Ivory Knight - Unity

Tracks

		Track Name	Length
	1	Rejected Intro	01:06
	2	Rejected	06:09
	3	A Million Miles Away	05:26
	4	Fight	04:59
	5	Behind These Eyes	04:42
	6	Reign of Fear	05:26
	7	Conman	06:31
	8	A Winter's Day	04:11
	9	Waiting for Tomorrow	05:19

Photos

Videos

No Video

Information/Write-up

Ivory Knight is a Canadian heavy metal band formed in Ottawa, Ontario in the summer of 1987, rooted in traditional metal but distinguished by melodic vocals, progressive arrangements, and flashes of thrash intensity. What began as a short-term cover project quickly evolved into a long-running original band after an unexpected international response to their earliest demo recordings.

The band was founded by vocalist John Devadasan Perinbam, who initially teamed up with drummer Paul Malek, known for his work on early Annihilator demos, and guitarist Joe Nasrallah. The original intention was modest: rehearse, play a handful of summer gigs, and move on. However, after losing their bassist, Perinbam stepped in on bass and the group began writing original material. Those early songs were recorded on a four-track cassette machine and released in early 1988 as the demo Voices (In Your Nightmare). To the band’s surprise, the tape received strong reviews and airplay interest from underground metal circles around the world, firmly shifting Ivory Knight’s focus toward original music.

Through the late 1980s, Ivory Knight navigated lineup changes while continuing to refine their sound. Two further demos followed — Breakin’ The Ice and Restless Heart — helping to cement their reputation as a melodic yet powerful metal act. Drawing inspiration from bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Savatage, Queensrÿche, and Black Sabbath, Ivory Knight developed a style that balanced soaring vocals with aggressive riffing and complex song structures.

In 1990, Ivory Knight split up, and that same year two members went on to form Sudden Thunder, a hard rock / heavy metal band based in Ottawa. Sudden Thunder remained active until 1993, releasing a self-titled album in 1993 that would later be reissued in 2011. While Ivory Knight entered a period of inactivity during the early 1990s, the Sudden Thunder project carried forward elements of the band’s melodic and hard-edged approach in a more streamlined form.

After several years off the radar, Ivory Knight reformed in 1999, returning with renewed focus and a refreshed lineup. In 2001 the band released their first full-length album, Up From The Ashes, a title that aptly reflected their resurrection. The album marked a turning point, presenting a fully realized version of their sound and reintroducing the band to live audiences. Their momentum continued with the 2004 follow-up Unconscience, which leaned further into darker lyrical themes and heavier arrangements while retaining the melodic sensibility that defined the band.

Throughout the 2000s, Ivory Knight became known for high-energy live performances, sharing stages with notable acts including Sonata Arctica, Sword, W.A.S.P., and Blackstar (featuring Exciter alumni John Ricci and Jacques Belanger). A standout moment came in April 2005 when the band opened for Sonata Arctica at Barrymore’s in Ottawa, a performance frequently cited by members as a career highlight.

By the mid-2010s, Ivory Knight’s reputation had extended well beyond Canada. The band was recognized in Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles magazine as one of Canada’s standout metal acts, and Greece’s Temple of Metal famously referred to Ivory Knight as “Canada’s best kept secret.” U.S.-based outlets praised the band’s songwriting and musicianship, noting a mainstream potential comparable to classic heavy metal giants.

The core lineup during this era consisted of John Devadasan Perinbam (lead and backing vocals), Rob Gravelle (lead, rhythm, and acoustic guitars, backing vocals), Steve Mercer (bass, backing vocals), and George Nesrallah (drums). Songwriting was collaborative, though Perinbam typically shaped vocal melodies, while Gravelle contributed a significant portion of the guitar riffs and later full compositions. Lyrical themes ranged from personal struggle and psychological conflict to social commentary, religious fanaticism, and darker introspective subjects.

Ivory Knight continued to record and release material into the modern era, issuing additional albums in 2018 and maintaining an active presence through live shows, online platforms, and new compositions. Despite changes in the music industry and the shifting visibility of traditional metal in North America, the band remained committed to writing, recording, and performing music on their own terms.

More than three decades after their formation, Ivory Knight stands as a testament to perseverance within the Canadian metal underground — a band defined not by trends or commercial cycles, but by a long-standing dedication to melodic heavy metal, strong musicianship, and the simple ambition of continuing to create music they believe in.
-Robert Williston

John Devadasan Perinbam: lead and backing vocals
Rob Gravelle: lead, rhythm, and acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Steve Mercer: bass guitar, backing vocals
George Nesrallah: drums

Comments