KEN mode
Encyclopedia
KEN mode is a Canadian metallic
hardcore
-influenced noise rock
band from Winnipeg
, Manitoba
that was formed in September 1999.
Several tours followed with the likes of Relapse Records
' The End
, Sulaco and American Heritage in addition to regional dates with Mastodon
, Burnt By The Sun
, Anodyne, Pelican
, Harkonen, Breather Resist
, The Dream is Dead, Psyopus
, Daughters
, and Buried Inside
across the Midwestern and East Coast United States, and throughout Canada. In 2004 Laxdal left the band, only to rejoin in 2005 to finish the band's follow-up record Reprisal, released in 2006 on CD by Escape Artist Records
, and on double-LP by No List Records. After the recording of Reprisal Laxdal and the band parted ways again. Picking up bass duties after Laxdal's departure was Drew Johnston (guitarist in Electro Quarterstaff
) who also played with Jesse, Shane and Darryl in Hide Your Daughters.
In October 2006 the band took part in the "Exclaim!
Magazine Aggressive Tendencies Tour" with Pelican
and Daughters
across Canada. Bass duties were handled by former Kittens
and Projektor member Jahmeel Russell who played with Jesse, Shane and Drew in Hide Your Daughters.
KEN mode went on to work with Jahmeel for the band's third full-length, Mennonite, which was released in July 2008 on CD by Jesse Matthewson's own label, Arctodus Records, and on 3x7" vinyl by No List Records.
Prior to releasing Mennonite, Chad Tremblay joined the band as their fourth bassist in two years. The band embarked on a European tour with Welsh rockers Taint. Chad would go on to direct the bands debut music video for the song "Extending Common Courtesy Throughout The Evening" from their Mennonite album.
In 2010 the band announced that Profound Lore Records
will release its fourth full length album, titled Venerable, to be recorded August 2010 with Kurt Ballou of Converge
. They also announced several North American tours with Gaza, Engineer, Rosetta, Buried Inside, Wolvhammer, Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire, and others. In June 2011, KEN mode toured the US with Deafheaven
.
On June 19, 2011 the band played the Hellfest (French music festival) Open Air festival in Clisson France.
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
hardcore
Hardcore punk
Hardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
-influenced noise rock
Noise rock
Noise rock describes a style of post-punk rock music that became prominent in the 1980s. Noise rock makes use of the traditional instrumentation and iconography of rock, but incorporates atonality and especially dissonance, and also frequently discards usual songwriting conventions.-Style:Noise...
band from Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
that was formed in September 1999.
History
Formed by brothers Jesse (guitar/vocals) and Shane Matthewson (drums) and long-time friend Darryl Laxdal (bass), the group released several demos from 1999 to 2003, leading to the release of their debut full length Mongrel on Escape Artist Records.Several tours followed with the likes of Relapse Records
Relapse Records
Relapse Records is an independent record label based in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Matthew F. Jacobson in 1990.-History:The label was started by Matthew F. Jacobson in August, 1990 in his parents' basement in Aurora, Colorado...
' The End
, Sulaco and American Heritage in addition to regional dates with Mastodon
Mastodon (band)
Mastodon is an American heavy metal band from Atlanta, Georgia, formed in 1999. The band is composed of bassist/vocalist Troy Sanders, guitarist/vocalist Brent Hinds, guitarist Bill Kelliher and drummer/vocalist Brann Dailor...
, Burnt By The Sun
Burnt by the Sun (band)
Burnt by the Sun was a band from New Jersey, USA. Formed in November 1999 by ex-Human Remains drummer Dave Witte and guitarist John Adubato. ex-For the Love of... Vocalist Mike Olender and bassist Ted Patterson joined soon after. A split EP with The Luddite Clone on Ferret Records brought them to...
, Anodyne, Pelican
Pelican (band)
Pelican is a post-metal quartet from Chicago, Illinois.-Biography and description:The band is known for its dense combinations of different melodies and extended track lengths. Its distinctive sound draws from stoner rock, doom metal, post-rock, and other influences...
, Harkonen, Breather Resist
Breather Resist
-History:Breather Resist formed in 2002 and recorded 8 songs, 4 which were on handmade demos. These 8 songs became their first EP, "Only in the Morning", released on Deathwish, Inc.. Their first LP, Charmer, was released on Jade Tree Records in October 2004, having been produced by Kurt Ballou...
, The Dream is Dead, Psyopus
Psyopus
Psyopus is a mathcore band from Rochester, New York. Formed in 2002, the band is noted for the unorthodox and extremely technical guitar techniques of Christopher Arp, often referred to as "Arpmandude"...
