Calgary metal band Throne of Vengeance are taking on the challenge of playing three different festivals in three days including playing Lethbridge Dethfest in Coaldale at the Vent, Aug. 29.
“ We're doing this three festival tour at the end of August. It’s three festivals in three days, so it's crazy,” said Throne of Vengeance bassist Riley Cobb, who makes up the band with his brother Trevor on drums , vocalist/ guitarist Tommy Shakes and new guitarist Brady Side.
“ We’re playing Dethfest first and the next festival is Beaverfest in Valleyview which is nine hours away, so we have to leave right after we’ve played, though we might stay for the band right after us. We’ll probably go to Calgary first and do the rest the next day. They finish up a busy weekend in Alix, Alberta at the Alberta's own Festival.
Dethfest includes a variety of acts. On Friday, Throne of Vengeance shares the stage with the Golers, Putrescence, Ogroem, Death Toll Rising, Without mercy, Tramp Stamper, Naraka, Dethgod, Space Wolves and Trancide.
The Dayglo Abortions headline Aug. 30. Also on the bill are Reverend Kill, Parapsychotic, Kryosphere, Ides of Winter, Mass Control, Martial Law, Morbidly Depraved, Netheriel, Death Pledge and Ares Infernus.
“ We’ve got a couple of new songs ready to go and we’ll probably play our heavier stuff to fit in with the other bands,” he continued.
They released their latest Cd “Live Evil” which is not a live album, in October.
“ It has been on the top 10 on the Loud Charts for Earshot, which is the chart for campus community radio, since we released it in October,” he said.
“ It’s more of a personal album. The album we did before that was a concept album and we wanted to move away from that,” he said.
“It is more of a broad spectrum instead of just in terms of moving from evolution to extinction. Instead of appealing to a narrow segment of conspiracy theorists, we wanted to appeal to different people,” he said.
“We came back off of a hiatus when our previous guitarist left. So a lot of time was spent finding the right guy. We just clicked. It took two months for us to write our first song together and after that they just flowed,” he said.
“These are more cohesive, whole songs instead of just being a conglomeration of riffs,” he said.
“ ‘hands Tied’ is about a friend of ours who was arrested for marijuana and ‘Live Evil’ is about toxic people and removing them from your life. Negativity breeds negativity,” he observed.
The band has played Lethbridge many times.
“I remember one time we finished playing and couldn’t get a hotel, so we went out with the promoters. We went to Dennys but it was closed then went to another place. And we were all pretty drunk. Then it started to snow. We found a hotel and it was five guys and two beds and I was right next to the heater,” he recalled.
They are excited to come back top Southern Alberta to play Dethfest.
“We have two new songs that are ready to go and we‘ve got new merch packages, — t-shirts, bear coasters, rolling papers,” he said.
“ I want to se the Dayglo Abortions and Reverend Kill, but I don’t know the schedule, so we’ll see whoever we are able to. It]s great to see all of the other bands,” he said.
he is looking forward to seeing several other bands at the other festivals including Monster Truck at Alberta's Own and Gob at Beaverfest.
“ I used to listen to Gob when I was 14, so it will be a throwback,” he said.
The Bloody Maple Leaf Society, who are hosting the event will be offering shuttles to and from the show for $10 a ride.
Doors open at 6 p.m. each night with bands starting at 6:45. Admission is $30.