KEN Mode

{{Short description|Canadian rock/metal band}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = KEN Mode | image = KENmode2002.jpg | caption = KEN Mode performing circa 2002 | landscape = yes | background = group_or_band | origin = Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | genre = {{flatlist| * Noise rock * sludge metal * {{nowrap|post-hardcore}} * metalcore }} | years_active = 1999–present | label = Season of Mist, Escape Artist, Arctodus, No List, Profound Lore, Init, Throatruiner | website = {{URL|http://www.ken-mode.com/}} | current_members = Jesse Matthewson Shane Matthewson Scott Hamilton Kathryn Kerr | past_members = Darryl Laxdal Drew Johnston Jahmeel Russell Chad Tremblay Thérèse Lanz Andrew LaCour }}

'''KEN Mode''' (stylized as '''KEN mode'''; "KEN" being an acronym for "Kill Everyone Now"<ref>{{cite web| last = Freeman| first = Phil| title = Venerable – Overview| work = AllMusic| publisher = Rovi Corporation| url = https://www.allmusic.com/album/venerable-r2136536| accessdate = April 11, 2011}}</ref>) is a Canadian noise rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, that was formed in September 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/ken-mode-mn0000077178/biography|title=KEN mode {{!}} Biography & History|work=Allmusic|last1=Heaney|first1=Gregory|accessdate=December 5, 2019}}</ref>

== History == Formed by brothers Jesse (guitar/vocals) and Shane Matthewson (drums) and long-time friend Darryl Laxdal (bass), the group released several demos from 1999 to 2003, leading to the release of their debut full length ''Mongrel'' on Escape Artist Records.<ref>Uptown Magazine, March 27, 2003</ref><ref>''Stylus Magazine'', April 2003</ref>

Several tours followed with the likes of Relapse Records' The End,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=1718 |title=The End kicks off Canadian tour | News |website=Lambgoat.com |date=August 25, 2002 |accessdate=April 7, 2013}}</ref> Sulaco and American Heritage<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=3587 |title=KEN Mode and American Heritage tour | News |website=Lambgoat.com |date=July 8, 2004 |accessdate=April 7, 2013}}</ref> in addition to regional dates with Mastodon, Burnt By The Sun, Anodyne, Pelican, Harkonen, Breather Resist, The Dream is Dead, Psyopus, Daughters, and Buried Inside across the Midwestern and East Coast United States, and throughout Canada. In 2004, Laxdal left the band,<ref>''Winnipeg Sun'', October 14, 2004</ref> only to rejoin in 2005 to finish the band's follow-up record ''Reprisal'', released in 2006 on CD by Escape Artist Records, and on double-LP by No List Records. After the recording of ''Reprisal'', Laxdal and the band parted ways again.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.decibelmagazine.com/upfront/sep2006/kenmode.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061114160107/http://www.decibelmagazine.com/upfront/sep2006/kenmode.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 14, 2006|title=KEN Mode|first=Kevin|last=Stewart-Panko|work=Decibel Magazine|date=November 14, 2006|accessdate=October 16, 2018}}</ref> Picking up bass duties after Laxdal's departure was Drew Johnston (guitarist in Electro Quarterstaff)<ref>''Uptown Magazine'', July 13, 2006</ref><ref>''Winnipeg Free Press'', July 13, 2006</ref> who also played with Jesse, Shane and Darryl in Hide Your Daughters.

In October 2006, the band took part in the "Exclaim! Magazine Aggressive Tendencies Tour" with Pelican and Daughters across Canada.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/38077/Pelican_Plan_Assorted_Releases_Launch_Tour|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070507061430/http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/38077/Pelican_Plan_Assorted_Releases_Launch_Tour|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 7, 2007|title=Pitchfork: Pelican Plan Assorted Releases, Launch Tour|date=May 7, 2007|accessdate=October 16, 2018}}</ref> Bass duties were handled by former Kittens and Projektor member Jahmeel Russell who played with Jesse, Shane, and Drew in Hide Your Daughters.<ref>''Uptown'' Magazine: December 28, 2006</ref>

KEN Mode went on to work with Jahmeel for the band's third full-length, ''Mennonite'', which was released in July 2008<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arctodusrecords.com/store.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819135929/http://www.arctodusrecords.com/store.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 19, 2010|title=Arctodus Records – Store|date=August 19, 2010|accessdate=October 16, 2018}}</ref> on CD by Jesse Matthewson's own label, Arctodus Records, and on 3x7" vinyl by No List Records.

