Libertine Promotions – 2 Years 2 Shows Night 1

A Quick Thank You…

I need to start this one by thanking, and congratulating, everyone over at Libertine Promotions. They’re doing all they can to keep the heavy music scene alive and thriving in Lethbridge. Without them, I don’t know that I would be here writing these recaps, reviews, and other articles. It was their show on October 22, 2024 with Anciients, Bison, and 4BPM that made me realize there are other people here who enjoy heavy music as much as I do. So thank you, Libertine Promotions, for all you do. Here’s to another 2 or 20 years of bringing in heavy bands for us to enjoy.

With that out of the way, night one of this two-year anniversary show was off the fucking charts. I could just drop the lineup: Pre-Breaker, Fatal Dose, Snakepit, and Dying Remains, but that wouldn’t be fair to those of you not from the local area. So let’s get into it.

Crack the Seal: Pre-Breaker

Hitting the outside stage just after 7 at Theoretically Brewing, an amazing local venue that continues to open their doors for these events, was Pre-Breaker. This groove thrash metal band out of Edmonton hit the stage like a rabid beast let loose on society. No bells or whistles. The music was all they needed, well that and a ton of talent. While there were a few technical and sound issues, they didn’t detract from the experience.

The pit was alive from the first song. Pre-Breaker has clearly built a bit of a reputation around here, shouting out local bands mid-set, and I even saw a few people rocking what looked like older Pre-Breaker merch. Their set had unreal energy.

The music? What can I say. As a fan of thrash and groove, these guys took it up a notch. Their whole set was a blast, but the final song is where the crowd completely erupted. The pit came alive with the energy of 20 suns. Spin kicks, floor punching, two-stepping from wall to wall. What stood out most was their stage presence. They weren’t there to act like rock stars. They were just a bunch of buddies having the time of their lives putting their music out into the world. It was clear as hell that they love doing this.

Hardcore Injection: Fatal Dose

With a quick changeover, Fatal Dose was up next. Their name says it all, a killer set. This hardcore band from right here in Lethbridge (well, all but the singer, who’s repping Calgary) came with one mission: total devastation. The lead singer said fuck it and used the pit as his stage. No need to be on the platform when you can just own the crowd, and own it he did.

These guys brought no-nonsense hardcore with what felt like a black metal edge. While I’m not usually the biggest hardcore fan, they had a unique sound that really pulled me in. If there are other hardcore bands like this, I haven’t found them, but now I’m on the hunt. The crowd was already fired up, and there was no slowing them down. The pit stayed chaotic from the first riff to the final beat. I had already blown my merch budget on the next two bands, more in line with my top genre, but I’ll be keeping an eye out for Fatal Dose again.

They’ve earned my support, both at future shows and with some gear once I catch them again.

Don’t Judge the Crocs: Snakepit

Snakepit is what death metal is supposed to be. I could leave it at that and just drop a music embed, but that’s not how I do things. These guys were raw and uncut with a “we’re here to play heavy” attitude. I’ve got to say, the old “never judge a book by its cover” has never felt more real than it did with their lead guitarist. The rest of the band looked exactly how you’d expect a death metal band to look. Long hair, camo shorts, metal tees. But the lead guitarist? Walking into the venue in Crocs, blue jeans, a Ritual Threat hoodie, and a Volcom hat, I never would’ve guessed the dude could shred like that. I was dead wrong.

The pit wasn’t quite as wild as it had been for the earlier sets. Lethbridge isn’t exactly a death metal town yet, though I’d love to see that change. At 50, I’m not the one to fire up the pit anymore. Maybe after a few more months at the gym and a few more familiar faces in the crowd, I’ll feel like jumping in. Still, when Snakepit’s bassist told the crowd to hit the pit, they fucking did. The music was crushing. The stunning clear coat wood bass guitar alone deserves a paragraph. But the real takeaway? They just impressed the hell out of me.

Snakepit had the sound, energy, and stage presence of a polished, road-tested death metal act. Maybe I just need to get out more.

End of Days: Dying Remains

Closing out the night was Dying Remains, a three-piece death metal act from Calgary. Plain and simple, just another reminder that I’ve been living under a fucking rock when it comes to the local metal scene. These guys hit the stage and tore it the fuck up for their entire set. Let the head banging commence.

Everything about their performance was on point. Vocals were low and guttural. Bass had just the right amount of grit. And the guitar? Insane lead and rhythm work from a single player. It was like he was channeling Chuck Schuldiner. The drummer deserves a shoutout too. Blast beats for days, and double kicks that made the ground shake. I can’t pick a single standout from their set because they all nailed it.

I’d proudly wear their logo as a top rocker patch on my battle vest just to get people asking who they are. And if they don’t ask, I’ll tell them anyway. I can’t wait for their album to drop later this year.

And That’s Just Night One

Overall, this was an incredible night. New bands discovered. Another show to stash in the memory bank. Some new merch added to the pile. What more could I ask for? Another night, and that’s exactly what’s coming. Make sure to check back in a few days for the night two recap.