KEN mode
- Brothers Jesse & Shane Matthewson have cemented the core of KEN mode for the past twelve years
- Recorded fourth full length, ‘Venerable’, with Kurt Ballou (Converge, Trap Them, Torche, etc) Aug 2010, was mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side (Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastodon).
- 'Venerable' came out March 15, 2011 on Profound Lore Records (Yob, Krallice, Subrosa, etc) with teaser coverage and critical acclaim on AOL Noisecreep, Exclaim! Magazine, NPR, Stereogum, Forbes Magazine, Revolver Online, Invisible Oranges , Brooklyn Vegan.
- Nominated for Canadian Juno Award for best Heavy Metal/Hard album in 2012 (awards April 1, 2012).
- Made several year-end critics lists including #1 metal album at Exclaim! Magazine, honorable mentions at Pitchfork Media , half year top 25 honours at Stereogum, and former bassist Therese Lanz did a feature for Revolver Magazine’s ‘Hottest chicks in hard rock’
- Was part of SXSW 2011, and was heralded as one of the one of Stereogum’s “32 bands to see” and received rave reviews from many press sources including Brooklyn Vegan, Crustcake, Hellbound, and Stereogum.
-Earshot top 20 in ‘Loud’ category for Canadian campus and community radio March, April, May, June & July 2011, with #1 spot for April & May, while peaking at #19 on the CMJ Loud Rock category in the US after 8 weeks on the chart, and track “Obeying the Iron Will” peaked at #3 on Mediaguide Metal Specialty songs.
-Was part of Hellfest Open Air in Clisson France in June (90,000 + in attendance) performing alongside bands like Ozzy Osborne, Judas Priest, Meshuggah, Morbid Angel, the Melvins, Converge, Electric Wizard, Black Dahlia Murder, Red Fang, Comeback Kid, etc.
- Recently received sponsorship from Orange Amplification worldwide.
-Booked by Avocado Booking (Europe) and the Agency Group (Canada)