Prior to releasing ''Mennonite'', Chad Tremblay joined the band as their fourth bassist in two years. The band embarked on a European tour with Welsh rockers Taint.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=10404|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919052643/http://lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=10404|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2016|title=Taint, KEN Mode tour dates (Europe)|date=September 19, 2016|accessdate=October 16, 2018}}</ref> Tremblay went go on to direct the band's debut music video for the song "Extending Common Courtesy Throughout The Evening" from their ''Mennonite'' album.{{Citation needed|date=September 2010}}

In 2010, the band announced that Profound Lore Records will release its fourth full-length album, titled ''Venerable'', to be recorded August 2010 with Kurt Ballou of Converge. They also announced several North American tours with Gaza, Engineer, Rosetta, Buried Inside, Wolvhammer, Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire, and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.profoundlorerecords.com//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=916&Itemid=2 |title=Profound Lore Records |publisher=Profound Lore Records |date= |accessdate=April 7, 2013}}</ref> ''Venerable'' was released March 15, 2011, surrounded by an 8-week North American tour, joining forces with the likes of Black Breath, Fuck the Facts, and Khann.<ref>{{cite web| title = KEN mode announce sprawling Canada/US tour| work = Exclaim!| date = February 10, 2011| url = http://exclaim.ca/News/ken_mode_announce_sprawling_canada_us_tour| url-status = dead| access-date = May 30, 2012| archive-date = March 7, 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110307012333/http://exclaim.ca/News/ken_mode_announce_sprawling_canada_us_tour}}</ref> An unrelenting tour schedule followed for the bulk of 2011 and beginning of 2012: June 2011 in the US with Deafheaven;<ref>{{cite web| title = KEN Mode, Deafheaven tour| work = LambGoat| date = April 4, 2011| url = http://www.lambgoat.com/news/view.aspx?id=16054| accessdate = April 25, 2011}}</ref> June 19, 2011, the band played the Hellfest Open Air festival in Clisson France; July and August 2011 in the Midwestern US and Eastern Canada with the Great Sabatini;<ref>{{cite web| title = KEN mode Canadian tour dates| work = Profound Lore Records| date = July 7, 2011| url = http://www.profoundlorerecords.com/ken-mode-canadian-tour-dates-announced/}}</ref> September and October 2011 in the US with the Atlas Moth<ref>{{cite web| title = the Atlas Moth, KEN Mode tour| work = Lambgoat| date = August 31, 2011| url = http://lambgoat.com/news/16748/The-Atlas-Moth-KEN-Mode-tour}}</ref> and an extensive European run with Kylesa and Circle Takes The Square in January and February 2012.<ref>{{cite web| title = Kylesa, Circle Takes The Square & KEN mode Early 2012 European/UK Tour Announced| work = The PRP| date = December 5, 2011| url = https://www.theprp.com/2011/12/05/news/kylesa-circle-takes-the-square-ken-mode-early-2012-europeanuk-tour-announced/}}</ref>

On March 31, 2012, ''Venerable'' won the inaugural Heavy Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year Juno Award in Canada.<ref>{{cite news | title = 2012 Junos: All the winners | work = CBC | access-date = April 1, 2012 | url = https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/2012-junos-all-the-winners-1.1242284 | url-status = live | archive-date = April 2, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120402191911/http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/04/01/2012-junos-winners.html }}</ref> ''Venerable'' was also nominated for Rock Album of the Year by the Western Canadian Music Awards.<ref>{{cite web| last = Adams| first = Gregory| title = Dan Mangan, Said the Whale, KEN Mode, Adaline Rack Up Western Canadian Music Award Nominations| work = Exclaim!| date = June 5, 2012| url = http://exclaim.ca/News/dan_mangan_said_whale_ken_mode_adaline_rack_up_western_canadian_music_award_nominations| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130115093405/http://exclaim.ca/News/dan_mangan_said_whale_ken_mode_adaline_rack_up_western_canadian_music_award_nominations| url-status = dead| archive-date = January 15, 2013| accessdate = June 5, 2012 }}</ref>

