It's Canada Day up Canada way ...

[Mendalla]

Wednesday is our national holiday. Anyone got exciting plans (besides melting if you're in Ontario like I am)?

For me, it's probably just a day off. Maybe catch some Canada Day stuff on TV, write (there's a new comp on my NSFW writing site), and put on some Canadian metal.

Yes, really, we are a very metal country. From early acts like Lee Aaron and Helix in the 80s, to metal pioneers like technical death metal OGs Cryptopsy, to contemporary acts like Anciients (two-time Juno winners) and Spiritbox (who should win a Juno one of these days but keep getting beaten by Anciients), metal is very much part of this country's musical DNA.

One band that kind of flew by me originally is London, Ontario-based Kittie. Part of the nu metal scene in the late 90s, they are led by sisters Morgan and Mercedes Lander. They went on hiatus for a while in the 2010s, finally returning in 2022 which when I finally discovered them (hey, I wasn't into metal in the 90s and 00s).

The lady doing the lovely growls is Morgan Lander. Her clean vocals are pretty good, too.

Archspire is a hot, relatively new technical death metal act out of Vancouver and another Juno winner. Their 2026 album Too Fast To Die, which basically sums up their musical style, has been turning up on the best of lists from many of the metal podcasters I watch. Probably another Juno nomination coming for this one (they've been nominated for Metal/Hard Rock Album twice, won once).

So, yeah, I'm going to be headbanging my way through Canada Day, I guess. What about the rest of you?

 

[Jaebius]

Don't think I'll be doing much for Canada Day. Do have a Canada T-shirt I'll probably wear.

Used to celebrate Canada Days with my Mom at Centennial Park in Etobicoke. They were good times. So if I see some ribs available somewhere decent I'll get them

Happy birthday Canada

 

[Mendalla]

So if I see some ribs available somewhere decent I'll get them

Kalbi are better than our ribs anyhow.

Just looked at the lineup for Parliament Hill and the big national evening show and other than Barenaked Ladies and Alessia Cara, I don't really know any of them. A couple by name but don't really know their music. Not a single rock band in the bunch as far as I can tell. I'm not so naive as to think they might actually put a band like Spiritbox on the Hill on Canada Day (they should, but I'd be stunned if they did) but we have lot of good mainstream hard and soft rock bands. And the Guess Who, Rush, and Triumph are all back together, though Rush is off somewhere on tour, I think. Oh well, BNL are always good for some light, fun pop so maybe I'll tune in for them. Haven't heard Cara in a while, either, and she was quite an impressive young up-and-comer when she first hit the charts with "Scars To Your Beautiful".

 

[Nancy]

I did the International Bridge Walk on Saturday, in honour of our two countries’ birthdays. Wanted to have a picnic tomorrow but heat and rain might interfere.

 

[Mendalla]

Wonder what Canada Day is going to be like here. Forecast is 34C, humid, with 40% chance of showers and risk of a thunderstorm. Not great for outdoor events.