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Relative newcomers to the metal scene, Calgary's Wormbox displayed their metal chops on their self-titled debut release. Cyclone Records, Wormbox's label, has decided to re-issue this debut as a digital only release.
The release, as a whole, is an admirable freshman effort. Fast, brutal riffs layered with intense vocals and drums, are what makes a bulk of this six song EP a contender in the metal circuit. Songs, such as Good Morning Mr. Hyde and Falter drive with percussive guitars and vocals. Accompanied by the sparingly, yet effectively, used double bass these songs demonstrate a level of maturity in the band's music. Whiplash, the final song and one that was not released on the initial EP, is probably the strongest offering. Melding percussive syncopation with crafty writing, Wormbox makes this aggressive track a fitting finale.
Overall, Wormbox is successful on this release, and if you are able to forgive some rookie mistakes, then Wormbox's digital reissue should find its way onto your mp3 player.
- STEPHEN BERNHARD - Running with Scissors Magazine
Wormbox well..... reminds me of bands like EARTH CRISIS, BILE, BILLY MACK (r.i.p.), so if you like your rock heavy this is for you. The whole album rocks (hard) I was not disappointed once. The band has a good sound, heavy guitars, thunderous drums, bowel shaking bass, and a singer...sorry screamer that could wake the goddamn dead. This is definitely a band you want to listen to when you need to get pumped up for a fight in the U.F.C., or anything along those lines (not something you could use to put a small child to sleep with or calm yourself down with).
All in all check them out and if you’re at their show get nutty in the pit.
JINX - Scratch-e-zine
Wormbox is a band that appears on The Greatest Underground Show on Earth. It is a collection of 14 metal bands from Calgary and is meant as a showcase to the rest of the world the dedicated and organized metal scene Calgary has to offer and was in development when I became involved. Wormbox was already one of the bands signed onto the project and after hearing their song submission, I loved their energy and song writing approach. I approached them with an interest in releasing their debut EP onto iTunes to help broaden their exposure and the rest is history.
Brad Trew, president
Cyclone Records - VirusZine
Cyclone Records has set a February 28 release date for "The Greatest Underground Show on Earth", a compilation CD featuring heavy metal bands from Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
According to a press release, "The metal music scene in Calgary, Alberta is one of Canada's best kept secrets. Nowhere can you find a more dedicated, talented, passionate, supportive and organized group of musicians. . . Showcasing the various sub-genres of metal, this CD features 14 songs by 14 bands and encompasses everything from progressive metal to death metal. The CD's title is a tongue-in-cheek tribute to Calgary's other world-famous show, 'The Calgary Stampede: The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth'."
"The Greatest Underground Show on Earth" track listing (in alphabetical order):
BLACK SKY: "The Road Unwinds"
CAVEAT: "The One"
DECIPHER: "Untitled"
DESPIRITED: "God Blood"
INSIDIOUS: "Life in Hate"
INSPECTED BY 40: "Shredfest"
KATABASIS: "Deranged"
OCCAMS RAZOR: "Exhiled"
PLAGUE: "Bitch to Swallow"
ROB SPENCER BAND: "Sea of Ignorance"
SUFFERANCE: "A Hint of Malice"
TEMPERED: "Ill at Ease"
VERBAL DECEPTION: "Jewels of the Dead"
WORMBOX: "Hate Therapy" - Roadrunner/Blabbermouth
Fourteen tracks from fourteen distinct Calgary metal bands are slapped together on this album like an incredibly diverse sandwich. A tasty & deliciously assorted death, thrash, power and speed metal sandwich, that is. Standout tracks for me are "Shredfest" by Inspected By 40 and "Hate Therapy" by Wormbox. Calgary metal is definitely well represented on this standout compilation. Contact Cyclone Records at www.cyclonerecords.ca. They deserve your support.
Jeff VandenElzen - Absolute Underground
These are a few comments left by audience members taken from the forums of albertametal.net
"I was totallly impressed with wormbox and their stage show. Thats how to do it! whoever couldnt make it should definitly check out wormbox live."
"Everyone who saw Wormbox got a real show!!!!! Awesome fucking set, and the light show was amazing!! These guys really work hard on their stage show and everyone really should see it!! And seeing Mike up there to lend backup screams for Whiplash was a real treat!!! Hope to see that again!! Thanks again boys and we look forward to next time!!"
"Wormbox then proceeded to light the Distillery up full on! That was one hell of a stage set up, & it worked fucking awesome. The best set that I've seen you guys do by far. Nice to see a band giving people a 'show', & spending the time to do it right. Great job dudes!"
"Never seen Wormbox before and they boiled my soul!"
"Wormbox ripped the roof off the place as usual. HAILS!!!"
www.albertametal.net - Alberta Metal Forums
WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT SAYS EITHER!
