Most of us have come to associate Montreal with merciless but accomplished technical death metal thanks to acts like Despised Icon, Ion Dissonance and Beneath the Massacre. When Despised Icon released Consumed By Your Poison in 2002 it was a slap in the face for many a death metal fan, and this brutal sound became a source of pride for the city. Like-minded bands soon joined the fray to form what we now recognize as a scene brimming with talented musicians who love the more corrosive and jarring elements of heavy music.

Unfortunately, the city’s best haven’t had the opportunity to band together on tour…until now. Starting with Toronto on May 30th, Despised Icon will join Ion Dissonance, Beneath the Massacre and The Plasmarifle to give their Canadian brethren a taste of their home-brewed brutality on the appropriately titled “Montreal Assault Tour.” Either see below or visit here to view their complete touring itinerary.

Vocalist Alex Erian had the following to say about the trek: “Finally, it’s about time! We haven’t toured home in little over a year and I can’t wait to share the stage and hang out everyday with some of my closest friends. We all grew up in the same scene and have supported and helped each other since day one. This tour will be fucking epic! These will be our only shows in Quebec and Ontario this year, so don’t miss out on the action!”

Erian and the band just returned from playing packed venues in the UK and Russia. They’ll be making a return visit to the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival before they make a quick trip through Mexico early next month. Obviously, between those dates, the “Montreal Assault Tour” and the impending Summer Slaughter Tour Despised Icon will be plenty busy this year, and the fruit of their labor includes a reissue of last year’s The Ills of Modern Man with bonus DVD content to coincide with Summer Slaughter and a live DVD capturing the carnage at the hometown Montreal show on June 5th. You can expect that to hit stores on June 24th.

Montreal Assault Tour:
05/30 The Opera House – Toronto, ON
05/31 The Casbah – Hamilton, ON
06/01 Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
06/02 Bar Le Magog – Sherbrooke, QC
06/03 The Bunker – Chicoutimi, QC
06/04 Rock Stage Café – Trois-Rivieres, QC
06/05 Club Soda – Montreal, QC
06/06 L’Anti – Quebec City, QC