#foreverfrost

       Nestled somewhere in between Luke Bryan fangirls and jacked up Fords flying down Johnston Street, the guys of Forever Frost are happily resurrecting Port Alberni's heavy metal music scene since February 2015.        Playing at venues like The Cambie in Nanaimo and Funky Winker Beans in Vancouver, they're bringing the attention of heavy metal lovers back to their beloved hometown, filling local venues like The Rainbow Room and Port Alberni' annual music festival, The Five Acre Shaker.

       Most of their shows are generally all-ages but don't let that turn you off. Along with the usual metal-head camaraderie, you'll still find the stale stench of sweat and beer, accompanied by the usual neck pain and tinnitus that justifies a good metal show. 

       "It's hard to tell who is going more mental, us or the crowd!" laughs Kyle Hamelin, one of the vocalists for Forever Frost. "They [the fans] do get pretty crazy, especially at our hometown shows. A kid even broke his arm in the pit once! They have all been super supportive whether it be buying merchandise, coming to shows, or even just sharing our Facebook updates". 

       With their ages ranging between 16-23, they're already creating a name and a sound for themselves on the island with intricate melodies played by Jake Harper and Darren Dings on the guitar; overlapped by the strong and solid vocals shared by both Hunter Fast and Kyle Hamelin who steadily play off one another. The guys of Forever Frost interact with their audiences so well, it hardly seems improvised (for those who have witnessed their  "gladiator" battle lines in the mosh-pit, you'll know what I mean).        The youngest member of the band, Brad Weber (16) plays with more energy and enthusiasm than your typical bassist and still maintains the rhythmic foundation to support drummer, Connor Smyth, who can definitely prove he's worthy to bang the drums for a heavy metal band.         For the amount of energy and talent these guys bring to a show, it's hard to believe that some of them are still in high school and already have so many previous projects under their belts, individually.        Recently, the band unleashed a sneak peak of their upcoming EP as well as the promise of a full length album in the distant future. With credit going to Bryce Callow for producing the four song EP and Braedon Sutherland of Black Sea Deluge (https://blackseadeluge.bandcamp.com/) for his assistance in the mixing process, fans can't stop talking about what they're hearing on social media and the full release is highly anticipated from the heavy metal community across Vancouver Island.        And what exactly do they think about that heavy metal community?        "There IS a metal scene here, for sure. People like Sarah Étoile (Sarah Étoile Photography) , Tim Crneck (Cryptic Event Planning), and Amy Milne have been pushing and keeping the scene alive, for more than just metal. We are kind of like one big family".        And they really are. 

       For a local metal scene that used to fill bars back in the early 2000's, the music seemed to wither back into their basement studios where they begun. Only a few stuck around, content to play in front of dwindling crowds because it allowed them to continue what they love. Forever Frost was one of those bands and despite members coming and going, they still managed to maintain a fan club and show after show, you start to see more faces from all over the island.        When asked what the future holds for their music, the guys of Forever Frost all agree that they are completely committed to the band. "We just want to keep playing and take it as far as we can without burning ourselves out," Hamelin says, "touring, touring, and more touring".    Check out Port Alberni’s very own Forever Frost: