“Blessed Rust Vultures, the debut EP from Vancouver's The Villain Avian Symphony, teeters on the edge of outright sonic chaos for nearly its entire 10-minute run time. A deranged conglomeration of screamcore, punk, and electronica, the EP is overflowing with a visceral intensity that is sure to propel The Villain Avian Symphony directly into the hearts - and earbuds - of the more extreme inhabitants of the metalcore scene.”

“The thought of mixing together electronica and metal sounds about as appealing as an ice-cream-and-halibut sandwich. Former Black Halos member Denyss McKnight (who was also in Last Plague and Left Spine Down) started his latest project, the Villain Avian Symphony, because he wanted to test out the combination of metal with electronica. It’s an unlikely match on paper, but in practice it actually doesn’t taste that bad.”

“The black ties are fleeing the building with their hands over their heads while fans of the band are pouring in (in true 80s fashion someone has a huge boombox on their shoulder) and this giant party is erupting with a circle pit in the middle and people making out in the dark corners of the room. People are swinging from the stage curtains and someone just put out a cigarette on one of the nice cushioned seats. Outside sitting on the curb a disheveled black tie adjusts his glasses, runs his hand through his thinning hair and wonders what the hell just happened.”

“Denyss McKnight knows his way around a rock band. From the Black Halos to Left Spine Down, he’s been working around punk, thrash, industrial and electronic genres and this project blends it all together quite nicely. The opening title track boasts some tight guitar - courtesy of Three Inches of Blood’s Justin Hagberg and Just Denis – and thrumming bass that wouldn’t sound out of place on a NIN or Ministry disc. Those two groups are certainly influences here as well as some of the more contemporary metal acts falling into the prog-thrash zone. It’s harsh, sharp, loud and on songs such as “Titanis” instantly evocative of a sweat-drenched mosh pit. If it works as well lives as on disc, this is a welcome addition to the Canadian scene. Grade: B”

“Denyss McKnight has played in various notable bands in the Vancouver area. Some of these bands are artists such as hardcore act Until We Have Faces, the monochrome glam-punks the Black Halos and industrial/cyberpunk band Left Spine Down. Without further ado here is an interview with my friend of The Villain Avian Symphony, Denyss McKnight.”

“I’d planned to stop this post after three bands, but I got a Myspace friend request from this Vancouver outfit, and the name was so unusual that I jumped to their Myspace player and listened to a song, just to see what a symphony of villainous avians might sound like.”

“The Villain Avian Symphony is a super-group of highly skilled Metal/ Thrash musicians that started out as a bunch of friends just looking to experiment with no expectations. Taking some down time from their current projects, Denyss McKnight (x-Black Halo)/ Justin Hagberg, Shane Clark, Ash Pearson ( all from 3 Inches of Blood)/ and Telford Germyn (former Spread Eagle singer) came together and hammered out what would become their first single, November Lions. A high-energy audio assault that, within its perfect chaos, delivers a one-two punch to your speakers and a roundhouse kick to the head. Their technique is a style all their own and what follows will be a complex study of intricate, high-speed direction. I am anxious to hear the rest of the tracks that were recorded during this session; this is definitely not a novelty act. Mary-Anne Korosi Producer http://radio3.cbc.ca”

“Bedroom projects can be tricky, especially when it comes to aggressive music. It’s perfect for the wood-shedding folk musician that wants an intimate and noir feel to their work, but when it comes to aggressive music (metal in this case), you need the power and the depth of a full band. As a part of a band, you build a wall of sound to help assault the audience or the record listener. Fortunately, in the digital age that we live in, anything is possible, and Denyss McKnight is proving that with his project Villain Avian Symphony.”