Your Friend Death (l-r): Jacob Gerovac (guitar, bass), Ryan Boyer (vocals, Guitar), Owen Pantin (drums). Photo By: Allie Gerovac By: Jay Broderick - Mississauga’s Your Friend, Death, the band formerly known as The Boneheads, are changing their trajectory. With the name, a fresh identity and a sharpened sense of purpose. The new name isn't applauding death... it's a play on words to get you to open up and enjoy life and with that, the trio is pushing to build on the reputation

By: Jay Broderick - Los Angeles heavy-metal lifers Armored Saint have been carving their place in the genre since 1982, debuting with March of the Saint in 1984 and sharpening their identity across a catalogue that has always felt defiantly their own. For me, the band’s second and third records, Delirious Nomad and Raising Fear, remain personal favourites, even if they aren’t universally crowned as the band’s peak. Now, 44 years after their formation and nine albums deep, Arm

By: Mike Johnston - In another addition to Jack White’s ever expanding musical universe, this feels like an origin story. While part of The White Stripes duo, he became instrumental in the garage rock movement of the early 2000s. White’s double single release earlier this April saw a return to form in both sound, and chart performance. White’s diverse sound is hard to quantify, yet, “G.O.D and the Broken Ribs” feels like exactly that. Signature vocal distortions sprawl over a

By: Jay Broderick - Fifteen years ago, the Foo Fighters slammed the garage door shut, cranked the amps, and made the loudest statement of their career. Wasting Light wasn’t just their seventh studio album, it was a full‑throttle reset! No digital polish. No studio sheen. Just tape machines, sweat, and the kind of stubborn conviction that only Dave Grohl could turn into a mission statement. Recorded straight to analogue in Grohl’s garage and released through Roswell and RCA

By: Jay Broderick - While Raleigh, North Carolina's Corrosion of Conformity released their first album Eye for an Eye 42 years ago in 1984, I didn't become completely familiar with the band until their 1991 album Blind hit the airwaves. Yes, it was a little more accessible than the 2 previous records, but I personally love Blind and have been a fan of the band since I first heard it. Sadly, in 2020, Corrosion of Conformity lost their drummer Reed Mullin. Despite their pr

By: Jay Broderick - Sweden has never been short on ferocious punk outfits like Anti Cimex, and Raised Fist, but Dödsbringaren (translated to English as Bringer of Death ) arrives with a level of anticipation usually reserved for legacy acts making a triumphant return. The name might suggest a black‑metal onslaught, yet Bödel ’s debut is something far more volatile. It's a pure hardcore detonation. It’s political. It’s furious! It’s delivered with the conviction!! Front and

By: Michael Drukarsh - As we enter into 2026, the world is in need of more music. To answer the call, Ryder has put out a live recording, Live From The Dark . This 9 track release, slated for February 13th, puts the listener face to face with the band out of Queens, New York. The first thing one notices about the quality is that it sounds live, like kick you in the teeth live! This, as the band proudly brags, is because there are “no overdubs, corrections, or post-performan

By: Jay Broderick - Metallica ’s Kill ‘Em All is one of those records that feels untouchable. It is part of the foundation that thrash metal was built on. So when a lineup of heavy metal favourites gather to pay tribute with No Life ‘Til Leather , the stakes are high. The compilation wisely mirrors the original track listing (minus the "Blitzkrieg" and "Am I Evil" bonus tracks that were part of the Elektra Records re-release in 1988), and while authenticity is the guiding

By: Mike Grieve - “….And the moral of this story is this is what not to do if a bird shits on you”. The infamous words stated on an album released 40 years ago. An album that has stood the test of time, celebrates Iron Maiden ’s beast of a spirit and is considered to be one of THE BEST live metal albums of all time! Released on October 14th, 1985, most of Live After Death was recorded live in March 1985 at Long Beach Arena in California during Iron Maiden’s World Slavery T

By: Jay Broderick - One year shy of their 10th birthday, Ryder is a band out of Queens, NY that has been rocking the scene since 2016. After recent lineup changes, the band is currently consisting of James Ryder on vocals and guitar, Max Knight on lead guitar, Bill Peluso on drums and Rod Viquez on bass. The quartet is gearing up for their gig here in Toronto at The Rockpile on September 27. The visit here for the NYC rockers is in support of W.A.S.P guitarist 'Mean Man' C

