Imagine a five-piece Metal band that’s so tight-knit, that they practically share a musical pulse. That’s Dead Beyond Fear for you, a juggernaut of Metal hailing from Central Ontario’s town of Barrie and its neighbouring areas.
The band members are not new to the chaotic thrilling world of music. With each member bringing a wealth of experience from their previous bands, they’ve meld their talents into a cohesive and electric unit, and the result is nothing short of explosive!
Their chemistry is not just confined to the recording studio. When they perform live, their bond is evident. Each member seems to have an innate sense of where the others are heading, allowing them to weave a complex tapestry of sound that leaves audiences awestruck.
But don’t take our word for it. Experience the raw energy of Dead Beyond Fear for yourself. Their live sets are a rollercoaster ride of pulse-pounding rhythms, melodic choruses that echo long after the song has ended, bone-crushing breakdowns that will leave you breathless, and riffs that will have your head banging without you even realizing it.
So, brace yourself and get ready to step into the thrilling world of Dead Beyond Fear. Rest assured, this is one ride you won’t want to miss!
Dead Beyond Fear brings together unique talents to create a boundary-pushing sound. Meet the artists behind the music.
Lead Vocalist
Bass Guitar Backup Vocalist
Lead Guitar
Guitar
Drummer
There was a spark, a flash of inspiration, and the musical journey of Dead Beyond Fear was ignited. Sean and Phil, two past bandmates with a shared vision, had been holding onto some songs written from a previous project. They were eager to breathe life into these songs with other musicians, deciding to assemble a new band that would do justice to their vision.
After scouting for some time, Phil recruited Marc, a maestro of the low end, to command the bass Guitar. In turn, he brought in his friend, Matt, whose wizardry with the lead guitar was exactly what Dead Beyond Fear needed. The ensemble was completed with the addition of Chelsea, the original beat-master behind the skins. And so, Dead Beyond Fear was born.
The Spot in Newmarket formerly known as The Jam Spot, a place of many local shows and rehearsal rentals for many bands, became their creative lab. Here, they holed up in a monthly rented rehearsal room, meeting twice a week to unleash their creative spirits. The previously written songs were honed and polished, while more songs were created collaboratively, echoing the band’s unique cacophony of sounds.
Later that summer, DBF crossed paths with the band Kavara, who had left their banner at DBF’s home venue after a show together. In an amusing twist of fate, DBF returned the banner, and in return, Kavara invited them to join the rest of their weekend tour. This serendipitous act led to several other performances throughout 2017, marking the start of a great friendship together and an exciting journey for Dead Beyond Fear.
As the calendar marked 2018, the members of DBF found themselves on an incredible journey. They were not just playing in typical shows; they were sharing the stage with some big names from Ontario’s music scene, as well as other touring bands from across Canada and overseas.
But the best was yet to come. The latter of the year presented them with a golden opportunity, one that would have made any music enthusiast green with envy. Imagine being a huge fan of a band and then getting the chance to open a show for them! Well, that’s exactly what happened to DBF. They found themselves opening for some of their all-time favourite bands: Unearth and The Darkest Hour. And no, this wasn’t just any show, this was a sold-out show! The room was so packed you could barely tell where the crowd ended and the band began, with mosh pits and circle pits that spread across the room.
The adrenaline rush of playing to a packed house, the excitement of performing alongside their idols, and the roaring applause of the audience all made this a pivotal moment for DBF. It was like being a kid in a playground, but instead of swings and slides, they were playing with guitars and drums, and instead of other children, they were playing with the bands they grew up listening to. The momentum was moving so fast it felt as if they were strapped to a rocket. They knew, at this point, that they had to buckle up and take the next step on this incredible musical journey.
In the year 2019, a band by the name of DBF decided to go into hibernation mode. They were preparing for their debut album Malic for the Hated Enemy. They were like chefs in their kitchen, cooking up an exquisite album. The band members meticulously restructured and fine-tuned their older materials, creating a unique blend of their raw, original sound and their evolved musicianship. They didn’t stop there. They went on to write more tracks, making a total of 13 unique songs, each with its distinct flavour and rhythm. And just like a master chef, they knew some recipes needed more time to simmer, so they put several other songs on the back burner for the future.
As their album started to take shape, an exciting opportunity came knocking. DBF was offered to open for the heavy hitter band Threat Signal on their reunion tour. They were also invited to accompany Kavara for the release of their sophomore album. It was like the universe was aligning in their favour.
