Death metal band with drummer from Oak Bay, B.C., wins Juno award
It's been quite the journey for 39-year-old Spencer Prewett, who grew up in Oak Bay but now tours with successful Canadian death metal band, Archspire.
Archspire just took home the 2022 Juno Award for best metal/hard music album of the year with its album, Bleed the Future.
"It's super awesome the Junos are recognizing such an extreme genre because sometimes it's hard to get credit from regular people with this type of music," Prewett told CTV News.
The Junos aired on Sunday, and Prewett says the Canadian band learned of their win just before a sold-out show in Vancouver on Saturday.
"We set up all of our gear and sound checked and everyone went to go eat, and by the time we got back to the venue we found out we had won," he said.
"It was almost like the perfect day, it was super fun."
OAK BAY ROOTS
Prewett lives in Vancouver but is from Oak Bay on Vancouver Island.
"It was a little bit unusual to come out of Oak Bay and be a part of a successful death metal band," he said.
Prewett says he has "deep ties" to the region, with his aunt serving as a councillor, his family owning a business in the municipality, and his mom working as a doctor in hospice for decades.
"Death metal is just about as far away from Oak Bay as you can get," he admitted.
In general, Prewett says the death metal scene in Canada is "pretty good", particularly in Montreal.
He adds that it's rare for Canadian death metal bands to break out, however, so he counts himself lucky.
Archspire has international tours planned for the next two years, including in South America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
The band will also be working on its next album in between tour stops.
CANADIAN SUPPORT
While Prewett says it's rare to make a living in such a niche industry, he says the Canadian government does its part to support up-and-coming artists.
"To get us off the ground the 'Factor' grant system from the government was really helpful," he said.
"When we tour with these American bands and we explain how much the Canadian government helps with the arts they're always shocked and jealous," he added.
"I think that's something as a Canadian to be very proud of."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend woman's life
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.