Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta,
Royal Tusk deliver heavy riffs, uncompromising bottom end, and polished classic rock melodies that draw from post-grunge, progressive rock, punk, and groove-laden stoner metal. Founded in 2013 by
Daniel Carriere vocals/guitars) and
Sandy MacKinnon (bass), both of whom had spent the last 12 years in the Juno Award-nominated Edmonton group
Ten Second Epic, the band eventually expanded to include Quinn Cyrankiewicz (guitar), Calen Stuckel (drums), and Mike James (keyboard/guitars). Just ten months after forming, the newly minted quintet holed up in New York with producer
Gus Van Go (
Hollerado,
the Stills) to record their debut EP. The resulting
Mountain was issued via Hidden Pony Records in June 2014. For their full-length debut, 2016's anthemic DealBreaker, the group worked with producer
Eric Ratz (
Arkells,
Billy Talent), and enlisted some help from
Big Wreck frontman
Ian Thornley, who contributed a guitar solo to the album's closing track "So Long the Build Up."
Royal Tusk inked a deal with Entertainment One (eOne) for their sophomore effort, the aptly named
Tusk II, which was released in November 2018. ~ James Christopher Monger