This month, the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has released his epic historical treatment of Canada’s national game.

Not only that, but the Canadian guitarist Sean Kelly has written a memoir that takes us through the history of Canada’s heavy metal scene in the 80s: Metal on Ice: Tales from Canada’s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Heroes (also available in the USA and the UK).

Kelly got Canuck metal fans to pledge funds to produce a companion musical document to his book: the Metal On Ice EP, which now contains Kelly’s brand new 2013 re-recordings of classic Canadian metal anthems.

This awesome EP is now readily available. On its new versions of classic metal it features absolutely killer guest vocals from top talent: Brian Vollmer of Helix (track 1: “Heavy Metal Love”), Lee Aaron (the ultimate 80s “Metal Queen” who contributes a stunning new rendition of her world-famous epic on track 2), Nick Walsh of Slik Toxik (track 3: Kick Axe’s “On the Road to Rock”), Carl Dixon of Coney Hatch (track 4: “Hey Operator”), Darby Mills of Headpins (track 5: “Don’t It Make Ya Feel”), and Russ Dwarf of Killer Dwarfs (track 6: “Keep the Spirit Alive”).

There is also a special seventh track composed by Kelly and Walsh: “Metal On Ice”, featuring a group of the EP’s special guest vocalists paying tribute to the greatness of the Canadian heavy metal scene.

Here is a list of the EP’s 2013 remakes, along with the dates of the original versions given in square brackets for historical interest:

1. Heavy Metal Love [1983 – Helix, No Rest for the Wicked LP]
2. Metal Queen [1984 – Lee Aaron, Metal Queen LP]
3. On The Road To Rock [1984 – Kick Axe, Vices LP]
4. Hey Operator [1982 – Coney Hatch, Coney Hatch LP]
5. Don’t It Make Ya Feel [1982 – Headpins, Turn It Loud LP]
6. Keep The Spirit Alive [1986 – Killer Dwarfs, Stand Tall LP]
7. Metal On Ice [2013 – Sean Kelly, Metal on Ice EP]

Brian Vollmer – Vocals (Track 1);
Lee Aaron – Vocals (Track 2);
Nick Walsh – Vocals (Track 3);
Carl Dixon – Vocals (Track 4);
Darby Mills – Vocals (Track 5);
Russ Dwarf – Vocals (Track 6);
Sean Kelly – Guitars (All tracks);
Dave Langguth – Drums (All tracks);
Daryl Gray – Bass (Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6);
Victor Langen – Bass (Track 3);
Nick Walsh – Bass (Track 7)

I highly recommend this nostalgic EP to all you cosmopolitan Progarchists out there, especially those of you with prog metal tastes. That’s because the EP makes a nice palate cleanser when slipped in-between any two of 2013’s awesome prog metal masterpieces (e.g., the new discs from Haken and Caligula’s Horse). 

Everything on the EP is excellent, but my favorite trips down memory lane are: tracks 2, 5, and 6.

By the way, I have dropped the EP into a playlist of other terrific nostalgic EPs released in 2013—by Halestorm, Anthrax, and Adrenaline Mob—that contain updated cover versions of classic hard rock tunes.

Have some fun and grab yourself this formidable Metal On Ice EP today!

O, Canada…