One of Vancouver’s best—and heaviest—bands has signed with Metal Blade Records. Bison will be joining Amon Amarth, Goatwhore, Brain Drill, and an extraordinarily long roster of other acts with terrifying names on the long-running, vanguard heavy-metal label.

Metal Blade Canada rep Sarah Lutz told the Straight: “I’ve always been a fan of S.T.R.E.E.T.S., and I absolutely loved the first [Bison] EP [Earthbound]. I knew this was something I wanted to support and take to Metal Blade Records internationally.”

It was during the label’s 2007 year-end meeting that Lutz pitched Bison to her colleagues from the U.S., the U.K., and Germany. “It was perfect timing as everyone was in the same room, and we could all listen to the CD at the same time.…the turnout is they got signed,” she said. Lutz credits Bison’s live show for “really sucking me in. It’s so thrash, metal, punk. It appeals to people on so many levels.” The band’s first release for Metal Blade will be a full-length album planned for this fall.