Anciients

Anciients is a Canadian metal band from Vancouver, active since 2009. The group plays progressive metal and sludge metal, and has released music through Season of Mist.

Formation and members

The band is founded by vocalist and guitarist Kenneth Paul Cook, guitarists Brock MacInnes and Chris Dyck, bassist Aaron Gustafson, and drummer Mike Hannay. It develops out of Spread Eagle, a previous band that includes Cook, Gustafson and Dyck. The current line-up also includes Rory O’Brien.

Releases and recognition

Anciients release their debut album, Heart of Oak, through Season of Mist. The album appears on the long list for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize. Their second album, Voice of the Void, follows in 2017 and wins Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year at the Juno Awards in 2018.

Tours and line-up changes

The band tours part of the United States in support of Lamb of God in 2013. Plans for dates on Sepultura’s “Tsunami of Metal” tour in Canada and the United States are later cancelled because Sepultura has difficulty obtaining travel visas for entry into the United States. Brock MacInnes leaves in 2014 to join Dead Quiet, and Chris Dyck leaves in January 2017 after the second album has been recorded.