Jungle Rot - *Loud as Hell Festival 2023*

GALLERY: Loud as Hell Festival 2023

Dana Zuk August 12, 2023

Every August long weekend, something rumbles in the badlands of Alberta… That something is the coveted Loud as Hell Festival! This year’s rendition of the fest was easily one of the best years yet. After photographing this event for the last 8 years, I often look forward to spending time in this area of the province, where I get to catch some wicked bands while rekindling friendships with folks I wish I didn’t get to see only once a year.

Check below for a recap of the handful of bands I photographed at the fest this year!

Day 1

Featuring:
Ashes of Yggdrasil | Silent Line | Whorrify | Lost Nebula | Osyron

Day 2

Featuring:
Untimely Demise | Necronomicon | Narcotic Wasteland

Day 3

Featuring:
Wormwitch | Pound | The Convalescence | Jungle Rot

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Queen + Adam Lambert Bring Rock n Roll and Boisterous Bombast to Edmonton's Roger's Place - July 4, 2017

Dana Zuk July 5, 2017

PHOTOGRAPHED FOR EXCLAIM!.CA

The month of June felt slow, and seemed to drag on for me leading up to this highly anticipated gig. The late, great and legendary Queen accompanied by former American Idol contestant Adam Lambert ,hit the stage together at Edmonton's own Roger's Place on Tuesday night, and it was nothing short of spectacular. With Lambert practically oozing with sexuality with every stage move, he made it clear to Queen's Edmonton audience that he was the perfect person to fill the bedazzled boots of their former singer, Freddie Mercury. This was without a doubt one of the most impressive performances that I've been so lucky to have in front of my lens, and it's something that I wont soon be forgetting.

Missed the show? Don't worry! You can check out the official review courtesy of Exclaim! Magazine HERE!

The Agonist Treats Union Hall to Audible Annihilation - September 19, 2015

Dana Zuk September 22, 2015

PHOTOGRAPHED FOR AMPSANDGREENSCREENS.COM

Montreal's metal sensation, The Agonist, made a stop at Union Hall on Saturday night to kick ass and take names with new powerhouse femme-fatal frontwoman, Vicky Psarakis, leading the charge. Being a fan of The Agonist for many years, seeing them dominate the stage for the first time was so exciting for me.

Tearing into their set with "Thank You, Pain" and "Gates of Horn and Ivory", demonstrating the dynamic shreddery of Danny Marino and Pascal (Paco) Jobin, the audience immediately erupted into a whirlwind of headbanging hair and moshers, causing smiles to form on the faces of the band. Playing an adrenalized 9 song set, the Canadian 5-piece band was pleasantly received by their Edmonton crowd. Carrying on to play a handful of tracks both old and new to the tastes of long time fans, The Agonist thrashed and bashed their way through old fan favorites such as: "Panophobia", "The Tempest" and "Business Suits and Combat Boots", causing an uproar of break-neck headbanging to the thundering drumming of Simon McKay, and bubbling bass lines of Chris Kells.

With their in-your-face performance, The Agonist stole the show on Saturday night. Positive vibes were at an all time high, and the excitement in the air was contagious. Seeing a Canadian metal band doing so well while on tour makes me proud to be a (very small) part of the Canadian music scene, and inspires me to keep on keepin' on. I can't wait until The Agonist is back in town, because I know that they will not only dominate the stage, but totally blow the minds of everyone who goes to see them!

Calgary Metalfest 2015

Dana Zuk June 9, 2015

It's that time of year again! Festival season is in full swing and I kicked it off in the best way possible by starting with Calgary Metalfest as they triumphed over the 4th year of the festival. This was my third year shooting this fest, and my most favorite year of all! Though Calgary Metalfest spans over 4 venues - Ship & Anchor, Vern's , Lord Nelson's and, Dicken's Pub - I spent my weekend hanging out at Dicken's for the main headliner bills.
As metal fans from far and wide gathered in Dicken's Pub on Friday June 5th, eight of western Canada's finest metal bands such as: Moosifix, Riot City, Every Hour Kills, Neck of the Woods,Vile Insignia, Without Mercy, and Begrime Exemious came together to dominate the stage. Headlining night one at Dicken's was Alberta's favorite terrorist-thrashers, Villainizer. With the release of their newest album - Annihilation of Self - Villainizer deemed their set at the festival as their final show in Calgary, Alberta; Concluding a 5 year-long journey with a bang, Villainizer reigned terror over their chaotic audience as they boomed through a heavy 8 song set, playing fan-favorite tracks such as 'Twin-Tower Two Step', 'Terror Abraxas' and Candlemass cover 'Gallows', including a skit part way through the performance, enacting the hanging of fontman, Rob the Arab Villain (AKA RAV), and closing with their hit song 'Terrorist Metal' with fans moshing and singing along, making Villainizer's farewell to Calgary a truly memorable goodbye.

MOOSIFIX

RIOT CITY

EVERY HOUR KILLS

NECK OF THE WOODS

VILE INSIGNIA

WITHOUT MERCY

BEGRIME EXEMIOUS

VILLAINIZER

The final day of Calgary Metalfest is always a blast. The main headliners hit the Dicken's stage, and a charity auction takes place to raise money for the Southern Alberta Make A Wish Foundation of the Stollery Children's Hospital. A whole bunch of cool items were donated this year, such as tickets to other metal festivals in western Canada, an exclusive print by Calgary photographer Monika Deviat, a giant Calgary Metalfest show poster that every band signs, and a rare double neck Schecter Diamond Series guitar. All together we managed to raise $2200.00 Canadian dollars towards helping sick kids in southern Alberta.
Saturday June 6th night's bill, similar to Friday's, consisted of a new batch of eight stellar Canadian bands such as: Apprentice, Noire, Sparky, Viathyn, Untimely Demise, Caveat, and Into Eternity that were all ready to rumble on stage. The main headliner for June 6th was Calgary's own Kobra & The Lotus, hitting their home town with a devastatingly wicked performance that left Dicken's Pub begging for more. Kicking off the set with title track of their newest album - High Priestess - Kobra & The Lotus hammered their way through a hefty 12 song set, shredding through fan favorite and classic tracks such as Soldier, Welcome To My Funeral, Forever One and 50 Shades of Evil.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again... The people who put on Calgary Metalfest every year are true rockstars! They work their butts off to put on one of Alberta's top metal festivals and it certainly doesn't go unnoticed. These people not only are supplying a good time for so many metal fans, but are main contributors of the heavy metal culture and lifestyle in Alberta, and Canada! I'm proud to be a small part of this event, and with the utmost appreciation and gratitude, I say THANK YOU!!