TRUE HEAVY METAL "TIL THEY DIE"

As the FolkFest carried on this past weekend in our city of Edmonton, revellers of another kind gathered at Starlite Room Friday and Saturday night like a storm of steel bristling with bolts and lightning waiting to crack! The tumultuous, apocalyptic storm was called MetalFest and you best take heed lest it cross your path.

MetalFest '09 was a two day smorgasbord of destructive intensity featuring Alberta based bands from all over. Among the scores of talented acts in Friday night's installment such as Dead Jesus, Order Of Chaos, and We Found the Body, enter Calgarian five piece, KILYAKAI.

Birthed in the Alberta Heavy Metal scene in 2006, this formidable group have done nothing short of blitz every gig that the west had to offer. They have opened for the likes of Iced Earth and Zimmer's Hole and rightly so, if there ever was an example of pure metal that can make the masses move, this group is it.

Their Friday night set was a spectacular example of what this band is truly capable of. Explosive vocal deliveries both clean and dirty by lead singer Wes DeLeeuw combined with solid, polished, technical riffing, by guitarists Mike Porteous, and Adam "Vegas" Vagacs. All the while, the low end masterfully manipulated by bassist Nate Reno synergized well with the seemingly effortless but nonetheless difficult percussive beats of drummer Ryan Boyko. All this equalled a performance by a band that renewed your faith in the Heavy Metal genre's continuance into the future without losing itself along the way.

Songs like "Slaughterhouse", "Infidel", and what tongue-in-cheek they dub their ballad "Tracks of Red" (inspired by the movie Requiem for a Dream) made the once paltry crowd gather and bask in the fiery glow of Kilyakai's performance. Of the eight bands that played Friday night, this group was the only one heard receiving a chant as they played.

Just shortly after their explosive set, The Forge of Heavy Metal had an opportunity to speak with not one, but all of the guys of this fast becoming staple group of the Calgary/Edmonton metal scene.

THE FORGE: What are some of your influences as a band?

KILYAKAI: Black Dahlia Murder, Red Chord, and Pantera among others.

The Pantera influence comes as no shock due to a certain Phil Anselmo nuance to lead singer Wes DeLeeuw's voice during his performances.

THE FORGE: Where did you get the name and what does it mean?

DELEEUW: It comes from the Encyclopedia of Things That Never Were, it is described as a wizened tribesmen who resemble pygmy forest demons who supposedly steal small children and use them to reproduce more of themselves, it's the perfect metaphor for music.

Despite the insightful nature of their name, it's originality and its easy to remember tri-syllabic composition (a must have according to bassist Nate Reno), it has been associated with a few misnomers. Much to their credit, the band doesn't get upset about it, they see an opportunity to have some fun with it.

RENO: We are creating our own spicy teriyaki sauce, called "Kilyaki"

As comical as it sounds, they stand by it and apparently will release this condiment as just one of the many things they intend to do over their careers as musicians. The conversation then turns to marketing, and mainstream music such as the likes of Nickelback which frontman DeLeeuw can only say "didn't kill music, but gave it herpes", to which I couldn't agree more. (Think we're being too hard on Nickelback, check out this link, then think again.)

When they're not spending time creating condiments, the band has worked non-stop practically since their 2007 self title EP release on their latest album.

THE FORGE: You have a new album coming soon, what is it called and what's it all about?

KILYAKAI: It's called Devastate Insisted Existence or DIE for short. It's about the end of humanity, fighting the expectations that you are supposed to get married, produce a bunch of kids...

RENO: ...It's a demolition of the ego

DELEEUW: We are trying to bastardize that idea, the idea of the white picket fence and this little perfect existence that they say you should have, everyone do as your told...

THE FORGE: Like the Japanese level of conformity?

DELEEUW: Yes, that sort of thing. We're trying to put out a record that others arent doing, to stick out like a sore dink!

THE FORGE: So, that being said, what do you feel is the primary difference if any, between the early work like your EP and this new album?

KILYAKAI: Better written, with more collaboration

VEGAS: Collaboration for sure, sometimes I would just come to these guys with just a simple *motions as if playing a riff* and these guys just add and...

DELEEUW: ...We tear it apart and build it back up again, we've discarded enough to make another album right now we probably won't though just because we are constantly changing.

THE FORGE: When is the new album coming out?

KILYAKAI: In October.

RENO: October 2nd we have a single launch at the Distillery in Calgary, with a bunch of other bands but people told us that we should have our bash, our own night for our album, so we are working on doing it at SAIT for the 23rd of October, its all but finalized, after that its just lots and lots of touring. Definitely up to Edmonton because we fuckin love this town man, we really do!

With that said, the band leaves the sanctity of their DIY tour van, and our curbside interview, beers in hand celebrating not only one of their best shows but one of the best local metal shows Edmonton has produced this year. As for KILYAKAI, I have a feeling, you will be hearing about them in the metal scene " 'til You Die"

For more information and some songs from their debut EP click their logo below

*photos courtesy of Pamela Porosky