Getting to Know… Boneyard

Reading Time: 5 min read

On the 141^st interview in our Getting to Know… series, we get some background & insight on Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band, Boneyard.

When asked how they rock their audience’s socks off, the response of Canadian hard rock/heavy metal band 🎙 Boneyard went a little something like this: “By playing faithful, high energy versions of our songs, and injecting a surprise classic metal cover or two in the set.” Rock on! The female-fronted Edmonton, Alberta collective is comprised of 🎙 Pamtera (lead vocals, rhythm and lead guitar), 🎙 Dennis Cooke (bass and rhythm guitar), 🎙 Jeff Cunningham (drums and percussion), and 🎙 Grant Tarapacki (lead guitar). As always on these Getting to Know… interviews on The Musical Hype, we gain some awesome background and insight into the band’s craft. So, no more time for small talk, let’s jump right into 🎤 Getting to Know… Boneyard: Interview #141.

Starting things off right, for those who may not be familiar with Boneyard, what would you say makes your band distinct or unique? How do you rock the audience’s socks off?

🎤 We have a unique style of Canadian, female fronted hard rock/ metal! Lead singer Pamtera’s voice is like no other. By playing faithful, high energy versions of our songs, and injecting a surprise classic metal cover or two in the set.

Okay, let’s explore some juicy backstories. How did Boneyard form and what were some of the goals or the visions you had as a band early on?

🎤 Boneyard is a female-fronted hard rock/ metal band from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Launched in 2015, the band is the lifeblood and passion of vocalist, guitarist and songwriter Pamtera. The members bring a wealth of experience from previous bands that include: Tyrant, Septimus and Powerslave. We started out as a cover project but have been writing original music for the past three years. First, we wanted to find the right chemistry in band members so we could write great songs. After that, to test the songs live before recording them. We mainly want to release music that we can be proud of and to gain some fans in the process!

Let’s talk more about goals. Have your goals or your perspectives changed since first starting out? What do your aspirations or goals look like now?

🎤 No, we will continue to write, record and play because we love it! Hopefully by then, we’ll have at least another album released. Once we get this COVID shit behind us, hopefully we can get back to touring.

Everybody is influenced by somebody else. Who would you consider some of your biggest musical influences and how are they influential?

🎤 Mainly classic hard rock and heavy metal from the 80’s, including other female fronted bands. There is also some good stuff from the 70’s and 90’s as well. Anything with clean, powerful vocals. Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Scorpions, Doro, Deep Purple, The Cult, etc. When we’re writing songs and we’re looking for a way to describe a “feel” or a “vibe,” we’ll use another band’s song as reference. Like: “Jeff, can you try a drum pattern kinda like Annihilator’s Knight Jumps Queen?”

Ah, the fun stuff. What’s your craziest tour story or the wackiest thing that’s happened during a performance? Feel free to be creative.

🎤 One time, we had just started our set when we blew a breaker on stage and the panel box was in an office that no one had keys to. The owner of the bar was unable to come immediately to open the door, so we ripped it off its fucking hinges, then continued, haha! Another time, this asshole started messing around with our video camera that was set up near the stage. Our bassist Dennis flew over, grabbed this guy and punted him out. To this day, I’ve never seen him move so fast, haha!

WOW! Up until this point in your career, what would you describe as your favorite song you’ve recorded or performed live? What makes that song special?

🎤 The new single, “Fates Warning”, for sure. It was our first attempt at a longer epic song with different passages and dynamics. What’s really cool, is that since its release, a lot of fans have mentioned how the lyrics really reflect what’s happening in the world today, with COVID, etc. I can’t wait to play it live!

Is there anything else awesome, cool, or left of center the world should know about you? Secret talents or surprising tidbits?

🎤 In our other “lives,” Pamtera is involved with Roller Derby, Dennis is a building inspector and I also play in a Judas Priest tribute band.

Closing things out, what is Boneyard currently working on, promoting that you can share with us or want us to know about? We love secrets, but there’s no pressure.

🎤 In May of 2019, we entered producer/ engineer 🎙 Cam Macleod’s [White Wolf] Wolfs Den studio in Edmonton and began recording our debut album. After an extended COVID-19 pause, we returned to complete the project in August of 2020. Eleven tracks were then sent to be mastered by 🎙 Maor Appelbaum (Halford, Armored Saint, Anvil) in Los Angeles, USA. What emerged is our debut album 💿 Oathbreaker, set to be released on October 24, 2020 on CD, digitally and on vinyl. The first single, 🎵 “Fates Warning,” dropped on October 17, 2020, and is available on most digital platforms. Check out the OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO and get the music HERE.

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