Homicide Ventura - Homicide Ventura

1. The Getaway

2. The Trick

3. Kimchee

4. Cause Medic

5. Scarlet

Homicide Ventura have released their debut self titled album. This album has the feel of a faster paced alt rock band. There is something with this band we can't quite put our finger on. These guys have a similar sound to that of Thrice, Chevelle or Thursday. If you are into bands like this, you could like this album. They have done an alright job here. When looking at the recording of this album, the recording quality here isn't the greatest. This album sounds pretty low and needs a brighter, louder, more polished sound to it can be enjoyed more. The instrumentation here isn't bad, but it's nothing to really write home about. These guys can play, but its just good old plain playing. Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals on this album are not bad, but pretty generic in the rock scene. You can tell he can certainly hit notes, and has a very clear voice. This vocal style feels more taught than natural though with how he holds his notes. Their vocalist can certainly sing, and you can hear him very clearly which is a positive. All in all, not bad on this part. With the lyrics, the band goes for song about running away, rushing things, relationships, and more. These songs seem to have the same sort of symbols, and ideas of cars, running, lights, etc. it would be nice to hear a little more variety here. The meanings in the songs however seem to be ones people can understand and relate to, so this will help out greatly. Not a bad job with the lyrics. If you are looking for a single, there isn't one, so just pick a song and you'll basically get the idea of the whole album. Homicide Ventura have made an album that shows what sound and style the band is going for. We hope that with later releases the band can get better recordings and switch up the lyrics with a thesaurus to say things differently. We'd like to see what comes next here, but this is a start. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think about it.

Genre: Rock/Alternative/Punk

Release Date: 2017

Location: Markham, Ontario
Website: https://www.homicideventura.com/

Label: None

The Fitzpatrick Incident - A Partisan Effort

1. Our Firm Resolve

2. A Maverick Stance

3. One Land To Keep

4. Moving Mountains

5. Blood Takes Care of Blood

6. Caught Under the Waterline

The Fitzpatrick Incident have released their debut album titled "A Partisan Effort." This album shows the band in that very typical metalcore that a lot of metal bands have come to try and emulate. This band has a very similar sound to Dead and Divine or a early Protest The Hero, so if you like the punky Protest or Dead and Divine, you could really like this album. Not a bad job. When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has actually been recorded fairly well. Now it isn't up to a professional signed band standard, but the album is still very listenable. The instrumentation on the album is not bad, but it is pretty average. Being a young band, we don't expect them to be able to blow our minds, but they can certainly play the style they are going for. Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals on this album are not too bad, the singer can sing and you can hear everything he is saying. The background vocals could use a little work though, as he sounds a little out of tune here and there. His screams seem too forced as well. All in all, not a bad job on the vocals here for a first album. With the lyrics, the band goes for more of a message based lyric than the typical love and heartbreak songs. The band sings about standing up for things, being yourself, going your own path and more. We feel like a lot of bands are not really telling anyone to just be themselves instead of following what people tell you to follow. We feel this is an important message to get out to people. Good job on the lyrics. If you are looking for a single to this album, there isn't one, so just pick a song and give it a listen to get the feel of the album. The Fitzpatrick Incident have made a debut, sort of welcome to album that tells you to be who you want to be a write your own future. We think this is great and can't wait to see what they come up with next. Hopefully the band can get out more and bring their music to more people. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think of it. They have since called it quits (R.I.P.)

