Vancouver-based extreme metal band Gravemass is taking its debut album to audiences across Western Canada this summer, launching the “This Is The Way Tour 2026” with performances across British Columbia and Alberta, including an appearance at the Loud As Hell Open Air Festival in Drumheller, Alta.
The tour follows the March release of the band’s first full-length album, This Is The Way, issued through End Game Records Inc., and marks an important step for a project that unites veteran musicians from several of Canada’s best-known metal acts.
Experienced Musicians Unite for New Extreme Metal Project
Gravemass features members with backgrounds in bands including Zimmers Hole, 3 Inches of Blood, Revocation, Punch Drunk, West of Hell, Just Cause, Savannah, Process, Subversion, and The Golers.
The lineup consists of:
- Lorde Heathen – Vocals
- Mayan Hate – Guitar
- Murderer of Colonizers – Guitar
- Bowels of Hell – Bass
- Destroyer of Souls – Drums
Drawing on decades of experience within Vancouver’s underground metal community, the group combines elements of death metal, black metal, thrash, and speed metal into an aggressive modern sound.
Album Developed Through Longstanding Musical Friendships
Collaborative Project Grew From Years in Canada’s Metal Scene
According to guitarist Mayan Hate, the project developed naturally among musicians who had known one another for decades.
“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.”
While This Is The Way features music written primarily by Mayan Hate and lyrics by Lorde Heathen, the band says its next album will be developed as a fully collaborative effort.
Lyrics Reflect Current Global Uncertainty
Vocalist Lorde Heathen said the record draws inspiration from contemporary events 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 combines aggressive musical performances with themes influenced by conflict, frustration, and modern political and social instability.
Western Canada Tour Includes Major Festival Appearance
Loud As Hell Festival Headlines Summer Schedule
Gravemass begins its tour on July 31 in Kamloops before making one of its highest-profile appearances at Loud As Hell Open Air Festival in Drumheller on August 1.
The festival lineup includes international and Canadian acts such as Fallujah, Allegaeon, Summoning the Lich, Crimson Shadows, and Edge of Paradise.
Additional tour stops include:
- Kamloops, B.C.
- Drumheller, Alta.
- Lethbridge, Alta.
- Nelson, B.C.
- Nanaimo, B.C.
- Victoria, B.C.
- Vancouver, B.C.
Live Performances Remain Central to the Band’s Vision
The group says its concerts are designed to capture the full intensity of the music.
“The live show is where we bring it all together. We want to bring this experience to the masses,” says Lorde Heathen.
With songs influenced by bands such as Slayer, Venom, Morbid Angel, Watain, and Napalm Death, Gravemass aims to deliver performances focused on speed, precision, and high-energy musicianship.
Critical Response Builds Momentum
Since its release on March 6, 2026, This Is The Way has received positive reviews from numerous heavy music publications in Canada and internationally.
Reviewers have praised the album’s songwriting, production, and blend of old-school death metal with modern influences, while highlighting tracks including “Fallen,” “Horned King,” and the title track.
The debut’s reception has helped establish Gravemass as one of Canada’s emerging extreme metal acts while generating anticipation for the band’s already-planned second album.
Looking Ahead
Following the completion of its Western Canadian tour, Gravemass plans to continue writing new material while expanding its live schedule.
The band says work on a second studio album has already begun, with a more collaborative creative process expected to shape its next release.
Conclusion
With This Is The Way earning positive reviews and a summer tour that includes one of Canada’s premier heavy music festivals, Gravemass is entering a pivotal stage in its career. By combining veteran musicians from British Columbia’s metal scene with an aggressive new creative direction, the band is positioning itself as a notable new force within Canada’s extreme metal landscape.