Overturned cars burn in Montreal on Tuesday night
Photo: CBS News

Punk rockers rioted in the streets of Montreal on Tuesday night when a show by the punk bands Total Chaos and the Exploited was canceled after members of the latter band were denied entry into the country by customs officials.

Le Medley co-owner Paul Matte, who was to host the concert, said he was informed at 7:15 p.m. that several members of the veteran, politically active British punk band the Exploited were denied entry into Canada for unspecified reasons. Concerned about a possible backlash from fans, he immediately called the Montreal Police Department for assistance. When at approximately 8 p.m. the venue's staff informed the 800 ticket holders waiting outside that the show had been canceled, most of the crowd began to disperse. Within 15 minutes, though, Matte said between 50 and 100 fans went wild and began breaking windows and overturning cars. "They took everything they could get their hands on," he said.

The 15 officers on the scene were quickly overwhelmed and requested that the riot squad come to quell the disturbance, according to Montreal Police Department spokesperson Luc Belhumeur. By 9 p.m., police in riot gear arrived and quickly blocked off several blocks around the hall, though rioters continued to break windows as they fled.

In all, eight cars were overturned and set on fire and rioters smashed the windows of more than 42 cars, including six police vehicles. In addition, nearly a dozen local businesses were vandalized or otherwise damaged, Belhumeur said.

At press time, seven rioters had been arrested on charges ranging from breaking and entering to criminal mischief and armed assault, with more arrests likely. Belhumeur said two security officers suffered minor injuries.

Matte said Le Medley — which hosts everything from metal to punk, disco to country shows in the heart of downtown Montreal — had not seen this kind of violence in the nine years it has been open. He said it was up to the insurance companies and police to decide if the club will be held liable for the damage.

The incident marks the second time in less than a month that the bands have experienced a show cancellation: On September 19 a show by Total Chaos and the Exploited was shut down by police at Wabash Hall in San Diego after the show's promoter was arrested for not having the proper event permits.

• Total Chaos
• The Exploited

Lamb of God
Photo: Prosthetic Records

Hello my fellow metalheads. Iann Robinson here, and I hope all is well with you. This week I'm pretty stoked for the opening of "28 Days Later," the English zombie movie. That should rule. Is it just me or has it been too long since the last really great zombie movie? I'm also gearing up to head to Canada to check out the set of the "Day of the Dead" remake, but I'll fill you in on that once I get back. This week I'll be checking out Ozzfest to bring you guys a full report on who's tearing it up on that bill. The second stage of Ozzfest seems really strong this year: Cradle of Filth, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall and the mightiest of mighty, Voivod. I don't see many other tours with that kind of strong lineup.

I'm still blasting the Himsa and Black Dahlia Murder CDs. I'm telling you, outside of Lamb of God's new one, these are the two best heavy records this year. Off the metal tip for a second, I found out that Canadian rock gods Danko Jones have finished their new album, so hopefully we'll hear more about that later on. Well guys and gals, enjoy Metal File this week:

The debut album by To My Surprise, a side project of Shawn "Clown" Crahan of Slipknot is scheduled to drop in September. The LP, which Clown said is a mix of '70s groove and psychedelia, was produced by Rick Rubin.... Lamb of God and E. Town Concrete will support Anthrax on the first leg of their upcoming North American tour, according to a recent post by Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian on the band's Web site. The trek begins July 29. ... An appeal filed by Jello Biafra against his former Dead Kennedys bandmates in the ongoing lawsuit over ownership of the band's name has been denied. A judge upheld a partnership that places ownership of Dead Kennedys in the hands of all four members, with each sharing equally sharing ownership and creative control. ...

Sevendust are done tracking their fourth album with producer Butch Walker, who was in the power-pop band Marvelous 3 and has worked on recent albums by Bowling for Soup and Injected. The band plans to road test some of the songs in late July or early August. The still-untitled disc is tentatively slated for release in late September. Tracks include "Disgrace," "Seasons," "Skeleton Song," "enemy (Pez)" and "Honesty." ... Kittens for Christian, the second band signed to Serj Tankian's Serjical Strike label, will release Privilege of Your Company on September 9. The album is heavy but reflects a range of influences including the Birthday Party, Wire and the Cure. ... Doom metal legends Cathedral will launch a U.S. tour on September 4 in Farmingdale, New York. The tour rolls through the end of the month, wrapping up in Philadelphia. ...

The Exploited will kick off their first U.S. tour in more than a decade on September 10 in Colorado. The tour is in support of their album F--- the System. ... My Dying Bride guitarists Andrew Craighan and Hamish Glencross have joined forces to form the record label Blackdoom Records. ... Integrity are currently finishing up To Die For, their first album for Converge vocalist Jacob Bannon's Deathwish label. The newly reunited Cleveland band's lineup includes founding members Dwid (vocals) and Chubby Fresh (drums). ... In related news, Converge will re-release two of their albums, Petitioning the Empty Sky and When Forever Comes Crashing, with digitally remastered sound, expanded liner notes and bonus tracks later this year. The Bostonian noisecore merchants' "The Long Road Home" DVD is in stores now. ...

Eighteen Visions, whose "You Broke Like Glass" video has become something of a "Headbangers Ball" staple, are currently demoing new material in their rehearsal space in Orange County, California. The band will join Strung Out on the road later this year. ... Demon Hunter, a Seattle metal band that consists of former members of Training for Utopia and a revolving cast of musicians, have embarked on their first tour in support of their self-titled debut. The trek runs through early July and includes support from Norway's Extol and the Agony Scene. ... Extol will release their third disc, Synergy, on August 12. The album title refers to the musical and spiritual unity between bandmembers. ...

Florida death metal heroes Morbid Angel have named their new album H2K3. ... Grimfist, a new Scandinavian black metal band featuring members of Immortal and Deride, will release their debut, Ghouls of Grandeur, on September 13. The disc was produced by Hypocrisy frontman Peter Tägtgren. ... The third album by Birmingham, Alabama, metalcore band Haste, The Mercury Lift, will be released July 2. The disc features guest appearances by Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe and Codeseven singer Jeff Jenkins. ...

Italian melodic metal band Labyrinth get thrashy on their fourth record, Labyrinth, which comes out Monday. ... Finnish death metal band Kalmah will release Swampsong, the follow-up to last year's They Will Return, on July 29. The disc was produced by Ahti Kortelainen (Sentenced, Impaled Nazarene). ... Orange County, California, metalcore group Avenged Sevenfold will release their second disc, Waking the Fallen, on August 26. The album will feature "Eternal Rest" and "Chapter Four" and was produced by Mudrock, who has worked with Godsmack and Chimaira. ...

—compiled by Iann Robinson, Ryan J. Downey, Jon Wiederhorn, Robert Mancini and Joe D'Angelo

• Voivod
• Slipknot
• Cradle of Filth
• Killswitch Engage
• The Exploited