The 2020 JUNO Awards METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

The Juno Awards of 2020 will be hosted in the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on 15 March 2020. It will be the 49th edition of the Juno Awards, and the second time they have been hosted in Saskatoon, the previous edition being the Juno Awards of 2007.

Here you have the METAL/HARD MUSIC ALBUM OF THE YEAR NOMINEES

BAND> THE AGONIST
ALBUM> ORPHANS

The Agonist is an extreme melodic metal band formed in 2004 in Montreal, QC. The band has toured extensively around the world and has released six full-length albums since their inception. From hauntingly beautiful soundscapes to relentless brutality, their compositions encompass a wide array of influences that capture the complexity and passion of these hungry musicians.

After several line-up changes over the years, the band solidified their ensemble when charismatic front-woman, Vicky Psarakis joined the fold. Her dynamic vocals ranging from raspy hard-rock singing to monstrous screams revamped the band’s established sound.Reuniting with long-time producer, Christian Donaldson at The Grid Studio in Montreal, the band created their critically-acclaimed record, Orphans, which has surpassed expectations of loyal fans and has turned the most difficult of critics into believers. Continuing to push boundaries with their relentless work ethic and uncompromising approach to songwriting, The Agonist is reinvigorating the metal scene through their exhilarating music and high energy live performance.

BAND> KOBRA AND THE LOTUS
ALBUM> EVOLUTION

Led by frontwoman and vocal powerhouse Kobra Paige, KOBRA AND THE LOTUS have been making a name for themselves worldwide since 2010 with extensive touring and 5 well-received albums.Kobra and the Lotus harness such regenerative fire on their sixth full-length, Evolution [Napalm Records]. Clawing a path to the forefront of modern rock throughout the past decade, the JUNO Award-nominated Calgary quintet—Kobra Paige [vocals, piano], Jasio Kulakowski [guitar], Ronny Gutierrez [guitar], Brad Kennedy [bass], and Lord Marcus Lee [drums]—catalyze ten chantable anthems fueled by stadium-size hooks, signature airtight metallic songcraft, and skyscraping vocals.

BAND> LINDSAY SCHOOLCRAT
ALBUM> MARTYR

Lindsay Schoolcraft is a singer, songwriter, harpist, and pianist from the city of Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. She was discovered and recruited by British extreme heavy metal band Cradle of Filth in 2013 and was promoted to a full-time member in 2014. Since then she has joined them on countless world tours and appears on the albums Hammer of The Witches (2015) and Cryptoriana: The Seductiveness of Decay (2017) both released under Nuclear Blast Records.

In 2019 she released her debut solo album Martyr which features Rocky Gray (Grammy Award Winning ex-Evanescence Drummer) on guitars, drums, and as a co-songwriter. Together they combined their love of nostalgic Gothic Rock and film scores to bring you ethereal soundscapes that pay tribute to the past, but also have a modern flair. This album includes the talents of Producer Tyler Williams of Monolithic Productions located in Oshawa, Ontario. Orchestrations were provided by multi-award-winning film and modern media composer Spencer Creaghan and harsh vocals are performed by Xenoyr of Ne Obliviscaris on the track “See The Light’. “Martyr” has been released under Cyber Proxy Independent, a self-owned and home-grown Record Label.

BAND> SINGLE MOTHERS
ALBUM>Through A Wall

Southern Ontario post-hardcore heavyweights Single Mothers return with the surprise release of their new album, Through A Wall, from Dine Alone Records. Recorded with the core duo of frontman Drew Thomson, producer/percussionist Ian Romano (Attack In Black, Career Suicide, City & Colour) and a rotating cast of musicians, these 14 songs revive the raging sound of the band’s earliest output. While Single Mothers’ 2017 LP, Our Pleasure, acclaimed by outlets such as NOISEY, BrooklynVegan, Allmusic, and CLRVYNT, showcased poppier sides of Thomson’s songwriting, he has since found a separate outlet for those inclinations in his solo project The Drew Thomson Foundation. As a result, Through A Wall is packed top to bottom with blistering riffs, breakneck tempo shifts, and mosh-ready breakdowns, channeling the intensity of the group’s live performances.

Since their formation in 2008, Single Mothers’ only constant is change. With a perpetually revolving line-up that has even seen Thomson leaving the band, they have now settled into a Mark E. Smith and The Fall inspired operation where any collaborator is welcome to join him for the ride. “The door is always open,” says Thomson. “We just have a few guidelines: if the songs sound good and you’re a friend, you can play with the band any time. Once a Mother, always a Mother.”

BAND> STRIKER
ALBUM> PLAY TO WING

Riding high on the success of their own independent label, Record Breaking Records, Striker is the fastest growing metal band out of Canada. Their Juno Nominated fifth album, eponymously titled Striker, is a lethal force cut from the former glory of all things heavy metal. Striker is out for blood with this album, with high profile tours across the globe with Sonata Arctica, Dark Tranquillity, Primal Fear, and more, a host of new partners, and a growing fan base; there are no brakes on this train.

Listeners are locked in to Striker’s growing circle pit of melodies that are more catchy than the plague, musicianship more mind blowing than a .50 calibre bullet between the eyes, and live performances with so much energy you could power an aircraft carrier. Full speed or no speed is the motto to live by, and going absolutely over the top is the only thing Striker knows.