. 12-14.
Some of the headliners this year include Gladius Sky, Tyrant's Blood, Iron Kingdom, Hellchamber and others.
"The assembly of the lineup is the same as always: we invite the people we want to hang out with for the weekend." said Deveined member Brad Foster.
"Some bands, like Cocaine Moustache, are crowd favorites, while new bands like Gladius Sky feature Prince George talent - Taylor Pottle from local band Axis Disrupt - so they are instantly popular with locals."
The one criteria Deveined does impose on themselves during the structuring of the show is the word diversity. Foster said efforts are made to ensure the bands don't all sound the same. Now that they are three years into the process, making those arrangements is easier.
They and many of the possible bands have had conversations over time and gotten to know one another.
"Gladius Sky is a band that I am proud to have gotten. I see big things for this project," said Foster.
"Also, Tyrant's Blood. This is year three of our fest, and year three of trying to get them here. They are all friends so it is important to us that all our friends' bands get to come here. That is what the fest was based on, from a conversation between Sean Robinson and Tyrant's Blood's guitarist Marco Banco. He wanted to come fish and camp up here, so Sean made it a little bit bigger than that and made this festival."
Another key feature for local metal fans is the reunion of one-time P.G. favourite Godless. Foster was a member. This year marks the 20th anniversary of their one and only album release, so a reconstitution show was created.
"The other guys in the band are like brothers to me, so it will be special," he said.
"This festival was built on good times with good people," Foster explained. "The good people of B.C. and Alberta who travel here for the fest make it. Nothing we do as fest organizers can replace that natural happiness. The people will dictate how big this gets, as it should be."
He pointed out the growing support of local companies as another reason the festival's sustainability is becoming more assured. The owners of Brookside have always been solidly in their camp, and last year BK Two Way Radio and Cat Rentals donated tents and generators that were key to the event's success. Foster stressed the importance of not trying to get rich off of what is essentially an organic activity. Concert promoters are advised to live well within their means.
"Any local support goes a long way for us. We are a small festival run by three guys with normal lives (kinda) so any dollar we can save is one saved from our own pockets," he said.
Watch the festival's Facebook page for ticket release information. Once released, presale tickets will be $65 with the price rising up to $80 closer to the event.
The Metallion Festival roster for 2016 (in order of appearance):
Friday
Crucible of Scorn
Seraphic Nihilist
Odinfist
Hellsmen
Tide Of Kharon
Mathias Rock
Gladius Sky
Touch The Sun
Xul
The Order Of Chaos
Cocaine Moustache
Saturday
Splashlog
Azrael
Kleaver
Red7
Cadaveric Lividity
Flesh Martyr
Obsidian
Krepitus
Godless
Zuckuss
Deveined
Iron Kingdom
Hellchamber
Tyrant's Blood
