‘It’s a big debut’: North Bay metal band records first album, gearing up to jam at the Capitol Centre
Step into Bryan Elsey’s basement on a Sunday morning and you’ll find the band ‘Children of Metal’ rehearsing and playing the music they rock out to.
“It just started to gain steam,” said Elsey, the band’s vocalist.
Elsey was relaxing on a beach in Cuba when the COVID-19 pandemic began. He was thinking if he would even be able to fly home as lockdowns were starting and the virus was spreading. He thought about what he would do in his spare time.
Cherishing his love of 80s metal music, he told CTV News he wanted to form his own band, write and record his own music.
“I’ve always wanted to write one. I’ve written lots of different things, but I have never written one of those,” Elsey said.
“I started writing it shortly thereafter.”
Through the recording process, which started in April 2021 and concluded that December. He met his future band members; Scott Aultman on bass, Mason Ladoucer on keyboard and vocals, Ryan Walsh on drums, along with Neil Malkin and Eric Luckett on guitar.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
The band recorded their eight song album titled ‘Resurrection’. The album is meant to revive and pay respect to some of the 80s heavy metal music the band all grew up listening, especially Ozzy Osbourne.
“We call it metal, but a lot of people think of us screaming and yelling,” said Elsey.
“We’re like ‘No it’s 80s metal.’ When you talk about 80s metal you talk about Ozzy, Def Leppard, Poison, Mötley Crüe, Anthrax and Metallica.”
Band members range in age from 20 to 50, but all have one thing in common; they love metal music. The album was released on vinyl and can be purchased at Callander Bay Records and also available on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube Music to stream.
“You can’t really describe the feeling. It’s like a rush. An instant rush,” said Luckett.
“Even if we’re just sitting in the basement practicing, you get that feeling of all the music coming together. It’s a pretty cool feeling.”
Now with the album out, the band is busy preparing for their first show together at the Capitol Centre on April 1 where they plan to play a few songs from their album but also perform a few tribute songs in honour of the music they grew up listening to.
“I’ve known Bryan. We grew up in the same neighbourhood and we had the same experience with the early metal scene,” said Walsh.
“To be able to have this platform of an album like this and a show at the Capitol Centre, it’s just great.”
Despite the recording process being a challenge due to the pandemic forcing separate band members to have to record their instruments at different times and on different days, Elsey said he wouldn’t change it for the world as he got to meet each band member individually and work with them to find the right sound and pitch for each song.
“It’s a big debut and it’s an ambitious debut that’s for sure,” he said smiling.
After the show, the band told CTV News they are looking ahead to the future together, saying the sky is the limit with potentially more shows and new music to come.
“We’re pretty sure we’re going to have Metallica and AC/DC open for us fairly soon,” Elsey said jokingly.
Tickets for the Capitol Centre show are available at the box office and online for $10, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Canadian Red Cross.
For more information on the bands’ upcoming releases and performances, visit their Facebook page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Hulk Hogan, hurricanes and a blockbuster recording: A week in review of the Trump hush money trial
Crucial witnesses took the stand in the second week of testimony in Donald Trump's hush money trial, including a California lawyer who negotiated deals at the center of the case and a longtime adviser to the former president.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Premier Legault reiterates that McGill pro-Palestinian camp must be dismantled
Quebec Premier François Legault reiterated that the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill University must be dismantled while police remain 'on the lookout for new developments.'