In addition to the non-stop touring cycle for ''Venerable'', KEN Mode went through three bassists before finally enlisting former Khann guitarist and songwriter Andrew LaCour, who toured with the band from July 2011 onward, and contribute to the writing of their fifth album, ''Entrench''.<ref>{{cite web| last = Stosuy| first = Brandon| title = KEN mode: "Counter Culture Complex"| work = Pitchfork| date = January 15, 2013| url = http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/14769-counter-culture-complex/| accessdate = January 15, 2013| url-status = dead| archive-date = January 16, 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130116145751/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/14769-counter-culture-complex/}}</ref>

November 2012 saw the band sign a worldwide deal with Season of Mist Records to release its fifth album, who they spent September and October recording and mixing with Matt Bayles.<ref>{{cite web| title = KEN MODE Signs With SEASON OF MIST| work =Babblermouth| date = January 8, 2013| url = http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=184570| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130221080050/http://www.blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=184570| url-status = dead| archive-date = February 21, 2013| accessdate = January 8, 2013 }}</ref> ''Entrench'' was released in March 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Heaney |first=Gregory |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/entrench-mw0002485368 |title=Entrench – KEN mode : Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards |publisher=AllMusic |date=March 19, 2013 |accessdate=April 7, 2013}}</ref> In June 2013, the album was longlisted for the 2013 Polaris Music Prize and was nominated for the Heavy Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year Juno Award, their second album nominated since the award's inception in 2012.

Their 2023 album ''Void'' was a longlisted nominee for the 2024 Polaris Music Prize.<ref>[https://www.cbc.ca/music/polaris-music-prize-2024-long-list-the-beaches-charlotte-cardin-allison-russell-1.7230166 "2024 Polaris Music Prize long list: the Beaches, Tobi, Elisapie, Beverly Glenn-Copeland and more"]. CBC Music, June 11, 2024.</ref>

== Members == === Current members === * Jesse Matthewson − guitars, lead vocals (1999−present), bass, piano (2012−present) * Shane Matthewson − drums (1999−present) * Scott Hamilton − bass, backing vocals (2014−present) * Kathryn Kerr − saxophone, synth, piano, percussion, backing vocals (2021−present)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.revolvermag.com/music/hear-ken-mode-ferocious-new-song-love-letter|title=Hear KEN mode Bring Sax and Violence on Savage New Song "A Love Letter"|date=June 10, 2022|website=Revolver}}</ref>

=== Former members === * Darryl Laxdal − bass, backing vocals (1999−2004, 2005) * Drew Johnston − bass (2006) * Jahmeel Russell − bass (2006−2007) * Chad Tremblay − bass, backing vocals (2007−2010) * Thérèse Lanz − bass (2010−2011) * Andrew LaCour − bass, backing vocals (2011−2014)

=== Timeline === {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:700 height:auto barincrement:20 PlotArea = left:120 bottom:100 top:10 right:15 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy Period = from:09/10/1999 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}} TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2000 ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2000

Colors = id:vocals value:red legend:Vocals id:bvocals value:pink legend:Backing_vocals id:guitar value:green legend:Guitars id:bass value:blue legend:Bass id:keys value:purple legend:Keyboards id:drums value:orange legend:Drums id:sax value:tan2 legend:Saxophone id:studio value:black legend:Studio_album id:other value:gray(0.70) legend:Other_release

LineData = layer:back color:studio at:04/22/2003 at:07/25/2006 at:03/01/2008 at:03/15/2011 at:03/15/2013 at:06/15/2015 at:08/31/2018 at:09/23/2022 at:09/22/2023 color:other at:10/01/2015 at:03/18/2016 at:11/10/2016 at:11/01/2017 at:01/29/2021 at:06/03/2021

BarData = bar:Jesse text:"Jesse Matthewson" bar:Darryl text:"Darryl Laxdal" bar:Drew text:"Drew Johnston" bar:Jahmeel text:"Jahmeel Russell" bar:Chad text:"Chad Tremblay" bar:Therese text:"Thérèse Lanz" bar:Andrew text:"Andrew LaCour" bar:Scott text:"Scott Hamilton" bar:Kathryn text:"Kathryn Kerr" bar:Shane text:"Shane Matthewson"

