Warriors, near and far, gathered across the land in unison, under the banner of blazing, traditional heavy metal, attentive to the cries and tales of epic battles of strength and might. This ascension occurred on October 12th, 2025. Thomas Karam of Black Smoke Prods hosted a special show celebrating the release of a new EP from Bloodstone titled “Ecstasy of Battle”. Dionysus and Exxûl joined as support. The following review serves to explore the event and shed light on three new and promising bands encompassing the expansion of Québec’s remarkable metal scene.
Piranha Bar
Founded in 2007 and known to many as “Le Bar Qui Mord!”(The bar that bites!), Piranha Bar is a unique and integral staple to Montréal’s live music scene. Located on 680 Saint-Catherine St W, Montréal, QC, in the heart of the downtown area, Piranha Bar is an ideal spot for visitors and music lovers alike. From the outside, one wouldn’t guess it’s a bar, but inside tells a different story.
Piranha bar has multiple levels, which include a basement venue, an upstairs venue, and the main floor. It can be described as a dive bar with its casual and laid-back atmosphere. One can find many games, pool tables, slot machines, and even a fish tank on site. The vibe and overall aesthetic seem to favor the punk and metal crowd. There are karaoke nights, and even the bathrooms contain interesting decor. Present and future visitors will appreciate the bar’s spaciousness, making a night out with friends at this spot certainly not boring.
Dionysus
Dionysus is a three-piece hard rock/heavy metal band based in Montréal, QC. The members include Duncan McNeilly as the bassist/vocalist, Marius Bertrand as the guitarist, and Nicolas Dimopoulos-L’Ecuyer as the drummer. Although the band wasn’t initially a three-piece, they functioned as a trio for most of 2024 and have since defined and solidified their sound. Dionysus was the first opening band of the show. From the start of their set, it’s clear that their sound draws inspiration from bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Uriah Heep, among others. While Duncan took care of vocal duty most of the time, for a couple of songs, the drummer Nicolas would take over, most notably on the track “The Pilot”. A rising star on his own, guitarist Marius was a wiz on the guitar. His approach and style are very rhythmic, bluesy, yet direct.
As a bonus, does anyone remember the Québécois hard rock band Dionysos, formed in 1969?
Based in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, QC, Dionysos was known to be one of the first rock bands to have songs entirely in French. Their strong structures are progressive and, for their time, remain one of the pioneering early rock bands from Québec. While Dionysos and Dionysus are from different eras, the stark similarities in sound and style are undeniable. Below, check out a brief comparison and excerpt between the Dionysos track“L’Age D’Or” and the Dionysus track “The Void”.
Dionysos, meet Dionysus of the 21st century! A modern-day trio of incontestable potential fueled by the legacy of rebellious hard rock.
Exxûl
Exxûl was founded in 2020 in Longueuil, Québec, by multi-instrumentalist Phil Tougas, who also runs a metal music label, Productions TSO, which features a collective of his most recent projects, including Atramentus, Zeicrydeus, Chthe’ilist, and Exxûl, among many others. In July 2025, the band made an exceptional debut appearance in Montréal, introducing and satisfying the curiosity of fans to the sound and style of epic power doom metal. Full band details and a show review of their debut performance can be found here. As a reminder, the band is a five-piece with members with individual identifiers: Thomas Karam (vocalist) is “Stargazer,” known for chants of foretold doom. Phil Tougas (guitarist) is “Defender,” known for his six-stringed bloodsteel hymns. Antoine Daigneault (bassist) is “Sentinel,” known for his five-stringed chaosmagicks. François Bilodeau (synthesizers) is “Spectre” known for his multitimbral spectral oscillations. Guyot Begin-Benoit (drummer) is “Etherial Hammer,” known for his telluric rumblings.
In comparison to the band’s debut performance, one can say Exxul’s second offering signified an awakening of a new chapter. To put things in perspective, the band was a long-awaited project, and it took nearly five years just to find the ideal vocalist. Exxul’s performance captivates the essence of true power emanating from within, replete with victory and triumph. For example, below is an excerpt of their rendition of Manowar’s “Secret of Steel”.
Many Manowar songs exist, and one might wonder, Why Secret of Steel? The answer couldn’t be any more straightforward. The cover of the song is a dedication and ode to those who possess an unyielding will, understood primarily by those who are inherently chosen. It is within those individuals where freedom reigns and all is won. In summary, this achievement was unlocked by the complete formation of Exxûl.
The acoustics of Piranha bar were superb. All the instruments were audible, and there were no balance issues detected. Besides Manowar, Exxûl draws inspiration from bands such as Solitude Aeturnus and Cirith Ungol. The vocal style of Thomas is a main draw to the band due to his powerful and impressive range, paired with Phil’s exceptional and precise guitar technique. The sedative and hypnotic synthesizers towering over the crushing grooves of the drums and bass left the whole atmosphere majestic to the core. While this live appearance is only their second, the band will take the world by storm.
Bloodstone
Bloodstone is a traditional heavy metal band from Montréal, QC, whose lyrical inspiration is deeply entrenched in Sword & Sorcery literature. In 2019, the band was initially called “Zodiak” and was started by friends Jessie Ku and Peter Salatellis. They eventually played their first show in 2022. A couple of years later, they changed their name to Bloodstone and expanded to a five-piece lineup, featuring Matthew Georgalos as vocalist, Jesse Ku on drums, Anthony Keramarios and Peter Salatellis on guitars, and Dimitri Bobotsis on bass. The Bloodstone name draws great inspiration from the Judas Priest track and Karl Edward Wagner’s story. In August 2025, their debut EP “Ecstasy of Battle” was independently released and consists of three hard-hitting tracks.
In celebration of the release of “Ecstasy of Battle”, Bloodstone started their set with the track “The Pit of Wings”. The first track of the EP stands as a genre-defining opener, channeling heavy metal to the core with dual and powerful solos from Peter and Anthony. As a treat, many new songs were performed, including “Fire of the Damned”, “Valient”, “Dragonships”, “Warrior”, and a heroic yet monumental anthem, “By Steel and Stone”. There were many attendees in the crowd showing their utmost support and allegiance. The band has garnered a solid fan base as a newer and up-and-coming act. Bloodstone equals the cultic yet harmonious marriage between classic fantasy and inspirational heavy metal. Below is a short video of the track “Windrunner,” written by the bassist Dimitri, which demonstrates their tuneful sound.
While one can agree that the appreciation of the Swords & Sorcery genre is indispensable, the fundamental elements surrounding themes of struggle, determination, triumph, and battles, whether internal or external, remain outlined through the performances of Bloodstone, Dionysus, and Exxûl. As warriors, choosing one’s destiny is an incredible and demanding feat. The Ecstasy of Battle EP release show was a success, immersing the fine art of musicality and showmanship with the enchantment of epic storytelling.