Artist Glimpse: Mississauga's Night of the Snake
/In Mississauga, a songwriter’s "heart" is often tied to an acoustic guitar. But raw storytelling doesn’t always whisper; sometimes, it roars. Night of the Snake defines that intensity. Led by founder Remi Monroe and vocalist Alex Stryzhak, they are carving a unique space in the GTA metal scene. Fresh off the Wacken Metal Battle Canada rounds, their latest single proves heavy music can be as vulnerable as any folk ballad. I connected with Alex and Remi to find the pulse behind the power.
Rob Aguiar - Night of the Snake has a distinct, driving energy. Remi, as a founder, what was the original sonic mission statement? Alex, as the voice of that vision, how do you build upon that intensity?
Remi - This band has been around for a while, so it definitely has era’s. When we originally started we were just kids. Life was about partying. It was about the good, the bad, and the ugly that came with that. The way we write now comes from a more spiritual and mature place. Themes aren’t the same because life is different and for me art imitates life and vice versa.
Alex - I try to channel emotions honestly, and intensity here is our default state, the way we experience life. I love art on the edge of collapse, and in vocals I pursue the same thing, attack, delivery, pure raw mental energy. At the same time, I always maintain control to keep exploring and pushing that edge further. But sometimes the source still breaks through the form, creating these intense, sometimes ugly, but honest expressions.
RA - You kicked off 2026 in the Wacken Metal Battle Canada. What was that experience like, and how does a high-stakes competition change your approach to a live set?
Remi - The night was really fun and the turn out was great, but I’m not particularly a fan of mixing music and competitions. Win or lose there’s an extra dirty layer to these things that just doesn’t sit well with me. High stakes doesn’t change anything for me, I play every show like it’s the last day of my life.
RA - Your new release, "If Trust Had A Warning Label They'd Pull You From The Shelf," is a heavy sentiment. What was the catalyst for that line? Is it a specific moment of betrayal or a broader reflection on modern trust?
Remi - Although our topics these days lean more to the positive, spiritual, and psychological aspects of the human mind and body, this is an absolute retaliation to the lying and distrustful behavior of certain individuals. We needed somewhere for our anger to go so we put it in the song to die and hopefully by doing so it resonates in a more positive way than how it started.
RA - Metal is a demanding genre that often fights for its share of GTA opportunities. How do you find—or build—the right spaces for this music to thrive in Mississauga?
Remi- I’m from the Masonic days, when Sauga actually had a scene. I feel like it’s starting to heat up again and that’s really cool. I’d love to see it return to its former glory and something even better. But for now, we just like to rip opportunities with our friends, shows that we genuinely enjoy.
RA - You aren’t just creating noise; you’re reflecting the world around you. How do you balance technical aggression with the vulnerability needed to share real-world stories?
Alex - The reflection of the surrounding world inevitably passes through the prism of my perception, which is inherently vulnerable, because I am also human. This is where my inner world and my understanding of the external meet. I try to preserve the purity of phenomena as they are, but personal experience introduces its own distortions, forming a unique blend of experience. In order to deliver these meanings with maximum impact, I build a structure that must have strength. I don’t intentionally balance anything here - I simply hold the tension between my vulnerable core and structure, aggression and technicality, striving toward a state that most accurately corresponds to reality. And I may still be only at the very beginning of working on this living sculpture.
RA - Now that the new music is out, what is the atmosphere in the "Snake" camp? Beyond this release, what are your goals for the rest of 2026?
Remi- We have some things cooking, I can definitely say that. We’re sitting on a ton of music. This is just the beginning, we have a relatively small discography and we want to keep growing that. Right now we just want to be feeding the scene with as much art as we can possibly fit into our short little lives.
It is clear after speaking with Alex and Remi that Night of the Snake isn’t just about the decibels; it’s about a relentless dedication to the craft and the community they hope to build here in Mississauga. Their new single, "If Trust Had A Warning Label They'd Pull You From The Shelf," is available now, and it serves as a powerful reminder that in a world that often tries to polish over the cracks, there is immense value in leaning into the grit. Support local music, stay loud, and keep listening for the heart behind the song.