, Daughters
Daughters (band)
Daughters is an American grindcore/mathcore/noise rock band formed in 2001 in Providence, Rhode Island after the demise of Providence-based As the Sun Sets. Daughters have four releases including their self-titled EP, Canada Songs LP Hell Songs and last album Daughters . The band has re-released...
, and Buried Inside
Buried Inside (band)
Buried Inside, formed in 1997, was a band from Ottawa, Canada.They were influenced by early metalcore and hardcore punk bands such as Acme, One Eyed God Prophecy, Drift, and Union of Uranus...
across the Midwestern and East Coast United States, and throughout Canada. In 2004 Laxdal left the band, only to rejoin in 2005 to finish the band's follow-up record Reprisal, released in 2006 on CD by Escape Artist Records
Escape Artist Records
Escape Artist Records is an independent record label formed in 1997 and based in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.- Current and past artist roster :*27*American Heritage*Anodyne*Blunderbuss*Burn It Down*Collapsar*The Dream Is Dead*Ganglahia...
, and on double-LP by No List Records. After the recording of Reprisal Laxdal and the band parted ways again. Picking up bass duties after Laxdal's departure was Drew Johnston (guitarist in Electro Quarterstaff
Electro Quarterstaff
Electro Quarterstaff is an instrumental metal band hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. They play a form of progressive/technical heavy metal and employ three lead guitarists. Initially consisting of just three guitarists and drummer, they added a bassist to their line-up in winter 2006 and...
) who also played with Jesse, Shane and Darryl in Hide Your Daughters.
In October 2006 the band took part in the "Exclaim!
Exclaim!
Exclaim! is a monthly Canadian music magazine that features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with special focus on Canadian and cutting-edge artists...
Magazine Aggressive Tendencies Tour" with Pelican
Pelican (band)
Pelican is a post-metal quartet from Chicago, Illinois.-Biography and description:The band is known for its dense combinations of different melodies and extended track lengths. Its distinctive sound draws from stoner rock, doom metal, post-rock, and other influences...
and Daughters
Daughters (band)
Daughters is an American grindcore/mathcore/noise rock band formed in 2001 in Providence, Rhode Island after the demise of Providence-based As the Sun Sets. Daughters have four releases including their self-titled EP, Canada Songs LP Hell Songs and last album Daughters . The band has re-released...
across Canada. Bass duties were handled by former Kittens
Kittens (band)
The Kittens were a three piece noise rock band, with some country influences, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Their albums were released on Sonic Unyon. After disbanding for almost eight years, they had a reunion show on News Years of 2007....
and Projektor member Jahmeel Russell who played with Jesse, Shane and Drew in Hide Your Daughters.
KEN mode went on to work with Jahmeel for the band's third full-length, Mennonite, which was released in July 2008 on CD by Jesse Matthewson's own label, Arctodus Records, and on 3x7" vinyl by No List Records.
Prior to releasing Mennonite, Chad Tremblay joined the band as their fourth bassist in two years. The band embarked on a European tour with Welsh rockers Taint. Chad would go on to direct the bands debut music video for the song "Extending Common Courtesy Throughout The Evening" from their Mennonite album.
In 2010 the band announced that Profound Lore Records
Profound Lore Records
Profound Lore Records is an independent record label founded in May 2004, which "began as the 'hobby-like venture' of a few friends, but over the past six years the label has evolved into a one-man enterprise, shaped a distinct 'aesthetic identity,' and provided owner Chris Bruni with a full-time...
will release its fourth full length album, titled Venerable, to be recorded August 2010 with Kurt Ballou of Converge
Converge (band)
Converge is an American band from Salem, Massachusetts. Playing a blend of hardcore punk and metal since 1990, Converge has helped to define many of the elements of the metalcore genre.-Description:...
. They also announced several North American tours with Gaza, Engineer, Rosetta, Buried Inside, Wolvhammer, Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire, and others. In June 2011, KEN mode toured the US with Deafheaven
Deafheaven
Deafheaven is an American black metal band that formed in 2010. The group signed to Deathwish Inc. and released their debut album Roads to Judah in April 2011.- History :...
.
On June 19, 2011 the band played the Hellfest (French music festival) Open Air festival in Clisson France.
Discography
- Mongrel (2003)
- Reprisal (2006)
- Mennonite (2008)
- VenerableVenerable (album)- Track listing :All lyrics written by Jesse Matthewson, all music written by KEN mode except "Flight of the Echo Hawk" co-written by KEN mode and Jahmeel Russell.# "Book of Muscle" – 3:28# "Obeying the Iron Will..." – 4:26# "Batholith" – 3:33...
(2011)