From its inception, one sub-genre of Heavy Metal music has delivered an unrelenting fury, not seduced by the lures of commercial success. Surviving solely in basement bars and the mud covered fields of Europe and America, this film tells the tale of those who stand tall against an industry manufactured to sell Pop Stars.  From current musicians and promoters, to record labels, to the fans whose loyalty never wavers, this project probes the history and evolution of a brutal and often controversial form of music known as Death Metal, and the artists determined to keep “The Growl” alive.

   With little to no radio play or industry support, this underground style has been around for over 30 years, and yet, has barely scratched the mainstream veneer. Instead, it has managed to thrive and even inspire its own sub-genres along the way: Brutal Death Metal, Industrial Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal and Slam Death Metal are just a few of the categories.  Rabidog Films goes behind the scenes and converses with some of the top Death Metal bands and new up-and-comers, to find out who gave birth to “The Growl” and its genesis of overly aggressive music. 

  Exploring the influences and inspirations of these bands and their members, we discover what inevitably keeps them marching in a landscape that offers little glory or financial gain. Dissecting how Death Metal prospers without the help of popular advertising platforms, the importance of tape trading, fanzines, album art, the future of Death Metal, Death Metal in popular culture, and its survival in this current age of online file sharing, streaming and downloading. An essential guide for diehard fans or an introduction for those new to this non-glamourous genre, The Growl is a must see documentary for any music fan.

   My name is Cam Schwarz, aka “Cannibal Cam”.  Along with my best friend and Rabidog Films partner, Phil Pattison, we bring you what we feel is the essential comprehensive documentary and essential guide to the Death Metal scene ever. I myself have been involved in the underground landscape since 1990, and have forever been entrenched within the scene in some way or another since then. My ceaseless passion for Death Metal culture has lead me down many paths including, playing in a Death Metal band, promoting and organizing local Death Metal shows, published a zine called DISGORGED PANDEMONIUM,  and I co-hosted a metal radio show in the Niagara Region called CHRONIC AGGRESSION from 1997 to 2002.  Then again from 2012 to 2015 airing on CFBU 103.7 FM.

  The focus of this project is to discuss with, and involve the most influential legends and underground heroes (new and old) that have shaped and nurtured this subversive style of music. Obtaining such interviews has proven challenging at times as we have been limited to our travel capabilities. In order to make this documentary a reality, our ambition is to visit "Death Metal" home base locations in order to obtain the gritty testimonials, the history, the anecdotes, etc., from bands, labels, zine makers, tape traders, and so forth. So, we're asking you to lend a hand become a part of Death Metal history and help us achieve our goal in collecting these stories.  So much is yet untold and we want to share to the world what Death Metal is all about.

   So if you are a fan of Death Metal and want to see this project succeed....GET INVOLVED!  Check out our perks section for exclusive merchandise , support THE GROWL, and headbang forever!

   The brainchild of Phil Pattison, Jeff Beckman and David Montour, Rabidog Films was established in early 2003. Rabidog’s roots were forged in the same bowels as extreme and heavy music, resulting in a micro-budget, over the top, punk-rock-zombie feature film titled: Vs. the Dead. The film’s soundtrack features the music of legendary artists such as Integrity, Zyklon, The Dayglo Abortions, Fucked Up, and many more; plus even included a scene featuring Death Metal icons: Exhumed. However, that particular scene didn’t make it into the final cut. Funding for the project was raised solely by a series of punk rock/hardcore/metal shows held over a period of two years. Vs. the Dead was released in North America by Midnight Releasing in 2009, available through VOD and DVD platforms. It can currently be seen on YouTube, where it has achieved nearly 200,000 views. Unfortunately, by the time of the film’s eventual release, everyone involved with Vs. the Dead had already changed their focus to more personal matters, leaving Rabidog Films to whither away in a solitary kennel.

   After leaving Rabidog Films—yet keeping his passion for horror films alive—Phil co-founded Nictopohobia Films with Christopher Harrison, in 2008, where he also connected with future Rabidog Films partner, “Cannibal” Cam Schwarz. Under the Nictophobia banner, they co-produced and edited several high profile projects including music videos for Canadian heavy hitters: Monster Truck and Fuck the Facts; the short film The Man Who Loved Flowers, based on a short story by Stephen King; and the feature film Devil’s Night (aka Left for Dead) starring Danielle Harris (Halloween 4 & 5, and Rob Zombie’s Halloween 1 & 2).

   In 2013, Nictophobia created and produced the critically acclaimed stage play: George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead™ Live, alongside horror legends George A. Romero, Russ Streiner and John A. Russo, serving as executive producers. Evil Dead the Musical creator, writer, director, Christopher Bond helmed the director’s chair for the project as well as served as co-writer along with Evil Dead alumni, Trevor Martin and Dale Boyer. George A. Romero’s Night of the Living Dead™ Live is currently listed in the world famous Samuel French catalogue, keeping company with some of the most prestigious theatre productions ever produced. 

   Sighting creative differences, the Nictophobia Films team had gone separate ways by the end of 2013. Sharing a passion for “old school” genre filmmaking, Phil and Cam partnered up and resurrected Rabidog Films from its shallow grave. Since the rebirth, they have produced several music videos and short films including: InTested, and most recently, Human Cattle, the award winning (proof of concept) short film. They have also worked on several co-productions with an array of talent including: Mitch Markowitz (The Hilarious House of Frightenstein); George Petit (Alexisonfire/Dead Tired); Keith Buckley (Everytime I Die); Walk Off the Earth; Michie Mee; Guinness World Record holders The Monsters of Schlock; and many more. “Cannibal” Cam has also appeared on the hit Banger TV show, Lock Horns, two times serving as co-host alongside Diemonds guitar player, Daniel DeKay. Together they discussed and debated the best in Brutal Death Metal and Essential Death Metal Albums.

THE GROWL features interviews with some of Death Metal's top talent already including: 

Dan Lilker (Anthrax, S.O.D, Brutal Truth, Venomous Concept, Nuclear Assault)

Ross Dolan (Immolation)

Alex Bouks (Immolation)

Travis Ryan (Cattle Decapitation)

Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel, Ripping Corpse, Mana Recording Studios)

John McIntee (Incantation)

Anton Reisenegger (Pentagram-Chile)

Chase Mason (Gatecreeper)

Matt Harvey (Exhumed,Gruesome,Pounder)

Jeffrey "Mantas" Dunn (Venom, Venom Inc.)

Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan (Venom Inc.)

Kam Lee (Massacre, Mantas)

Ron Kachnic (Malignancy)

Danny Nelson (Malignancy)

Will Rahmer (Mortician, Skeletal Remains, Grave, Unleashed)

Enrico "H." Di Lorenzo (Hideous Divinity)

Chris Bruni (Profound Lore Records)

John Hartman (Mortal Decay, Embludgeonment)

Chris Pervelis (Internal Bleeding)

Johnny Hedlund (Unleashed)

Anders Schultz (Unleashed)

Jay Visser (Morbid Saint)

Skeletal Remains

Grave

Cruciamentum 

and many more...

We are also blessed to have one of the most prolific graphic artists in the Death Metal community providing us with some amazing graphics which will appear in the film as well on our promotional merchandise.  Mark Riddick has been illustrating professionally since 1991 and his artwork has been featured on MANY Death Metal and metal albums and has been solicited on many popular tv programs.  We are proud to have his work part of THE GROWL.  Check out his full bio here.

www.growlmovie.com

www.riddickart.com

https://www.facebook.com/Frightfeast-comic-book...

www.banger.tv

www.cdnrecords.com

www.twistedtsmerch.com