Metalian were originally formed in Montréal, Canada, in 2003 by vocalist/guitarist Ian Wilson “after learning how to harmonize guitar solos and realizing that I could hit high notes like Rob Halford.” After playing for a few years, touring locally around eastern Canada and the US and releasing a couple of demos, EPs and albums one by one the other members had to quit due to having children and getting married. The current line-up has been together for about seven years, having toured Europe and Mexico twice respectively.
There are people who have described Metalian as classic Priest meeting Jaguar meeting Raven. “Definitely, I agree that we sound like Priest because of the falsetto vocals,” confirms Ian Wilson. “As far as our riffs go, I wouldn’t know who exactly we sound like but it’s absolutely an honor to be compared to Jaguar and Raven! We’re influenced by the NWOBHM movement for sure. I wouldn’t say we are Canadian-sounding as there are bands similar to us all over the world, for instance our friends in Voltax from Mexico.”
"Wasteland", the band’s first full-length studio album, was originally released in 2009. However, it took a further six long years until the second Metalian record "Metal Fire And Ice" was finally unleashed in 2015. In comparison to "Wasteland", the follow-up "Metal Fire And Ice" is a more mature album. “Absolutely,” states Ian Wilson. “Considering we were a three-piece for many years, once I finally was able to get another guitar player in the band (Simon Costa), we really push each other and it’s been making me a better player and shows in the riffs. I listen to pretty much all genres of music, so I draw a lot from classic rock, soul, punk, I don’t even know ... When we’re writing music my vocals just fall into place.”
1. Intromental
2. Metal Fire & Ice
3. Nightmare
4. Into the Unknown
5. The Traveller
6. Evel Knievel
7. Warrior (bonus track)