When former Islander Spencer Prewett first seriously took up drumming, it wasn’t for the love of music.
“I met a girl in high school that I thought I could impress if I learned how to play some metal drumming,” smiles Prewett.
“So that was the reason I started.”
Around the same time, Prewett began listening to hardcore and death metal, a musical taste that shocked his mother.
“He spent about a year in big giant headphones, so I had no idea what he was listening to and then one day I asked him,” says Debra Braithwaite.
“He played it for me and I was really surprised, really surprised.”
It also inspired a very unique drumming style.
“[it involves] extreme speed, like a helicopter taking off or maybe a jackhammer or machine gun,” says Prewett.
Death metal and hardcore music have turned into Prewett’s full-time pursuit. His band Archspire has toured the world and their latest album Bleed the Future recently received a Juno Award for Metal/Hard Rock Album of the Year.
The award came as a huge surprise for everyone in the band.
“It’s surreal, when you start a death metal band you never think that you’re going to be in the Junos,” says Prewett.
As for what mom’s favourite track on the album is?
“Well I think it’s Drone Corps Aviator,” says Braithwaite.
Archspire is currently taking a break before touring Latin America this summer.
Cole Sorenson
