Metz - Soft Whiteout/Lump Sums

1. Soft Whiteout

2. Lump Sums

Metz have released their debut 2 song EP. These two songs show off a sample of what the band is about and the sound they are going for. They seem to have a chaotic, all over the place, noise sound and style. When listening to this, we get a vibe of The Chariot, Pissed Jeans and Young Widows, so if you are into those bands, you could like this one. They have done an alright job here.

When looking at the recording quality of these two songs, they seem to be recorded pretty solidly, with a bit of a background fuzz to them. Not sure if this is for effect with the style they play or a quality issue, but it doesn't seem to affect the listenability of the two songs. The instrumentation here is nothing too crazy, in a musical ability sense, but the band does go all out and just plays a mess of whatever. They can certainly play, and they play in a very hectic style. 

Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals on this album, they have a grungy, echo effect with them, and they sound very distorted and hard to quite get. He isn't the clearest on here so you could have trouble with the lyrics. The vocalist can sing but other than that, its pretty noisy. With the lyrics, they are interesting. First, with Soft Whiteout, we have no idea what they are talking about. These lyrics give us a very Frank Zappa vibe, and we can't tell what they are trying to say. Lump Sums we think the meaning of the song or what we get from it is, trying to hold onto and do things, only for them to come crashing down when you didn't have a chance to succeed in the beginning. Either way, the lyrics for both songs are pretty interesting.

If you are looking for a single to this album, there isn't one, so just listen to the whole thing as it's only two songs, and you w ill get an idea of what this band is all about.

Metz have made a 2 song EP that shows off what they are about and gives you an introduction to them. We aren't really sure what to think about them because this isn't really our thing, but listen to it and give it a chance, you may like it. We look forward to seeing whats next.

Genre: Indie/Punk/Grunge

Release Date: January 13th, 2009

Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Website: http://www.metzztem.com/

Label: We Are Busy Bodies

Strange Ways - Demo

1. Intro

2. Fade Away

3. Height Of Hubris

4. Stranger Days

5. Slip Of The Tongue

Strange Ways have released their debut album, which is just simply titled "Demo". The band takes it back with an old school punk and grunge sound. They have a sound that we would consider like a Moterhead and Barnburner mixed together, so if you are into either of those bands, you could really like this album. They have done a pretty good job here. The instrumentation on this album is quite decent. Their guitarist is pretty talented, and can play quite well. Now it isn't going to be like those progressive bands, but it is still pretty solid playing overall. This record is rough and distorted all over the place, but we feel this is intentional so that it gives off a raw feeling to the album. Let's talk about the vocals and the lyrics, the vocals on this album aren't the best, but they are pretty clear and you can hear what he is singing about. With a little more practice, a clearer recording, and being this is a demo, this could improve. We look forward to that with the next release. With the lyrics, the band seems to be singing more aggressive songs about another person, and how they have interacted together. This seems to be the typical thing a lot of younger bands sing about. With their sound, we didn't quite expect this to be the lyrical content, but hey, it is a first release. If you are looking for a single to this album, there isn't one, so just give the whole album a listen, as it's only five songs, and they aren't that long. This way you will have an idea of the band. Strange Ways have made an album that gives you an intro into the band and how they sound. They have made four songs (and an intro) to get you into the band, and it's not bad. We look forward to seeing what is next for the band. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think about it. 

Genre: Grunge/Punk/Garage Rock

Release Date: March 23rd, 2016

Location: London, Ontario

Label: None

Gold Finch - Forlorn

1. Everything

2. How I've Been

3. Winter Sun

4. Sepulchre

5. Rusted Gold

Gold Finch have released their second album titled "Forlorn." This album follows the same sound and style as the band debut album. These guys have a very heavy, down feeling sound that isn't for everyone. These guys have a similar sound of bands like Teenage Wrist or Trash Boat, so if you are into those guys, this album could be for you. These guys have done a decent job here on the album. When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album could certainly use some more work, but you do get that kind of feel that the band is going for a dirty, low, kind of unpolished style to their music. The instrumentation on this album is pretty standard here, although you won't really hear anything that will make you turn your head, the band can play. Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals on this album are very grungy and a bit raspy, but are still clear enough that you can hear the words pretty well. Now we wouldn't say the singer is a great one, but he can sing, so there is some potential here. With the lyrics, the band goes for songs about wishing and hoping for more in life, being lonely and waiting for things to get better, and pretty much just being a sad boy. We do understand how someone can get into this rut and feel this way. A lot of people will be able to relate to these lyrics as well. 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 this album. Gold Finch have made a record that stands along side their debut and give them a bigger catalog to play at shows. If you liked the bands previous album, you should like this. We think the band has done a good job here, now just time to get out there more. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think of it.

