Despite the last-minute cancellation of San Francisco tour-mates Black Cobra, who were turned away at the border, Vancouver's Anciients took the Sled Island slogan "Nobody rains on our parade" to heart and pummelled their way through a thick set of prog-infused heaviness. Similar to Atlanta, Georgia metal monsters Mastodon in tone and style, the four-piece lay waste to Calgary bar The Ship & Anchor's cozy dance floor turned mosh pit.
As three burly bouncers defended the outskirts of the pit, Anciients piled layers and layers of caveman chest-pounding and circular guitar licks onto the Friday night metal warriors in attendance. Digging deep from material off their latest album, 2013's Heart of Oak, Anciients ended up playing a brand new song for their encore, which had more of a stutter-step, punked-out feel than their other material. There wasn't a complaint in the house though, as the band did some serious aural damage during their impressive set.
As three burly bouncers defended the outskirts of the pit, Anciients piled layers and layers of caveman chest-pounding and circular guitar licks onto the Friday night metal warriors in attendance. Digging deep from material off their latest album, 2013's Heart of Oak, Anciients ended up playing a brand new song for their encore, which had more of a stutter-step, punked-out feel than their other material. There wasn't a complaint in the house though, as the band did some serious aural damage during their impressive set.