PlotData = width:15 bar:Jesse from:start till:end color:vocals bar:Jesse from:start till:end color:guitar width:3 bar:Jesse from:09/01/2012 till:end color:keys width:7 bar:Jesse from:09/01/2012 till:end color:bass width:11 bar:Darryl from:start till:06/01/2004 color:bass bar:Darryl from:start till:06/01/2004 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Darryl from:06/01/2005 till:01/01/2006 color:bass bar:Darryl from:06/01/2005 till:01/01/2006 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Drew from:01/01/2006 till:10/01/2006 color:bass bar:Jahmeel from:10/01/2006 till:03/01/2007 color:bass bar:Chad from:03/01/2007 till:10/01/2010 color:bass bar:Chad from:03/01/2007 till:10/01/2010 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Therese from:10/01/2010 till:06/01/2011 color:bass bar:Andrew from:06/01/2011 till:05/01/2014 color:bass bar:Andrew from:06/01/2011 till:05/01/2014 color:bvocals width:3 bar:Scott from:05/01/2014 till:end color:bass bar:Scott from:05/01/2014 till:end color:bvocals width:3 bar:Kathryn from:10/01/2021 till:end color:sax width:3 bar:Kathryn from:10/01/2021 till:end color:keys bar:Kathryn from:10/01/2021 till:end color:bvocals width:7 bar:Shane from:start till:end color:drums }}

== Discography == * ''Mongrel'' (2003) * ''Reprisal'' (2006) * ''Mennonite'' (2008) * ''Venerable'' (2011) * ''Entrench'' (2013) * ''Success'' (2015)<ref>{{cite web| last = Hudson| first = Alex| title = KEN Mode to Record 'Success' LP with Steve Albini| work = Exclaim!| date = September 29, 2014| url = http://exclaim.ca/News/ken_mode_to_record_success_lp_with_steve_albini| accessdate = September 29, 2014| url-status = dead| archive-date = October 1, 2014| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141001014600/http://exclaim.ca/News/ken_mode_to_record_success_lp_with_steve_albini}}</ref> * ''Loved'' (2018) * ''Null'' (2022) * ''Void'' (2023)

== Awards and nominations == {| class="wikitable" !Year !Award !Category !Work !Result !Ref |- |2024 |rowspan="5"|Juno Award |rowspan="5"|Heavy Metal Album of the Year |''Void'' |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 23, 2024 |title=Junos 2024: the complete list of winners |work=CBC.ca |url=https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/juno-awards-2024-full-list-winners-1.7149545 |access-date=May 10, 2024}}</ref> |- |2019 |''Loved'' |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 16, 2019 |title=Junos 2019: the complete list of winners |work=CBC.ca |url=https://www.cbc.ca/music/junos/news/junos-2019-the-complete-list-of-winners-1.5056461 |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> |- |2016 |''Success'' |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite news |last=Zorgel |first=Aaron |date=April 3, 2016 |title=Junos 2016: A Complete List of Winners |work=Complex |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/azorgel/complete-list-juno-winners-2016 |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> |- |2014 |''Entrench'' |{{nom}} |<ref>{{Cite news |date=March 30, 2014 |title=Juno Awards 2014: The full list of winners |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/music/juno-awards-2014-the-full-list-of-nominees-and-winners |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> |- |2012 |''Venerable'' |{{Won}} |<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 1, 2012 |title=Juno Awards 2012: Full list of winners |work=Toronto Star |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/juno-awards-2012-full-list-of-winners/article_5aaaa9da-0f9a-50ca-b230-0184959a110c.html |access-date=August 11, 2023}}</ref> |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{cc}} *{{allmusic}} * [https://www.season-of-mist.com/ Official Season of Mist Records website] * [http://www.profoundlorerecords.com/ Official Profound Lore Records website] * [http://www.escapeartistrecords.com/ Official Escape Artist Records website]

Category:Canadian noise rock groups Category:Musical groups from Winnipeg Category:Canadian sludge metal musical groups Category:Musical groups established in 1999 Category:Canadian post-hardcore musical groups Category:Canadian musical trios Category:1999 establishments in Manitoba Category:Juno Award for Heavy Metal Album of the Year winners