BENEATH THE ISLAND

Saturday night, two metal giants from Vancouver descended upon Cumberland for what proved to be an unbeatable night of live music. Anciients and Scalding unleashed their power at one of the most intimate and iconic venues on the island—The Waverley.

The Waverley isn’t just a pub—it’s an experience. Tucked into the heart of Cumberland, this treasure delivers a perfect blend of hometown atmosphere and excellent acoustics. With seated tables and a well-run bar on the lower level, and a stage that roars above, it’s a space where unmatchable nights happen. Some of the best live shows I’ve ever seen have happened right here—including Anciients back in 2023.

Saturday’s show was graciously set up by Reinventing Steel, our fine local piercing shop located in the Comox Valley. In addition to bringing in some amazing acts, they also organized a raffle supporting great local causes—with lots of sweet prizes.

First up: Scalding.
Having caught their soundcheck earlier in the evening, I knew what was coming—and I knew it was going to be good. The band wasted no time quickly filling the room with the perfect amount of insanity. This was the fastest I’ve ever seen a mosh pit form at The Waverley. With growling, relentless vocals, shredding guitars, bone-crunching bass, and thunderous drums, they unleashed a sound any Anciients fan would absolutely love.
If you ever get the chance to witness Scalding live, don’t think twice—seize it. This is more than a show—it’s a force of nature. They went all out, with everything they had, for 45 minutes straight before handing the stage over.
Then came Anciients.

Featuring a killer lineup, they arrived fresh off a monumental win—taking home their second Juno Award for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year with their crushingly brilliant release Beyond The Reach Of The Sun. And we were lucky enough to hear a few tracks from that masterpiece firsthand.
This year’s nomination pool was stacked with titans—Devin Townsend, Kittie, Spiritbox, and Striker—but Anciients stood like giants among them, delivering a sound that’s as relentless as it is refined.

They hit the stage with an explosion of unmatched strength, spewing their talent and power into an already fired-up crowd. It was immediately clear why they took home the Juno last week. The energy never let up, flowing seamlessly from one masterpiece to the next, with a setlist spanning their entire discography. The steamroller of fire continued—what I’d describe as a progressive thunderstorm of epic proportions. All four elements of the band were at the top of their game, keeping fans in a joyful frenzy—ecstatic to see their favorite band grace the stage.

What an unbeatable gift to have such massive talent bestowed upon our small town. We couldn’t have asked for a greater show.