Genre: Metalcore/Screamo/Metal

Release Date: 2008

Location: Markham, Ontario

Label: None

Riot Acts - Someone Else

1. Someone Else

2. Growing Pains

3. Shift

4. Heart Swell

Riot Acts have released their third album. This one is titled "Someone Else." This album hits more of the hard rock fans here and is something people who like heavier radio rock could like. They have a similar sound to that of Hail The Villain or Three Days Grace, so if you like those bands, you could like this album. They have done a pretty solid job on this album. When looking at the recording quality of this album, the band has made sure that these four songs sound great from the studio. The instrumentation is nothing to wow you, but the band can play their instruments and know what they are doing. Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocalist has a great voice here and is pretty decent for the rock style. At times there is just something about the voice that makes us iffy if we like it or not, but once he goes full out, it sounds great. You can hear him perfectly and clear which is great too. With the lyrics, the band goes for songs about love and heartbreak. This is something many people can relate to and connect with. It is however something a lot of bands sing about, but they do a decent job on it. We like the lyrical direction of the songs. If you are looking for a single to this album, there isn't one, so just pick a song, or listen to them all and you will know how you feel about the album. Riot Acts have taken three albums to get to this point and we think this is the best from them so far. We like the rock feel with a little punk mixed in, and we think if the band can just get out there and play more, something could happen. We like it and good luck. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think of it.

Genre: Rock/Punk/Hard Rock

Release Date: August 22nd, 2017

Location: Markham, Ontario

Label: None

Well Wisher - Well Wisher

1. Steadfast

2. Disclosure

Well Wisher have released their two song demo titled "Well Wisher." This album is one that shows the band doing the pop punk thing. They have a similar sound to that of Four Year Strong or a Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! sort of band. If you like either of those bands, you could like these two songs. They have done an okay job on this album. When looking at the recording quality of this album, you can tell there is work to be done, but it is nice to at least hear something for this band. The instrumentation on this album is in line with other Easycore style bands. Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocalist can sing and he has a nice sound that will fit in within the genre they are going for. You can hear them and it has nice clear vocals. With the lyrics, they have a message about girls and relationships, which flood music right now. If you are looking for a single, there isn't one, so just listen to the whole thing and you will know what Well Wisher is about. Well Wisher have made a demo album that shows you how they want to sound and gives you an idea of what future music will sound like. They have not done that bad of a job, just need to get better recordings of the songs and they will be good. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think of this very new band. They have since called it quits (R.I.P.)

Genre: Easycore/Pop Punk/Punk

Release Date: May 12th, 2012

Location: Markham, Ontario

Label: None

Safe To Say - With Everything In Between

1. Bleed 
2. Trip
3. Nothing Gold
4. Spun
5. Half Asleep
6. Heavy Eyes
7. Like Daisies
8. Bed Ridden
9. Funeral
10. Once In A While

Safe To Say have released their debut full length album titled "With Everything In Between." This album is a continuation of the last albums direction, with being a more grungy punk band here. This one just seems to be fuller and have more songs with it. If you like the band PUP, you should like these guys. When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has been recorded fairly well and has a decent sound while having a little bit of that sloppiness to it. The albums instrumentation is pretty average while still having that full real band feel. Now onto the vocals and  lyrics, the vocals here fit quite well with the style of music they are going for but the lyrics are a little hard to get the full idea of the songs in them. If you are looking for a single for this album, give the song "Bleed" your attention as this one is the best song on the album and it really leads the album off quite well by hitting pretty hard. Safe To Say have done really well with this album and have given a sound that wasn't quite around, so it is a pretty niche sound of their own. We give this band tons of credit for the job they have done here. Listen to this album to decide for yourself if you like it.

Genre: Grunge/Pop - Punk/Punk
Release Date: June 1st, 2013

Location: Markham, Ontario

Label: None

Riot Acts - Stuck

1. Tense 
2. Heartburn 
3. Bitter 
4. Stuck
5. Prescription
6. Timeline

Riot Acts have released their second album titled "Stuck." This album follows the same formula and sound that the bands previous had, plus the feel that the fans of the previous album are used to. The guys did a pretty decent job on this album. When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has been recorded fairly decently and that instrumentation here is pretty good as well. Now the band could use some more time to shape and meld their sound they are on their way. The vocals for this album sound pretty good here and we like how clear they are, as well as how they work with the music. Looking at the lyrics, these lyrics are fairly decent as well, we like how the band has done with them. If you are looking for a single to listen to, give the song "Heartburn" your attention as it is the best song of the album and really gives you a feel of how the album is. Riot Acts have done a really good job on this album and we are happy to see what they have done. All that is left for the guys to do it play tons of shows to showcase this music to new people. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think of it.

