They hit the ground hard, & never looked back, on a voyage to conquer the METAL WORLD. With a debut album as gripping as their name, Vancouver canucks TITANS EVE exploded onto the Canadian market with oversized momentum, vicious riffs, & intellectual lyrics that would challenge even the greatest philosopher. “A BAND SCATHED IN SUBSTANCE” many would describe…& a band that promises to bring melodic thrash into the future. “We just write music that’s powerful, emotional, & epic.” Brian Gamblin (lead vocals/guitar) shares, & THE DIVINE EQUAL (a concept album based upon the 17th century poem “Paradise Lost” by John Milton) is worth it’s weight in words…showing mainstream haters that hardcore metal has A LOT MORE TO SAY than just flooding fretboard screams & a pairing of sinister, doom-type growls.
After reoccurring disappointments with many past projects, Gamblin snarled in the face of defeat…taught his younger brother Kyle how to experiment with symphonic guitar…found a speedy double-pedalling megaforce in one, Casey Ory…& matched the razor-sharp rhythm with pouncing bass attack from newcomer, Jesse Hord. The collision of “Bay Area” thrash influences, & empowering ideals taken from “The Book of Genesis”, often stereo-typed their music as evil. NO, IT’S NOT SATANIC…& I can’t believe we still have to defend this genre from silly notions dreamt up by those who don’t really take time to “LISTEN” to the music – okay, rant over! The RAW POWER was just as demonic as the “Fallen Angel” premise they selected, giving the band a long-standing #4 position on “College Loud Radio”…even knocking MOTORHEAD from the #1 SLOT earlier in the year. Listen to the thundering gallop of “Judgement” to see that there is some uninhibited energy cauterizing, making them one of THE BEST thrash metal bands coming out of their area. “You have to work really hard to expose yourself…you have to work really hard on the music…” Kyle Gamblin states, who is heavily influenced by the “TRON” soundtrack & anything with classical scores, “…& in this day‘n’age, you have to do almost EVERYTHING.” So, why not strike out on a two-month long, self-financed North American tour? Well…that’s exactly what THE TITANS did.
From the “Hangover Room” in Vegas, to the Dean Guitar Factory, Times Square, Los Angeles, & eating catfish in The Deep South…it’s been a coast-to-coast rampage for these home-grown Canadian boys, & they are experiencing what “roadlife” can mean for their music. Since the release in February, it has been a constant propulsion of rave reviews (both “LIVE” & otherwise) depicting their sonic fury amongst technical, melodic nuances – the blueprints for which are uncommon listening interests, passion for compositional integrity, & personal interpretations of primeval metal. But reviews don’t necessarily mean fans, so the time had come for Titans Eve to invest in their own future & take their deafening emasculation to the streets. Thrash fans alike will be impressed by the intense delivery they serve up, shredding out anthems in an almost “military” style – belting anger, defiance, hatred, & retribution in their own cantankerous lair. “When it came to writing, we didn’t really think THRASH METAL.” says Brian, who is the primary founder & concept developer for the group, “Honestly, it wasn’t like…WE WANNA’ BE A THRASH BAND.” For over two years, they played mostly local shows & smaller festivals, trying to revive the underground HEAVY scene…at times, even being towed to gigs in their broken down “Titan Train” (a well-used Ford E-350 van, that barely holds the monstrous equipment & all FOUR members combined). Although expensive, travelling into The States was an opportunity they weren’t willing to sacrifice & a measure to prove that they are DEAD SERIOUS about their career.
“WE WILL BE THE ONES LEFT STANDING…THEY WILL ALL FALL.” Judgement / “The Divine Equal”
A second album (titled “Life Apocalypse”) is already being constructed in the wake of all this onroad mayhem…& widespread touring gives TE a creative advantage. “This next album’s gonna’ be much more powerful…it’s evolution for us!” Brian explains, “You get kinda’ a sense of POWER when you’re playing on stage, & what people really like & react to. Obviously, I don’t write to suit what people want, but what I like to do is…I’ll know where to create ‘the stuff that I like’ using the energy from the shows & what I see.” It’s also brought the band “tighter” in a way that practicing, 3 – 5 times a week, can’t do. There are many quadruple-chord changes throughout their songs & vocal-tone repetitiveness to their mix. It’s been vital in developing a presence (they are the ONLY BAND of this name in the world) & the imaginative biblical references require a precise delivery. They believe that further writing will not tailgate in the direction of “The Divine Equal”, but enhance equilibrium between the unit & their zest for recording MAMMOTH SOUND. This debut smashes without any outside pressure at all, so I can’t even imagine how much further they can toss us into the fiery realms of pleasure.
When I caught up with the band, in Saskatoon, they were glad to be back home…where cell-phones aren’t as costly, & around every corner there’s a Good Samaritan. Still highly enthused by the well-rounded acceptance of their music below the border, they have EVERY PLAN of going back to the United States – perhaps venturing even further, into South America. “Everything goes THE NEXT LEVEL with this NEXT ALBUM.” Kyle Gamblin reveals, & I’m sure fans will charge forward with fists flailing in support. If Titans Eve continue to execute the kind of force they’ve contrived in “The Divine Equal” (& subsequent tour) – the aftermath will be THE UNDERDOGS lying in the streets…kind of like the recent “Fancouver” rumble, when the hometown hockey team lost in the Stanley Cup Finals. These guys are out to create a RIOT as well, but it will be on musical terms.
A new era of metal has begun…with the THRASH of “THE TITANS”.
Support the band on these associated web pages:
www.reverbnation.com/titanseve
www.myspace.com/titanseveofficial
www.titanseve.bandcamp.com
Find them on Facebook & Twitter (TITANS EVE).
BPatoine – July, 2011