Im kanadischen Westen, genauer gesagt in Calgary, scheint es musikalisch gewaltig zu rumoren. In CYCLONE RECORDS hat sich auch schon ein recht aktives Label gefunden, das bereit ist, die heimische Szene zu unterstützen und nun einige dieser Bands auch in Europa präsentieren möchte. WORMBOX könnten bei neuzeitlich orientierten Metallern durchaus auf offene Ohren stoßen, denn mit ihrem recht harschen, aber dennoch einigermaßen melodischem Metal-Gebräu könnten sie den Nerv der Zeit durchaus treffen. Sänger Alex Liddy erinnert ein wenig an SLIPKNOTs Corey Taylor, vor allem in den in furchterregender Art gesprochenen Teilen meine ich die Maskentruppe zu vernehmen. Musikalisch sind WORMBOX aber wesentlich abwechslungsreicher unterwegs und erinnern nicht nur an die Clown-Truppe, sondern desöfteren auch an diverse Metalcore-Instiutionen und verneigen sich durch ihren mehr als nur einmal vor Dimebag Darrells Riffkonstrukten. Hart, brachial, aber immer mit dem nötigen Quentchen Melodie, so läßt sich der Sound von WORMBOX am einfachsten beschreiben. - Underground Empire (GERMANY)
Discography
The Judas Chair - (2007) 12 song - full length
Track Listing
- March Of The Worm
- Good Morning Mr. Hyde
- From The Ashes I Rise
- With A Smile
- Falter
- Black Epitaph
- H8 Therapy
- Heathenism
- The Submissive Switch
- Harbor The Curse
- For Keeps
- The Judas Chair
This CD was released May 25, 2007 and we are currently in the process of getting it out to radio.
At the moment (July 2007) it is sitting at #5 on the CKXU Loud chart
Wormbox (Self Titled) - 6 song E.P. (2005)
Track Listing
- Falter
- For Keeps
- Good Morning Mr. Hyde
- Less Than
- Buckle Up
- Whiplash
This CD is currently charting at #17 on Vancouver's CJSF Loud top 20 Charts, down from #8 three weeks ago. And is currently #47 on the stations general top 50 (Nov 06)
"The Greatest Underground Show on Earth" (2006)
A Calgary Metal Compilation (cyclone records)
featured the Wormbox single
- Hate Therapy
All of our tracks from the E.P. and the compilation have had radio play across the country and internationally, on several different stations, as well as several podcast shows.
In addition to what is available in this E.P.K. for your listening pleasure you can also visit www.wormbox.net or myspace.com/wormbox for more music.
Photos
Bio
Wormbox formed in early 2004 in Calgary, Alberta, when brothers Mark and Rick Fiset answered a musicians wanted ad and met two longtime friends James Jameson and Jay Rapp. Musically, things came together very quickly while the search for the right vocalist continued. After a few months and many auditions, Alex Liddy entered the picture and the puzzle was complete.
Rather than rushing out to play shows as soon as they were able, the decision was made to hold off and make sure they were as happy as they could possibly be with the performance of the songs, as well as have more to offer to people on top of well rehearsed, well crafted songs. With a demo recorded, an extensive line of merchandise, and as much of a stage and light show as they could muster - since most local clubs seemed to be lacking in that area - they decided it was time to take it to the people, and they did it with a vengeance.
The shows got better and better, they received great reviews locally and abroad, and a fan base that continued to grow stronger. Wormbox captured the attention of Cyclone records shortly after their first couple months of playing live and they proved to be a very helpful ally and spread the news far and wide that Wormbox was a band to watch out for. Cyclone records offered their services to do a digital only re-release of the self titled “Wormbox” demo which was named one of the top ten Canadian metal releases of 2005 by metal net radio’s Dr. Steel. Not bad for a CD that was only meant to land in the hands of promoters in order to start booking some local shows.
The Greatest Underground Show On Earth” which was a compilation CD of metal bands hailing from the city of Calgary, was also released by Cyclone records and featured another track by Wormbox, “Hate Therapy,” which also garnered more great reviews and public awareness for the band.
March of 2007 Wormbox entered Monster Music Studios and emerged two and a half months later with a new full length CD entitled “The Judas Chair” which was engineered, mixed and mastered by Rodger Sallans. On a side note, all of the CD artwork, as with all Wormbox promotional material from day one, was illustrated and designed by members of the band. The CD was released to the public on May 25, 2007 and Wormbox is currently in the process of playing shows and promoting The Judas Chair to bring it to the public eye.
In September of 2007 Wormbox was chosen as the only Canadian metal band to perform at Locofest 2007. The open air festival which took place just outside of Boston, Massachucetts and featured headliners HEAVEN & HELL (Black Sabbath with Dio), ALICE COOPER, QUEENSRYCHE and SHADOWS FALL was definitely a dream come true for the 5 dudes from Calgary, and the experience of a lifetime.
In February 2008 Cyclone Records released their second compilation of Calgary Metal - “The Greatest Underground Show On Earth - Vol. 2” which features the Wormbox track Harbor The Curse. The same track also appears on the As We Storm Canada compilation, as well as the Fateless Empire compilation. Harbor The Curse was also featured on Revolver magazine’s meet & greet page at revolvermag.com and Wormbox also appeared in 2 issues of the magazine in early 2009.
Currently Wormbox is in the process of writing the follow-up to The Judas Chair, the new material thus far is once again a step up in the evolution of the band. The new CD will see a 2010 release as well as plans for extensive touring.
Wormbox has earned a reputation of having the best live show in the Calgary area and they continue to strive to improve that with each performance, standing firmly in their belief that “Every stage deserves to be treated as a stage...especially yours!”
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