By: Jay Broderick - Jane's Addiction ... no band name could ever be more fitting. While the name was inspired by a woman that lived with the band as they tried to gain ground in their chosen profession, it is also a direct reflection of the band members themselves. The struggles of vocalist Perry Ferrell, guitarist Dave Navarro, bassist Eric Avery and drummer Stephen Perkins is highly documented. Each member of the band spiraled out of control with heroin, cocaine and LSD ad

By: Jay Broderick - On January 27th, 1980 Australian Hard Rock band AC/DC played the last show of their Highway to Hell Tour at Gaumont Theatre (now known as the Mayflower Theatre ) in Southampton, England. The album was the band's real breakthrough, specifically in America. Despite 6 other offerings prior (and all superb records), the band was finally making their mark in the music world. Despite the highs, that final show would prove to be ill fated in its own right. It wo

By: Jay Broderick - In June of 2023, LoudTO was an official sponsor for the Indie Night in Canada event that took place at the legendary El Mocambo . I was on hand that night to personally cover that amazing showcase of some of Canada's top independent musical artists. Of the 18 bands on hand, one of the standout acts for me that night was a thrash/punk crossover outfit from Barrie, Ontario named Spades GT . In 2024, the Simcoe County Punks released their first full length

By: Jay Broderick - When you speak of thrash metal, it's tough to pick a number one band from the US. Metallica ? Megadeth? Slayer? Hmmmm... How about Canada? Sacrifice ? Razor? Annihilator? Perhaps just as tough. Let's move across the Atlantic to Germany. They've got Destruction, Kreator and Running Wild. Who do you place on top? For sure it won't be an easy selection. But how about the UK? Now, of course there are NWOBHM giants Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, and under the B

By: Jay Broderick - You know how sometimes things just hit you right? Like an author? Clive Barker always seemed to hit the mark. Or a movie director? Like, Brian De Palma was a genius! Not always winning awards, but it doesn't matter! You grow completely fond of the brilliant work. And then of course, there's music. With music, there somehow seems to be an even greater fondness for local artists, especially when they make great music. It hits us, and we love it! Niagara's

By: Jay Broderick - If there is any artist who makes the memories come flooding back like a tsunami for people of my generation and the previous, it's Bob Seger . I know this to be true for many people, even if they are a little more somber memories. For me, my thoughts immediately go to my brother. In the mid 1980s, he seemingly had Bob Seger playing non-stop in his Mercury Comet... on 8-Track no less. As the elder statesman, he would take me camping, and I fondly remember

By: Jay Broderick - You know those bands that just feel good? Like, as soon as you hear them, you get that feeling, and you smile? I know you know! Every single music lover has this. And sometimes, the bands that make that feelgood music are right in our own backyard! For me, it adds a whole other layer of excitement. As is the case for Niagara's Lonely Little Kitsch . Right around this time 2 years ago, I received an email from the band introducing themselves, and their deb

By: Jay Broderick - I'll admit, growing up, I was never a real Rolling Stones fan. In fact, as my musical tastes grew, I really disliked the bands that you heard every time you turned on Toronto's Rock Station Q107 . Led Zeppelin , The Stones, Aerosmith . It was all so overplayed in my opinion. I was so sick of it, and wanted something different. But I also just wasn't a huge fan of the music. That changed as I got older of course. I listen to a lot f classic rock now, but

By: Jay Broderick - There is much debate about who the true Godfathers of Heavy Metal are. Some will say Led Zeppelin . For me, that's a hard NO! Classic Rock, while some like Zeppelin have an edge, is simply Classic Rock. Deep Purple ? Well, this is where the conversation gets a little more challenging, especially with the band's music from the late 1970s to early 80s, but looking at their full catalogue, I don't give them the title either. For me, there is a hard, undeniab

By: Jay Broderick - Established in 1968, London, England rockers Deep Purple have had an amazingly long career. 57 years later, and the band is still touring and recording music. But things could have gone vastly different for the band when original guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left (for the second time) in 1993. In 1993, the band released their 14th studio album The Battle Rages On... While on tour promoting that record, Blackmore left the band. Unfortunately, the album is