Ferdy Belland
"In my career, I've played some of the craziest places you can imagine, everything from a tattoo shop to a sushi bar," remarks DJ Temple, lead guitarist for Vancouver's heavy metal hammer-throwers Without Mercy. "The tight-knit metal community allows us to find friends all around who help us get the ball moving and spread the word, be it through social media or just plain word of mouth."
And Without Mercy's high-volume ball seems to be moving at breakneck speed across British Columbia this tour around, climaxing with their upcoming concert at the Byng Roadhouse (with opening support from Cranbrook's death-metal newcomers Lost Harbinger) this Friday, April 12.
"It's safe to say that the road has its ups and downs," Temple says. "The national touring experience has some crazy places...and even crazier people, that's for sure! The strongest Canadian metal audiences are in places you wouldn't believe. Places like Prince George and Red Deer have really set the bar for just how insane a crowd can get. Also: this country is BADASS! Why not get out there and see it while playing the music that you love? Now, if only I could get Tourism Canada to cut me a cheque for saying that!"
Based out of Abbotsford, B.C., since 2007, Without Mercy (which also features vocalist Curtis Fournier, bassist Tristan Martin, and drummer Matt Helie) has wasted no time over the past six years by bludgeoning their way into the hearts and minds of the West Coast music scene through locktight musicianship, imaginative songwriting arrangements, and above-average ultra-technical riffer. The band has an EP and a full-length album under their belts, and have shared stages with legendary metal artists like Satyricon and Death Angel. Without Mercy maintain a punishing regimen of live performances, whenever and wherever they can.
"We were going into a writing-mode hibernation and hadn't played for awhile," Temple said. "We were asked to co-headline an Abbotsford show with a local band who are really good friends of ours, and things got pretty hectic. Curtis got such a large circle-pit going that the fans ended up destroying the walls of the hall! Or, should I say, the fans smashed through the wall to make more room for the circle-pit. I have to say, that was a new one for us!"
2013 proves to be a busy year for Without Mercy. Following several festival appearances this summer, their new EP is planned for general release. The band plans on returning to the studio in the fall to lay down their next album.
"I figure I can sleep somewhere around 2015," laughs Temple. And he's not exactly joking. Nicknamed "the Ginger Tornado" by his bandmates, the affable guitarist is also known for helming the Temple Music Academy in Abbotsford and provides online guitar lessons. A busier metalhead than him is hard to find.
Without Mercy are at the Byng (21 Cranbrook St. N.) Friday April 12, with Lost Harbinger. Showtime 8 p.m.