Genre: Grunge/Punk/Indie

Release Date: December 2nd, 2016

Location: Waterloo, Ontario

Label: None

Thousand Young - Thousand Young

1. There Is No Shore

2. Wolves

3. You Can't Choose Who You Burn Beside 

4. Stoned Parallel

Thousand Young have released their second album which is also self titled. This happens to be just an EP though. The band has an indie punk sort of sound, with screaming vocals mixed in. They have a similar sound to that of an Every Time I Die, or a Dead And Divine, so if you like either of those bands, you could really like this album. They have done a pretty good job on this album. When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has a pretty decent quality to it. The instrumentation is not bad either here, the band can play, and the sound is good, although they aren't going to blow you away. Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals on this album are done nicely. The vocalist can both sing and scream, while still being clear enough to understand all the words. He has a solid voice and does well on this album. With the lyrics, the band goes for songs about politics for the most part. They talk about society and what is going on with the people who make choices for the little people. We feel a lot of people can get behind this, especially in the time we live in right now. If you are looking for a single, there isn't one, so just pick a song and give it a listen to get the feel of the album. Thousand Young have made an EP that shows a little different side of the band. These are also the bands last song which they decided to bring out for the fans. We feel the band did a pretty good job here. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think of it. They have since called it quits (R.I.P.)

Genre: Garage Rock/Punk/Grunge
Date: February 13th, 2015
Location: Welland, Ontario

Label: Blacktop Records

Redcoat - MMXV

1. Burn Beside Me

2. Enter/Exit

3. Spin

4. Silver Springs

 

Redcoat have released their debut album titled "MMXV." This album really hit hard and goes for the 90's grunge style that seems to be pretty dead as of late. They really bring the rock and have a nicely produced sound here. They have a similar sound to that of Silverchair or a Smashing Pumpkins, so if you are into those bands, you could like this album. They have done a pretty good job here. When looking at the recording quality of this album, the band has recorded this album quite well and gotten the loud fullness out in the tracks. The instrumentation is pretty decent here, the band can certainly play and it is shown off in each of these four songs. We really think they do a solid job on the playing hard and fast without going overboard. Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals here are done really well, the vocalist has a hard, heavy, screamed voice that projects really well and gives you the feel of how he is putting everything into these songs. We really feel the passion and can clearly hear all the words which is hard to do while putting that much passion into the songs. With the lyrics, the bands goes for messages of living fast with someone, relationships and being alone. A few of these topics we can tell people will feel and be able to relate, so this will be easier for the listener to get into the music. 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. Redcoat have done a really nice job on their debut welcome to album. This has the sound and the hard punch that will get you into it fast. We think this band has hit something right from the get go. Great job overall. Now just get out and play more. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think of it. 

Genre: Grunge/Rock/Hard Rock

Release Date: March 25th, 2015

Location: Niagara On The Lake, Ontario

Label: None

Thousand Young - Thousand Young

1. Hot And Heavy Brotha!
2. Not In Any Map
3. Call Off The Arms Race
4. Sawmill Suicide
5. There Is No Shore
6. A To B
7. Dead Jim
8. Stoned Parallel

Thousand Young have released their debut self titled album. This album is one that really has a dirty, distorted, rugged, grungy sound to it like what a garage rock band would sound like. They have done an alright job on the album though. When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has been made alright and it does have that sound you are looking for in grungy garage rock. The bands instrumentation on this album is again average but solid. Now onto the vocals and the lyrics, the vocals are what you would like to see in a band going this direction, so that is nice, while the lyrics could use a little work to get more powerful meaning into them. If you are looking for a single to this album, there isn't one, so just pick any song and give it a listen to get the feel of the album. Thousand Young have done an alright job on their debut, welcome to album and it is nice to see a band trying this style to make it work. Hopefully though with a little bit of progression they can get something that can appeal to a wider audience. We hope they can also get out there more and play shows to get buzz out. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think about it.

