KEN MODE Wins 'Metal/Hard Music Album' JUNO Award

KEN MODE was honored in the "Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year" category at this year's Juno Awards (the Canadian equivalent of the Grammy Awards),which is being held in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada March 26 - April 1.

This new category is an award to honor artistic achievement, technical proficiency and overall excellence in the Canadian recording industry, without regard to album sales or chart position. Eligible albums include metal, metalcore, hardcore, heavy rock, thrash metal, death metal and their respective sub-genres including (but not limited to) nu-metal, power metal, grindcore, extreme metal, industrial metal, viking metal, folk metal, doom metal, gothic metal, speed metal, and sludge metal.

"Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year" nominees were as follows:

* ANVIL - Juggernaut of Justice (The End/Sony)
* CAULDRON - Burning Fortune (Earache/eOne)
* FUCK THE FACTS - Die Miserable (Relapse/eOne)
* KEN MODE - Venerable (Profound Lore/Sonic Unyon)
* DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT - Deconstruction (HevyDevy/eOne)

Jesse Matthewson of KEN MODE told The Canadian Press that he was surprised when he first saw that his band was nominated for this year's award. "I thought, well, that's kind of cool, but I didn't really take it that seriously because I just assumed it'd be treated more like the Grammys where it's only the very, very big bands that could ever have a hope in hell of getting nominated. And then when I saw the list and it's like ... what is going on here?"

He added, "With a lot of quote unquote 'normal' people, that sort of thing really excites them — it's almost like we're a legitimate band now. (My parents') friends are like: 'Wow, they're like, really talented, aren't they?"'

"It's nice that Canada's finally waking up to appreciate some of the darker arts," he said. "It's cool that hopefully we'll start getting more recognition on a grander scale."

For more information about Canadian Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences (CARAS) and the Juno Awards, go to www.junoawards.ca.

KEN MODE is a name synonymous with the Canadian hardcore and metal scenes. The band has effortlessly blended Amphetamine Reptile-styled noise rock with pure hardcore fury to become one of the Canada's most crushing acts. In the process, it has built a reputation for itself through its unique brand of metallic noise rock as well as touring with musical titans such as MASTODON, PELICAN, CURSED, PROPAGHANDI, BARONESS and more. Now KEN MODE is back once again with a plan to conquer the aggressive music scene and establish iself as the leaders of innovative and aggressive music.

KEN MODE's "Venerable" was released in March 2011 via Profound Lore Records. The CD was produced by Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE, TRAP THEM, TORCHE) at Godcity Studios and was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side.

"Venerable" features 10 tracks that blur the lines between raw sonic energy and introspective, melodic moments. Songs like "Batholith" and "Book of Muscle" raise the bar for hardcore standards a little higher while "A Wicked Pike" pays homage to bands like THE JESUS LIZARD with spastic noise rock elements and "Flight of the Echo Hawk" (a tribute to David Kelly from KITTENS) is an instrumental masterpiece that will certainly play well for fans of ISIS, PELICAN, JESU, etc.

The spectacular cover art for "Venerable" features imagery by Julie Anne Mann and layout by Josh Graham (SOUNDGARDEN, NEUROSIS, A STORM OF LIGHT).

"Venerable" track listing:

01. The Book Of Muscle
02. Obeying The Iron Will
03. Batholith
04. The Irate Lumberjack
05. A Wicked Pike
06. Flight Of The Echo Hawk
07. Never Was
08. The Ugliest Happy You've Ever Seen
09. Terrify The Animals
10. Mako Shark

"Obeying The Iron Will" audio stream:

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/kenmode.