With new opportunities in their pocket and a roster full of songs, DBF was ready to step into the studio. The recording process was a long, vigorous journey. But they weren’t alone. They were aided by the dynamic duo of Jon Hutchison and Max Kane from H&K Recording Co., who engineered and mixed their music. And let’s not forget the Local Mastering Expert, Dan Smethurst, who fine-tuned their sound to perfection.
After many months of this intense process, their album was finally complete and ready to hit the stands. The grand release took place on October 24th, 2019 at the Foxx Lounge, in their hometown of Barrie, Ontario. Accompanied by Kavara and Max and John’s long-standing band Esoteric Doctrine, they performed their album in its entirety for 60 minutes, an audacious debut that won them a standing ovation.
The album didn’t just impact their local fans in Ontario with great reception. Their music rippled across the country and even made waves in other countries, including Australia, where it was featured on the main radio stations VFM Valley radio, and to Texas on ZTR FM where it made its way up to number 1 on the radio billboard and held its place strong against many artists for 20 weeks straight.
With their album making waves, DBF was all set to perform a summer tour in 2020 with some local bands, as well as other big show dates opening for Fit For an Autopsy, Acacia Strain, Imonolith and many other bands. But life had other plans. The covid 19 pandemic hit, and their tour was cancelled. It was a huge setback financially and an emotional blow to the band.
The year 2020 started like any other for DBF, but little did they know, their rhythm was about to be disrupted by an invisible antagonist – COVID-19. The pandemic forced the band into unplanned intermission, with household restrictions and social distancing measures making it impossible to hold rehearsals. The once vibrant rehearsal spaces were eerily silent, and even the idea of harmonizing from home was off the table.
However, as they say, “in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.” Isolated and left with their thoughts, each band member found themselves on a solitary journey. They had to grapple with their emotions and hardships, an experience that proved to be a crucible for creativity.
Before the pandemic, DBF had already penned a single following their debut album. But now, amid the chaos, a new idea began to take root. It was time to start composing a sophomore album – a follow-up to the Malice LP entitled “Chamber of Isolation” which was coincidently named before the pandemic.
During this unique era, many members found themselves churning out songs or rehearsing parts of the existing ones that Phil and Sean had created. The shared struggle seemed to spark a new creative energy within the group.
When the restrictions were lifted, getting back on stage was not as straightforward as they had hoped. The lockdown had altered the members’ lives significantly, bringing with it creative struggles and differences. It was a bumpy ride, and eventually, the band chose to part ways with their drummer, Chelsea.
The search for a new drummer began, and that’s when Dan Smethurst stepped up to the plate. As the mastering Engineer of their previous album, Dan was already familiar with the band’s rhythm and style. He proved to be a fast learner, being able to play the songs in just a handful of sessions.
And just like that, DBF was back to doing what they do best – playing live shows. Despite the hardships, the band had found their beat again, proving that even in the face of adversity, music always finds a way.
As the curtain fell on 2022, a new chapter was on the horizon for DBF, with the addition of Dan to their ranks. Awaiting them was the exciting continuation of their creative journey for the forthcoming Chamber album. The band, fired up and ready to rock, made significant headway in their writing, and by the twilight of 2023, it was finally time to hit the recording button.
Shaking things up, DBF decided to take the reins on recording the guitar and vocal tracks themselves. Armed with a shiny new home recording setup and Dan’s recording wizardry, the band was set to capture their raw musical essence. This move hinted not just at their growing musical maturity but a desire to bring an authentic, unfiltered sound to their fans.
The Coho Collaboration:
DBF collaborated with Cory Hofing from Lutharo for the drum recordings at the famed Coho Recording Studio. But Cory’s role didn’t stop there. He also donned the hat of a mixing engineer, fine-tuning the sonic textures of the album to perfection.
Early 2024 saw the band solidifying mixes and masters, ready to be unleashed as singles later that year. But the perfectionist in them wasn’t quite satisfied. They painstakingly polished some tracks, which they felt were not quite up to the mark, ensuring an uncompromising musical experience for their fans.
With the first half of the album taken care of, DBF plunged into recording the second half. Several singles have since found their way to the public, each garnering rave reviews and whetting the appetite of their fans for more. As the clock ticks towards the new year, the band is on a mission: to drop the full album and set the music scene ablaze.