Genre: Garage Rock/Grunge/Punk

Release Date: November 9th, 2011

Location: Welland, Ontario

Label: Blacktop Records

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

Greys - Easy Listening

1. Post-American
2. Cascades
3.The Way Of All Flesh
4. Gladhander
5. Queen Of The Harpies
6. Telegraph Hill

Greys are a band that makes a lot of noise on their second album "Easy Listening" which of course is not. These guys have a noisy punk sound that fits really well in the dirty run down clubs. Think of bands like Single mothers when you listen to this. they have done a pretty good job on this. When looking at the recording quality of this album, given that they were doing for a dirty punk sound, it sounds pretty good actually and the instrumentation seems to be alright as well here. Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals fits well with this kind of music and the lyrics actually seem to tell a story and be meaningful in it, so that is also very good here. If you are looking for a single to listen to, give the song "Cascades" your attention as this is the best song on the album and shows off what the feel of the album is the best here. Greys have done a pretty good job on their debut album, so get on this and give it a listen. Hopefully they just keep it up, as this style of punk is getting popular right now, so just keep playing. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think of it.

Genre: Punk/Grunge/Indie

Release Date: May 22nd, 2012

Location: Toronto, Ontario
Website: http://www.greysband.com

Label: IndoorShoes

Greys - Ultra Sorta

1. Situationism

2. Rennie

3. Simple Living

4. City Of Broken Lights

5. Black Lodge

Greys have released their debut album titled "Ultra Sorta." This album shows the band in a very noisy indie punk style. These guys like to leave it loud and sloppy, throwing the noise right at you. Bands like Single Mothers and The Dirty Nil to an extent, have made a name for themselves playing music similar to this. So if you like those bands, you could really like this album. They have done a pretty good job on this album. When looking at the recording quality of this album, the album has been recorded to a fairly decent quality. Although it is very raw and loud, this seems to be the way the band wanted it, and for this they have done a pretty good job. The instrumentation on the album is not bad, but it is nothing that is really going to blow you away. The band can certainly play, but it is nothing over the top, just good playing. Now onto the vocals and lyrics, the vocals on this album are a little rough and with an edge, but they fit the music well and you can hear the vocalist so that is good. He has what we would call a Refused style of singing punk, so that could help out more if you know the band. All in all not bad. With the lyrics, the band seems to go for messages about living life with meaning, life stories about people, society and more. These seem to be subjects that punk band touch on fairly often, so people who are into this style, could connect with them quite well.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. Greys have made a debut, welcome to album that really shows off the sound and style the bands is going for. They have made an album that goes with the new style of punk that is being put out recently. Hopefully the band can get out more and bring their brand of music to more people and garner more fans. Not a bad job over. Listen to this album to decide for yourself what you think of it.

Genre: Punk/Grunge/Indie

Release Date: April 26th, 2011

Location: Toronto, Ontario
Website: http://www.greysband.com

Label: Concussion Records

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

Astoria - The Time Is Now

1. Wake Up Sound
2. Infected
3. Save The Day
4. So Far Gone
5. Dead & Down
6. All Roads Lead To China

Astoria have released their debut album titled "The Time Is Now" this album shows off the band off with an older feel to them. These guys have a sound that attracts an older crowd to their music, which isn't always a good thing. If this band is looking to grow, get radio play, and such, this sound is not for them. This is a good sound to just get out there and play your local bar though. This album has been recorded alright, and the guys can play their instruments. When listening to the lyrics, they seem to be very stereotypical for a band like this to sing about. Maybe trying for a little more substance and different topics could help this band out a lot. The song to listen to would be "So Far Gone" as it shows off the skill of the band right off and gives you an idea of the rest of the album. All in all, for a local bar band that plays for the people who go to the same bar every week, this is pretty good. Try to get out of the box a bit more and add some new rock styles to the music, but good effort for their first album.

Genre: Alternative/Rock/Grunge

Release Date: September 23rd, 2014

Location: London, Ontario

Label: None