Vancouver extreme-metal supergroup to perform at Loud As Hell Open Air Festival alongside Fallujah and Allegaeon
Vancouver-based extreme-metal outfit Gravemass has announced a Western Canadian tour for summer 2026 following the release of its debut album, This Is The Way, marking a significant step forward for a band composed of veterans from some of the country’s most established heavy music acts.
Dubbed the “This Is The Way Tour 2026,” the eight-date run will take the band through British Columbia and Alberta between July 31 and Aug. 8, including a scheduled appearance at the 2026 edition of the Loud As Hell Open Air Festival in Drumheller, Alta.
The tour announcement comes just months after the March 6 release of This Is The Way through End Game Records Inc.. The album represents the first full-length project from a group whose members collectively trace their roots through several prominent West Coast metal acts, including Zimmers Hole, 3 Inches of Blood and Revocation.
A collaborative project rooted in Vancouver’s metal scene
Gravemass was formed through long-standing relationships within Vancouver’s underground metal community. Guitarist Mayan Hate said the project developed organically while balancing commitments to other bands and musical ventures.
Band members say decades-long connections shaped the project
“We’re all West Coast metal heads who’ve known each other for decades. I wrote the music between breaks in other projects and showed it to Lorde Heathen. He immediately wanted in. From there, we recruited the rest of the band, guys we’ve all known forever.”
The current lineup includes Lorde Heathen on vocals, Mayan Hate and Murderer of Colonizers on guitar, Bowels of Hell on bass and Destroyer of Souls on drums.
According to the band, the album was written in a concentrated two-month period, with Mayan Hate handling the music composition while Lorde Heathen developed the lyrical themes. The resulting sound draws influence from foundational extreme-metal acts such as Slayer, Venom, Morbid Angel, Watain and Napalm Death.
Lorde Heathen described the record as a reflection of current global tensions and social unrest.
“Brutal, angry, fast, dark, and evil, this album delivers exactly that: an unrelenting barrage of sinister riffing, death-metal vocal ferocity, and rhythmic devastation. It draws from the chaos of the modern world. All the lyrics come from the shit-hole world order that exists right now.”
The album contains 10 tracks and runs just under 30 minutes, including songs such as “Horned King,” “Harvest of Souls,” “Fallen” and “Spitting Hell.”
Festival appearance expected to expand the band’s audience
One of the highest-profile stops on the tour will be Gravemass’s appearance at Loud As Hell Open Air Festival, one of Western Canada’s better-known heavy music festivals. The 2026 lineup also includes Fallujah, Allegaeon, Summoning the Lich, Crimson Shadows and Edge of Paradise.
The festival appearance aligns with the band’s broader effort to establish itself as a live act following the album’s release.
“The live show is where we bring it all together. We want to bring this experience to the masses,” says Lorde Heathen.
Despite only recently releasing its debut album, the group said work has already begun on a second record. Unlike the first release, which was largely driven by Mayan Hate’s songwriting, the follow-up is expected to be a fully collaborative effort involving all members.
Gravemass “This Is The Way Tour 2026” Dates
Western Canada tour schedule
- July 31 — Bridgeview Theater — Kamloops
- Aug. 1 — Loud As Hell Open Air Festival — Drumheller
- Aug. 3 — Temple — Edmonton
- Aug. 4 — The Owl — Lethbridge
- Aug. 5 — The Royal — Nelson
- Aug. 6 — The Globe — Nanaimo
- Aug. 7 — The Lucky Bar — Victoria
- Aug. 8 — Green Auto — Vancouver
The album This Is The Way is available on Spotify and through Bandcamp. More information about the band can be found at Gravemass Official Website.