>>PREVIEW
THOR
Sunday, July 2
Broken City
It takes more than sheer power to win the race. You’ve got to have the cunning and endurance to see things through to the end. And no one knows this better than The Mighty Thor a.k.a. Jon Mikl Thor.
Not only is Thor a thunderous heavy metal icon who boasts a 25-year discography of molten musical offerings, he is also a professional actor with numerous film appearances to his credit. But despite these artistic achievements it is his physical attributes that set this mountain of a man apart from his leather-clad brethren.
A lifelong bodybuilder, Thor has worn more belts and hoisted more trophies (and free weights) than you can shake a hammer at. He has won an impressive array of bodybuilding titles, including Mr. Universe, Mr. North American, Mr. International, and has the added distinction of being the only Canadian to have held both the Mr. Canada and Mr. U.S.A. titles.
Following up on the success of his antagonistic 2005 release, Thor Against the World, he has sealed a devil of a deal with Smog Veil Records and has come forth with yet another heavy metal triumph – Devastation of Musculation, featuring Mike Kischnick on guitar and keyboards, Orgon on bass and Panthar behind the drum kit. Kischnick shares the songwriting credits on the new album, which has consequently propelled the band into their latest cross-continental tour.
"We’re about to do 100 shows in five months," explains Thor. "It will be great to get back to Calgary after so many years. That’s where I originally met the guys from FUBAR! And, I must admit, I enjoy the challenge of a busy schedule. I’m a very competitive person and it filters into how I see the whole tour. I’ve been an athlete all my life and that translates into the battles I fight on stage to see how many records I can sell. Each performance is an arena and I have to find the winning combination to get the crowd going."
It is that very competitive drive itself which sparked the inspiration behind Thor’s latest album, Devastation of Musculation. Based on the documentary film The Man Whose Arm Exploded – literally about a man who pumped and ’roided his way to a 50-inch bicep that subsequently blew itself apart – Thor’s new CD addresses modern society’s neverending quest for more, more, more.
"The example of The Man Whose Arm Exploded is a metaphor for people’s pathological preoccupation with being more beautiful, stronger and faster – whatever the cost. Even if they kill themselves getting there. Some individuals suffer from anorexia and then there are those who have big-orexia. It’s about going to extremes. That bicep represents all the craziness and fanaticism that’s going on in this world. How far will it go? How far is too far?"
Having said that, Thor has moved to beef up the promotion of his utterly extreme record by filming videos for three of the album’s choicest cuts – "Release the Beast," "Lords of Steel," and, of course, "Devastation of Musculation."
"The video for ‘Devastation of Musculation’ is made up of clips from different extreme sports," elaborates The Mighty One. "I think I delve into new subject matter with every track on this album. Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce, the pyramids, monarchs, reptiles, creatures, all sorts of things. And we portray battles onstage. Like the Vikings finding Atlantis! Though, I don’t know how historically accurate that is.
"Best of all, some of my pals that I’ve played with through the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s will be joining me as guests. We’ll be shooting a live DVD during the course of the tour to capture all the highlights. I’ve also had a film crew following me for the past six years, making a biography of my career. They’ve shot a lot of documentary-style footage of me and they’re going to get their final shots on this tour."
Thor’s hammer (Mjolnir by name) has struck true once again and no doubt the masses will clamour to hear its deafening ring and to witness what has been described as one of the most impressive and energetic live performances ever staged.
"Devastation of Musculation is my darkest and most powerful album to date," says an enthusiastic Thor. "Mike Kischnick and I went up the mountain, reflected, looked into the future and came down with a masterpiece of metal!" |
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