Canadian Metal favorites Killer Dwarfs have signed to EMP LABEL GROUP, who are set to release the band’s long awaited live set LIVE, NO GUFF in April, and 2018 will also see EMP reissues of the band’s recent catalog, including the
independently released START@ONE, the band’s previously unreleased studio album from 1993, and WIRELESS, the solo acoustic release from vocalist RUSS DWARF. EMP will also release an, as yet untitled, new Killer Dwarfs studio album in 2019, and a new studio album from RUSS DWARF.
Recorded live in November 2016 in various exotic Northern locales including Ottawa, Vancouver, Toronto, and Whitehorse Yukon, Canada, LIVE NO GUFF is a collection of the Dwarfs at their vertically challenged finest, powering through blistering performances of 3 decades of classic tracks including “Stand Tall”, “Keep The Spirit Alive”, “Dirty Weapons”, “Heavy Mental Breakdown”, and more.
Formed in Oshawa, Ontario in 1981, Killer Dwarfs released their debut album in 1983, followed by their classic releases STAND TALL, BIG DEAL, and DIRTY WEAPONS, which earned the band a massive following for their style of NWOBHM inspired Hard Rock, and tongue in cheek humor, which is nowhere more evident than in their videos. Iconic clips for “Stand Tall”, “We Stand Alone”, “Keep The Spirit Alive”, and “Dirty Weapons” made frequent appearances on national video outlets like MTV, HEADBANGER’S BALL, MUCHMUSIC, and more, helping the Dwarfs sell over 2 million records, and tour the World in arenas and stadiums supporting artists like Iron Maiden.
The band parted ways in the early 90s, and reformed briefly in 2001, before another hiatus that would last over another decade. In 2013 the band reformed and independently released START@ONE, their final unreleased 1993 studio album, and began full time touring across the US and Canada. The Dwarfs were back. And this time to stay.
EMP’s Thom Hazaert says, “It came down to a lengthy bidding war between EMP, Monster Records Musik, and Conglomerate Records, and thankfully we came out on top. So we opened Russ’ crate, I held him down while David cut his finger open, and the deal was done. Now we own these guys for the rest of their natural born lives, or at least until the end of 2022. Whichever comes first.”
He adds, “But really, no. I was talking to uber Canadian journalist Mitch Lafon one day, and we got to talking about KILLER DWARFS, and he knew them (of course, he’s from Canada), and I asked about their current whereabouts. He put me in touch with Russ and the rest is history. I personally love the Dwarfs and think they were one of the great underrated Metal bands of the 80’s, and they are honestly still just as awesome today. We are super excited to own their asses for the next decade. JK. Now, back in the crate.”
