Gwar

GWAR lands in Calgary at MacEwan Hall Concerts on November 29, 2026. Formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1984 out of Death Piggy and the Slave Pit Inc. art collective, the band welds thrash and heavy metal to punk’s blunt edge, black humor, and a sci-fi world of costumed characters. From Hell-O and Scumdogs of the Universe through America Must Be Destroyed, Ragnarok and Carnival of Chaos, they’ve built a language of satire, provocation and hard-hitting riffs. The 2000s brought a sharper bite with Violence Has Arrived and War Party, then a major shift after the passing of founder Dave Brockie; long-time bassist Michael Bishop stepped up to vocals as Blothar. Recent albums The Blood of Gods and The New Dark Ages extend the saga, mixing absurd mythologies with political jabs while the stage relies on practical effects, masks and graphic visuals. Live, GWAR snaps from blast-forward tempos to groove-heavy breaks and shout-along hooks, driven by a rotating cast that keeps the project in constant motion.