SEMINAL INUK METAL BAND BACK IN ACTION
Northern Haze reformed, recorded new album with dynamic results
Northern Haze Siqinnaarut | Aakuluk Music
In 1985, Nunavut rock band Northern Haze became the first group to release an album in Inuktitut. That album, the selftitled Northern Haze, was one of the first Indigenous language rock records and became a prized collectors item, selling for $425 or higher.
Northern Haze formed in 1984 when Kolitalik Inukshuk, Naisana Qamaniq, James Ungalaq, Elijah Kunnuk and John Inooya came together after playing in assorted projects dating back to the 1970s. Many members hailed from much smaller places such as Igloolik on Baffin Island.
While the band did tour, and even performed at Expo 86 in Vancouver, it never recorded a followup before disbanding in 2007 following the deaths of Kunnuk and Inukshuk.
Aakuluk Music, the label owned by Juno winners The Jerry Cans, reissued the first album and convinced the group to reform. With new members Derek Aqqiaruq and Allan Kangok, the band has recorded Siqinnaarut.
Here are five things to know about this album:
1
Inuk
The opening track is 1:53 of pure punk/ hard rock bliss. Beginning with a bit of tongue-lashing from the lead singer, Ungalaq, it then thrashes into a swaggering rocker. The tone of the tune sets the pace for the rest of the 10 tracks. This is full of party tunes, headbangers and even an antiwar rager called Iraq. 2 Iraq Speaking of this song, it has one of the coolest punk rock fistpunch choruses you’ll hear this year and done over top of that ever-so-popular chord progression that most will identify instantly with Boston’s Peace of Mind. These guys have really intriguing ideas.
3 Inuktitut rocks
Some languages, like German, are just hard rock-friendly by their very nature. Without doubt, Inuktitut is one of those languages. In songs such as Tukisi or Qainna, the phrases end with a snarl that would make Ozzy Osbourne or John Lydon smile.
4
Family affair
Among the new members of Northern Haze is Ungalaq’s son, Derek Aqqiaruq. The younger guitarist is on record as stating that he grew up worshipping his dad’s band and it’s a dream come true to be playing with them. All the songs are performed by all of the members, so there is no way of knowing which member is laying down all of those killer leads. But if Aqqiaruq is the one behind some of them, he’s a killer player.
5
Touring
Among the things that are coming to be added to the band’s website will, hopefully, be touring information. That’s because Siqinnaarut is an album that must be heard live. Lyrics will be coming soon, too, perhaps with translation. It’s pretty clear that what these musicians have to say is pretty heartfelt. ALSO SPINNING THIS WEEK: A/B Trio: Trioliloquy (Chronograph): This Edmonton-based group joins with multiple Juno Award-winning trumpeter Kevin Turcotte for a driving session you could probably play for non-jazzers to enjoy. The band’s website notes that the members — Thom Bennett (drums), Dan Davis (saxophone) and Josh McHan (double bass) — are some of Alberta’s most in-demand musicians and the way they groove is obvious on Roundabout, Latin-tinged Los Plazos Del Patrón and opener Lenny’s Beat. The addition of Turcotte means Davis is free to blow around more than he might otherwise be and he has some particularly lovely passages on the title track.
Dolly Parton: Dumplin’ (Sony Music): The soundtrack to a new Netflix musical comedy of the same name written by Kristin Hahn and directed by Anne Fletcher is based on the young adult novel of the same name by author Julie Murphy. Starring Jennifer Aniston and Danielle Macdonald, it’s loaded with Parton trading vocals with Sia on the powerhouse Here I Am, Elle King on the snaky Holding On To You and even the amazing Mavis Staples on the uplifting Wonder Why. The only dud is the remake of Here You Come Again, with Willa Amal. Slowed down to a dirge, it’s overblown and boring.
Foxtrott: Meditations I-II-III (One Little Indian): This album originally was released in a threeEP series beginning in early 2018. These recordings served as a jumping-off point for the musician to soothe over some personal demons. The songs can accomplish the same for listeners, as the often stark, always spacious feel of Where Love Abounds or Take Me I’m Here are meditative and soothing. Her electronic beats pulse hard but never in a jarring way and the vocals cascade into chiming choruses with interesting arrangements. You really can appreciate her artistry when you compare the instrumental and vocal versions of songs such as Better With You.
Gross Misconduct: Equinox (grossmisconduct.ca):
This Vancouver quartet has been laying down its particular brand of (mostly) thrash, with some of those proggy time changes, that can keep your stomach lurching, for three albums now. They’ve become very good at it in that time, too. Particularly the rhythm section of bassist Julian Kenchenten and drummer John Kurucz, who showcase ace chops right from the opening title track. This isn’t to suggest guitarist Jesse Brint doesn’t royally shred. His staccato slashing in Triserpentine is marvellous and proves a perfect foil to singer Dave London’s guttural shouts. London is a clean singer whose lower-register voice brings a lovely sense of foreboding doom to songs such as Ocean Inferno. That said, he does get overwhelmed by his bandmates in studio at times. Look for him spreading holiday cheer at the B.C. Deathmas Festivus, Dec. 8, Rickshaw Theatre.