"We just want to keep metal alive."This motivator has led three Howe Sound Secondary students to the finals in the Sea to Sky Battle of the Bands in Whistler, according to bassist Wylie Ferguson.The teenage boys behind heavy metal band Slaughter House are looking for strong 樱桃视频turnout when they face off with two other groups at the competition today (Friday, March 14).At Saturday's semi-finals (March 8), the newly formed group defied expectations when they served up a score of original songs, outperforming many of the more seasoned acts."I think most people were kind of surprised that we were so much younger than everybody else," said Ferguson. He said he realized his band had wooed the crowd when judges and audience members doused them with compliments after their performance."Everyone was getting into it pretty good," he recalled. "I didn't think it was going to be that huge of a turn out because not that many people like heavy metal music."His four-member group of Howe Sound Secondary students includes front man Chad Carney, guitarist Collin Lamb and drummer Graham Green, 16 and 17 years old.Making it to the top three has been especially encouraging for the band that just began playing in Lamb's house last summer with a shared interest in heavy metal.Since forming Slaughter House, they have played a few times town, and tied with the Black Tusk Caledonia Pipe Band for Best Band during the Chief's Reader's Choice Awards last fall.If the group takes first place this Friday, their prize package will include a demo critique by a national music industry agent, a demo recording deal, an opening set for a headliner show, a professional photo session, radio play on Mountain FM, and an artist marketing and development consultation deal. "I would hope that we could get more gigs in other places than around Squamish," Ferguson said. "Hopefully maybe we could get some doors open for us with the whole label thing."His mother, Julie Keith, couldn't be more proud of her son's efforts. "They've all been going to lessons and practising like crazy," she said. Keith gives local guitar teacher Lawrence Dinwoodie, who taught both Lamb and Ferguson much of the credit for their success. "He's an awesome teacher."The Sea to Sky Battle of the Bands takes place Friday (March 14) at Wildwood Pacific Bistro in Whistler at 8 p.m. Tickets are $7 each and are available in advance from the musicians, Sammy's Snacks on the mountain, by calling 604-935-8372, or at the door.