Genre: Punk/Hardcore/Rock

Release Date: October 30th, 2015

Location: Markham, Ontario

Label: None

Safe To Say - Sick To Death

1. In Constant Echos
2. Tunnels
3. Vacancy
4. What The Cuss
5. Sick To Death

(The proceeds from this album do go to charity, so we suggest that you find Safe To Say's store and buy it from there)

When you look at Safe To Say's new album, you can really say wow what a difference. Their previous album was pretty rough and needed a lot of work to it, but this one sounds way better. When you look at the style of the band from the previous album, they still have that fastness to them, although not as fast, but it is more melodic in the vocals here. This is a pretty good example of a band that progressed well from record to record. When you look at the recording quality of this album, the band have done a great job to make this album solid in the sound and the instrumentation. When you look at the vocals and the lyrics, they seem to really go well with the way the members want their music to go. If you are looking for a certain song to listen to, there is no single, so just pick a song and listen from there so you get the feel of the album. Safe To say are doing a really good job here with the sound and meld of different rock genres in their music. Hopefully they just keep on with this sound and eventually they should make something of it. Give this album a listen and make sure you follow what the band is doing as you will want to get on the train sooner than later.

Genre: Punk/Pop - Punk/Alternative
Release Date: June 23rd, 2012

Location: Markham, Ontario

Label: Soft Speak Records

Safe To Say - Safe To Say

1. Tidal Waves

2. Colder

3. Up To Here

4. Bridge Burner

Safe To Say have released their debut selt titled album. When you put this album on, the first thing that comes to mind is how rough the songs are, this is why its a demo. Aside from the obvious quality needing upgrading, this band seems to be decent and have something here. The songs on this album have been done decently in the form of structure and lyrics, plus the band can play.  The song "Colder" is probably the best one on here, so give that one your attention first. With some tweaking and as they progress, this band will become a lot better, so don't count them out just on hearing these four songs.

Genre: Hardcore/Pop - Punk/Alternative
Release Date: 2011

Location: Markham, Ontario

Label: None

River City - Gratitude/Tired

1. Gratitude

2. Tired

River City's 2 song EP is pretty good. These are the last two songs that they released. They are decent songs, and they show this band being a faster punk band. Its a shame they were gone so quick, but give these two a listen and let us know what you think.

Genre: Punk/Rock/Hardcore

Release Date: Oct 27th, 2012

Location: Markham, Ontario

Label: None

River City - Timeline

1. Indifference

2. Break Through 

3. Ursa Major

River City is a band that doesn't seem to have much on themselves. They seem to be a quiet band with a few recordings and thats it. The EP they have released right here is pretty decent though. All 3 songs grab you and say, hey, this band could make it bigger, if only they tried. The EP has a good sound, quality recording and a style that seems to be in demand with the punk fans today, so give it a listen.

Genre: Punk/Rock/Hardcore

Release Date: Feb 27th, 2012

Location: Markham, Ontario

Label: None

USS - Approved EP

1. Yo Hello Hooray (Everyday)

2. Damini

3. Heaven On Mars

4. Prefontaine

5. Minus Me

6. N/A OK

7. K.I.T.

The second EP from USS is definitely a defining one, this one shows that their unique style  of electronic rock, can be well received and climb up the ladder of success. This band is doing something unique and very enjoyable. If you are a fan of rock or electronic music, you should be listening to this band.

Genre: Rock/Electronic
Release Date: May 3rd, 2011
Location: Markham, Ontario
Website: http://www.ussmusic.com/
Label: Smashing World Records