Lamb Of God And Killswitch Engage Rock The Headbanger's Ball

What do you get when you stick five moderately well-selling metal bands together on tour and push it with a major music television logo? The Headbanger's Ball Tour!

Featuring Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall (not appearing in Canada due to border issues) and Lamb Of God, this extreme music tour is supported by MTV2 and proves to be one of the loudest packages to hit your town before mom unfolds the artificial tree.

The tour kicks off in Canada on October 28. Since only fancy digital cable types can even watch MTV here in Canada, why bring the tour from a TV show that most of us don't even watch to The Great White North first?

"We love French women," says Lamb Of God singer Randy Blythe as if his brand of shrieking black metal screams "chick magnet." "We want to kick this tour off with a great start."

Killswitch Engage singer Howard Jones is just as hilarious... but not so endearing.

"I thought we were getting the crappy places out of the way first…"

He’s kidding, of course.

"Actually, the third show is a homecoming gig, so we’d better be on our toes."

Surely they must. With the MTV2 logo on every piece of promotion, many eyes will be firmly glued to this venture and whether or not it survives.

Jones and Blythe are confident it will be a success. Looking at this inaugural Headbanger’s Ball tour, one has to wonder: why the hell didn’t it happen before? Lamb Of God and Shadows Fall are basically tripping over each other musically speaking and Killswitch Engage blend just enough metal into their meathead hardcore to be unique and attractive to the bill. Blythe and Jones openly admit that the idea was a rather obvious concept... at least MTV2 had the brains to come up with it.

"It was kind of told to both of us that we were playing the tour," chuckles Jones. "‘You’re doing the Headbanger’s Ball tour.’ I’m like, ‘Ok... I guess I’m touring.’ Regardless, how are you gonna turn it down? We’re touring with friends and MTV are into it. This tour should have happened a long time ago. You’ve got bands that encompass all forms of extreme music together and most importantly, they’re all killer."

Blythe interjects, adding that because all of these bands are still growing in the public eye, there is a degree of underground appeal that makes this tour somewhat enticing.

"See, as singers we don’t have much say in anything. It’s just ‘show up and go berserk.’ For the bands on the tour, what made us mesh is that we come from the same scene and we’re all coming up together. From the opening bands to the rotating headliners, we’re all on the same page. More and more people are starting to read that page. It may just work because there’s variety and a sense that maybe people are jumping onto this wagon before it becomes too popular. These bands are similar, but none of us sound the same."

And by the way, in case you’re torn between tossing panties or jelly beans at Jones for his wonderful jab at Canada, be advised: he loves mayonnaise. Throw it at him; rub it on him... slather him in it. He doesn’t care as long as he gets some.

"Actually, I find it a morally reprehensible condiment and I will see blood if any of the stuff so much as touches me. If you decide to throw that shit at me, consider your country invaded."

You have been warned.

October 28 Montreal, QC @ Spectrum
October 29 Toronto, ON @ Opera House
November 14 Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom Keith Carman