KEN MODE Celebrates 20th Anniversary With Canadian Performances!

Canadian noise-rockers KEN mode are celebrating 20 years this fall! In honor of the milestone anniversary, the band has announced two special performances in Toronto, ON, and Winnipeg, MB. The full list of anniversary dates, as well as a festival appearance in Ohio, can be found below.

The band comments: " Sometimes it's hard to fathom that we've been at this for 20 years as of September 2019. The band started when I was only 17, just starting University, while Shane was still 15 and entering the 11th grade. You start these things because something inside you is messed up and simply needs to get this creative energy out in a harsh and satisfying way, and you don't really think that you're laying the foundation for most of your most cherished friendships and business relationships for your entire adult life. Seven full-lengths, one EP, one split 7", several comps and tribute records deep, and hopefully, we're still only scratching the surface of what we'll do with this mess of noise. We wanted to kick start our 20th year as a band with a couple of special shows in Toronto and Winnipeg, two cities very near and dear to us - well, maybe Toronto isn't so near, but you get the sentiment. We'll be inserting some deep cuts into our setlists, and bringing up a bunch of special guests in Winnipeg, from the group of talented musicians we've had the pleasure of making music with over the years.

We'll be rolling out more anniversary shows as we move forward into 2020 - aiming for Europe, and more Canadian + US dates, while starting to write a new album and begin a new chapter in the band's career."

KEN mode Shows:
09/06: Youngstown, OH @ The Blackout Cookout
09/08: Toronto, ON @ The Grand Gerrard
10/04: Winnipeg, MB @ The Good Will Social Club

Additionally, KEN mode was nominated for a JUNO Award in the Metal/Hard Rock Album of the Year category earlier this year. KEN mode previously won the JUNO in 2012, and have a total of four nominations under their belt.

KEN mode will be touring in support of their JUNO-nominated album, 'Loved,' which was released on August 2018 via Season of Mist.

Kill Everyone Now mode - an ethos legendary Black Flag frontman Henry Rollins would use to describe the band’s state of mind while taking the stage for the endless touring cycle of their genre-defying classic album, ‘My War’. This proved to be the psychological foundation/attitude for the project brothers Jesse and Shane Matthewson formed in 1999 in their home of Winnipeg, Canada and that would see them spread a manic form of metal and hardcore infused with noise rock for their entire adult lives.

Cutting their teeth in the early aughts with a pair of records ‘Mongrel’ (2003) and ‘Reprisal’ (2006), KEN mode rose from underground notoriety with their JUNO award-winning album ‘Venerable’ in 2011. This marked a decided shift for the band, embarking on an unrelenting touring schedule for the following five years with acts such as RUSSIAN CIRCLES, TORCHE, DEAFHEAVEN, KYLESA, REVOCATION and TODAY IS THE DAY, followed up by Season of Mist-released full-lengths ’Entrench’ (2013) and ‘Success’ (2015). Those records saw the band hit a multitude of major festivals like SXSW, Hellfest Open Air, CMJ Festival, Pitchfork Festival Chicago, Hopscotch Festival, and Roadburn Festival; and even doing live sessions for renowned institutions such as BBC Radio 1 and Daytrotter.

But burnout was inevitable, and in 2016 KEN mode took a step back to regroup. Core members Shane and Jesse formed their own music business management services company, MKM Management, while bassist Scott Hamilton released records with his other bands ADOLYNE and GREYLIGHT DISTRICT. In 2017 the band began writing with a newfound focus and desire, in the most collaborative effort they have ever put together.

‘Loved’, the band’s brand new vicious full length may be the KEN mode’s quintessential statement of violence and despair made sonic. Drawing from not only the desperate noise and industrial sonics of the ‘80s and ‘90s, but the band also mixes in the decidedly more extreme tone and presence of death and black metal, expertly captured by Andrew Schneider’s (UNSANE, CAVE IN, DAUGHTERS) sick vision of noise and girth. ‘Loved’ represents yet another pivot point in the group’s sound, a departure from the indie/noise punk focused ‘Success’ album. The group delves deeper and darker than ever before.

Read More News

Tags:  KEN MODE, HARD ROCK, TOUR DATES, CANADA, HEAVY METAL

Teddy    July 31, 2019