Toronto’s Banger Films is bringing more metal to its budding YouTube channel, Banger TV.

On July 23, the prodco released the first episode of its new six-episode digital series Shredders of Metal on its YouTube page, which Banger Films describes as a hub for all things heavy metal. Banger TV currently has 137,000 subscribers.

Funded by the Bell Fund, the series is produced by Banger Films co-founders Sam Dunn and Scot McFadyen, alongside Brian Peco and Liisa Ladouceur.

The competition series, which is inspired by YouTube guitar shred videos, sees seven guitarists from across Canada showcase their heavy metal guitar skills and creativity for a panel of judges. Judges on the first season of Shredders of Metal include Dunn, Alex Skolnick and Daniel Dekay.

According to Ladouceur, the shredder community, which she describes as huge, international and highly engaged, has long been under-served by traditional media.

“We wanted to tap into the passion of these bedroom players, and the millions who watch them online, but present it in a new and high-quality way that could be released to all countries simultaneously,” Ladouceur told Playback Daily.

She also notes that by launching the series on Banger’s YouTube Channel, the company hoped to attract new viewers to the page, and at the same time develop “a new style of talent competition show that gives rock and metal players the respect they deserve.”

The prodco said it aims to make more seasons of the series and expand into other metal areas like drums, bass and vocals.

All six episodes of the series will air this week on Banger TV, with the show’s finale set to be released on July 28. 2018.