Canadian Female-Fronted
Heavy Metal Force
FAMOUS STRANGERS
Released Album
‘Famous Strangers’
track-list:
Fire Inside
Ghosts of Men
Please Her
As Your Leader
Desires
Far Away from Home
Rain
produced by Jeff Kittlitz, Phil Anderson, and Famous Strangers
mixed by Joel Wanasek
mastered by Maor Applebaum
DeadRhetoric:
“Serendipity and synchronicity are two key factors in securing the best factors for successful chemistry in any musical outfit. That’s the case for sure in the Canadian heavy rock outfit Famous Strangers. Veterans of the metal scene, they’ve come together at this point in their career to create an energetic heavy music platform surging with this emotional intensity from all angles that’s impossible to ignore. Their debut self-titled album contains all the ideal components to make a strong impact locally and abroad.”
Metal Epidemic:
“‘Famous Strangers’ is an absolute belter of a debut album so don’t be a stranger, check it out! Very Highly Recommended. (5/5)”
Heavy Music HQ:
”It’s great to hear a modern hard rock band unafraid to get aggressive, from a vocalist that can unleash a scream as well as she can hit a crisp high note to the abundance of shredding guitar solos.”
The wait is finally over, as Alberta heavy rock band Famous Strangers have officially released their self titled debut album, a seven track collection that brings together heavy riffs, grungy textures, melodic passages and atmospheric moments.
Built around themes of self worth, personal growth, vulnerability and breaking free from what holds you back, the album delivers an emotional journey that refuses to settle into a single stylistic formula.
The record is the result of approximately three years of writing, rewriting and experimentation.
Some of guitarist Jeff Kittlitz’s riffs had been waiting on his hard drive for more than a decade before finding their place, while other ideas emerged almost spontaneously during the band’s regular jam sessions.
‘Ghosts of Men‘, for example, was written only three days before the band entered the studio, yet quickly developed into one of the album’s key tracks.
Musically, ‘Famous Strangers‘ moves freely between grunge, punk, blues, classic metal and modern heavy rock, combining explosive passages with more restrained and atmospheric sections.
Rather than following a strict formula, the band allow each song to develop naturally, resulting in a record that feels varied without losing its emotional connection.
Lyrically, the album focuses largely on personal experiences and the idea of recognising your own value.
The band describe the record as a journey designed to evoke different emotions, while encouraging listeners to look inward and emerge feeling stronger and more confident.
“We feel like this debut album will take fans on a journey, feeling many different emotions. Some may not understand what we are trying to do, but by the end hoping that they are surprised, refreshed, and feeling inspired.”
To mark the release, Famous Strangers have also shared a new rehearsal video for ‘Fire Inside‘, offering a glimpse into the band’s live energy and creative process.
The song itself has already developed an entertaining history onstage, including an improvised performance in Drumheller, Alberta, where vocalist Amanda Kiernan incorporated dinosaur themed lyrics suggested by the audience.
With Famous Strangers, the Alberta quartet have now brought together years of ideas, experimentation and personal experiences into their first full length statement.
It is a debut that leaves plenty of room for the band to develop further, while providing a strong foundation for whatever comes next.
Canadian Female-Fronted
Heavy Metal Quartet
FAMOUS STRANGERS
Released Single
‘I’ll See You In The Stars‘
produced & mixed by Jeff Kittlitz
mastered by Greg Wright
Famous Strangers are:
Amanda Keirnan – vocals
Jeff Kittlitz – guitar, vocals
Brian Jolly aka ‘Beej’ Beejerson – drums
Braden Sustrik – bass, vocals
Famous Strangers in concert 2025:
Apr12th-Apr13thDECIMATE METAL FEST Calgary/AB
May10thThe Starlite Room Edmonton/AB
Jun13th-Jun15thDecimate Metalfest 2025 Millet/AB
Jul11th-Jul12thArmstrong Metal Festival 2025 Armstrong/BC
Aug1st-Aug3rdLoud As Hell 2025Drumheller/Alberta
WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll:
“Haunting, Stirring and Impactful…those words just keep going through our mind as we take in the new single ‘I’ll See You In The Stars’ from Famous Strangers. This one is quite unique with a powerful intensity that is full of rhythm and achieves the rare feat of fury as a pure form of beauty. We really dig this one and you can catch it on your Home for the Best New Rock…”
Famous Strangers is a dynamic and innovative band known for their dark, moody, and mysterious sound that blends atmospheric, visual storytelling with powerful, intense music.
Formed in 2023, the band came together through a shared passion for creating music that pushes boundaries and evokes deep emotions.
“The band is the perfect mistake—something that was never meant to be, yet somehow became exactly what it needed to. It came together as a meeting of the minds, a collision of ideas and energy that formed something greater than any of us could have planned.”
The band consists of members with extensive past experiences in other bands, bringing a wealth of talent and diverse influences to the group.
Amanda actually DJs at an exotic nightclub in Edmonton called ‘Shade‘.
Braden isn’t just holding down the low end in Famous Strangers—he’s also a teacher, working with students from K to 12.
Whether it’s in the classroom or on stage, he brings the same passion and dedication to everything he does.
Beej is relentless behind the kit, averaging six hours of drumming every day.
Whether it’s rehearsing, refining technique, or just chasing the perfect groove, the dedication never stops.
Their combined expertise and creative vision have shaped the unique sound of Famous Strangers, characterized by haunting melodies, a blend of melodic and aggressive vocals, and atmospheric instrumentals.
Famous Strangers is gearing up to make their mark on the music scene with a series of single releases this year, leading up to a highly anticipated full album release set for 2025.
“We are incredibly grateful to be able to release this single (‘I’ll See You In Th Stars’) and share it with audiences. This track is more than just a song—it’s an artistic expression of who we are as a band and the depths we are willing to explore. It represents a space where emotion meets intensity, where atmosphere blends with raw power. Sonically, it carries a weight and texture that draws comparisons to bands like Deftones or Ocean Machine, capturing that balance of heaviness and haunting melody. This is just one side of what we do, but it’s a side we fully embrace.”
“The song pulls you in and unfolds, carrying you through every beautiful and painful moment. Musically, it builds and shifts, taking you on a ride that culminates in an intense and vulnerable state of mind. The music caters and compliments this mindset.”
“The album artwork serves as the final scene—an emotional culmination of waiting endlessly for a love that never arrives and the painful realization that letting go is impossible. It captures the weight of those emotions, the intensity of the experience, and the raw journey of living through it all.”
“The single, along with all of Famous Strangers’ music, is recorded and mixed by Jeff Kittlitz, making the entire process 85% in-house. This hands-on approach allows us to shape our sound exactly as we envision it, keeping the recording experience raw, real, and true to who we are as a band.”
As they embark on this exciting journey, the band remains committed to delivering powerful performances and captivating audiences with their unforgettable sound.
Famous Strangers continues to reveal more of their musical journey, bringing their fans along for an exhilarating ride through the depths of their creative vision.