On Friday July 31st, I hit the road to Drumheller, Alberta for the 4th year of Loud As Hell festival. It was my 3rd year shooting LAH, but was unfortunately cut short for me due to having to leave on account of personal reasons. However, I did catch some snaps of the Friday night bands. Headlined by Edmonton's Striker, an arsenal of killer acts hit the stage such as: Death Toll Rising, Stab Twist Pull, Black Pestilence and Maimed Wolf, opening day for Loud as Hell was just that... LOUD AS HELL!
Kicking off opening day was Didsbury's own, Maimed Wolf, who were awarded by festival organizers, Ryan & Geoff, for playing the festival for four consecutive years, and kicking ass on stage even harder than the year before, making them an excellent opener for the festival. Following on to Calgary's noisy black metal-punks, Black Pestilence. Despite slight guitar troubles on stage, these punkers brought the chaos to Drumheller! Playing a crushing set, packed with apocalyptic and unusual imagery and that thrashy-crossover goodness. Third of the night, Stab Twist Pull, was absolutely WILD! Also from Calgary, Stab Twist Pull drew their audience in by blasting hardcore ferociousness through the monitors with no mercy. Second last on the bill was Edmonton's death metal heavy weights, Death Toll Rising. Playing fast and heavy, with relentless shreddery, Death Toll Rising had a full floor of people headbanging and moshing with no remorse. Headlining Friday night was Edmonton's own, Striker. Playing the festival for two years in a row now, they were an excellent choice for Friday's headliner. With energy thick in the air, Striker smashed, bashed and crashed their way through their set, exchanging mile-wide smiles with each other and their crowd, and playing a number of fan favorite songs that had the audience singing along from the bottom of their hearts and the tops of their lungs.
I always look so forward to hitting this festival every year, as the great people who work so hard to put this event on truly know the meaning of the word 'hospitality'. It breaks my heart to have had to leave early, but hey! Shit happens! All the more reason to rip it up even harder next year! Until next time, Loud As Hell!
