TFS Pictures

PS. These photos flatter my looks majorly.

TFS/Urban Blight/Keep It Up/Eating Glass

I was really excited to get to see The First Step again. This band has become one of my favorite, especially after the release of What We Know. Of course TFS were the highlight of the show but i was interested in seeing the other bands. One is newly formed and the other two rarely play shows.

Eating Glass opened up, they play really fast, pissed off thrashy hardcore. Think Infest or more recently Ceremony or even ATS. I think they only had one song more than 30 seconds and it was because the intro and the outro were longer than usual. I thought they were good for just starting out, they have a ton of potential. I hope they live up to it, Toronto needs a band like this. www.myspace.com/eatingglasshc

Next Keep It Up played. If you've heard the Generations comp Bridge 9 put out KIU had a song on it. They play youth crew hardcore with more of a modern influence, but they still come off sounding really raw and their influences really show. The last time i saw these guys play was with TFS last July so it was nice to see them play again, i just hope they start playing more shows.

Urban Blight played next, i don't think they had played a show in more than 6 months. They weren't overly tight musically but they were good enough given the circumstances. This band is a lot of fun, i think I'd really be into them if they played more shows. Quit Harshin' My Buzz is a great song Check it out: www.myspace.com/urbanblight

TFS were up next. They opened with Something Inside and got kids moshing and singing along, including myself. I suck at moshing so i basically just run across the floor looking like an idiot if I'm not singing along. The only bummer was no stage = no stage dives, but otherwise the venue has been really good since re-opening for the last few shows. Stephen ( the singer) got cut above his eye during the first song, and bled on various parts of my WHITE Fired Up shirt. Haha I'll get it out somehow. They played Time To Understand, Learning, No Way To Live, The Higher Taste, When Things Fall Apart, What We Know, And The First Step. They played a new song called Connection which sounded really good. And probably a couple more I'm forgetting. I can't really pick out a highlight of the set, every song was good, Stephen had a lot of positive meaningful things to say in between songs and the vibe of the show as a whole was really positive.

This was definitely the best show so far this year, i hope TFS come back this summer or something because it'll be hard to beat a show with them on the bill. I'm sure there will be pictures posted somewhere shortly, I'll post them or link them when i see them.

Some Videos: Urban Blight: www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJNinkIz8KM
TFS: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZYkPmgwvFc
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwZoFAzC_nI

Iron Age/Rise And Fall

Despite the fact that we are experiencing January in April and my refusal to wear a jacket to a show this show was a lot of fun.

I hadn't really heard much about Rise and Fall before this show, aside from the fact that they were from Europe and they were REALLY heavy. I enjoyed their set, i don't think I'll really get into them on record but the signer was doing some weird stuff and the band seemed like they were dead on musically. The first song the guitarist busted out this ridiculous solo that left me wanting to burn my guitar. I was expecting him to put my abilities to shame some more, but that was it, no more eye watering riffs. I was a little disappointed with that but all in all i appreciated the energy and intensity the band brought.

I think Iron Age are one of the more talented bands in hardcore. I'm usually not big on the crushing NYHC style they play but this band is an exception. They got kids moshing, circle pitting and signing along, i was able to sing along for a few songs, the few that I've taken the time to sit down and really get a grasp on. Their lead guitarist is a seriously talented dude, if you've listened to this band much you know what I'm talking about, almost every song has a riff that I'll probably never be able to do. I was happy with the response the kids in attendance gave the band they definitely deserve it and it was nice to see everyone appreciated what they were doing.

Local band The Kill Decibel opened the show, i got there just as they ended. Hatred Surge played after them, i didn't like them. Calculated noise. And the infamous Fucked Up finished the night, i didn't stay for them, I've never really been able to get into them. Their live shows are great but i can't get into them on record.

Check out some pictures @ www.formertransformer.com

Seoul City Straight Edge

I got The Geeks "Everytime We Fall" in the mail today. Luckily I've had it in mp3 format for a few weeks now. In My opinion this record surpasses their previous stuff by miles. The music hasn't changed much but the vocals are much improved, a much more fluid delivery and they seem to fit with the songwriting a little better. I'm really digging this right now, i need to see this band next time they come to North America.

I did the pre-order with Get Outta Town Records and the vinyl looks rad, i think this pressing was limited to 100.


"Open Your Eyes" is probably my favorite song on the record, along with the title track.

Open Your Eyes

All i see is mindless determinations

The absence of thinking, we are not learning to grow

we are forced to believe in false ideals

Pursuing lives to get ahead is what we have learned

Are we making progress or just wasting our time?

What we were taught is blinding our sights

We are meant to live for so much more

Too blind to see what's real

Live for what's in store

Open Your Eyes

Get Me Out!

This is what i do when I'm supposed to be listening to my violent accented Eastern European computers and society professor. And given the absurdity of my last post i figured i needed to get it out of the way as soon as possible.

Were we all born without a chance?

Into a world that won't give an inch

No matter how hard we push

The harder it pushes back

How are supposed to live?

When all we do is give

Give in and give up

Give our time, punch the clock

All for a world that doesn't give a fuck

Physical Fatness

If you've ever been out in public anytime in the last 20 years you've probably noticed an absurd amount of obese people. I'm not quite sure why this is, of course consumer culture encourages people to eat slabs of fat and people are overly lazy. Because of technology and our fascination with instant gratification we don't need to be as physically active, and why would we be? I mean we won't see any result for at least a few weeks.

Conclusion. Obesity is a physical disease that only exists to the extremities that it does because the society that festers its existence is also diseased. And it permeates every facet of every part of life. Just like an alcoholic, heroin junkie, or an anorexic, obesity is a disease. When i say obese i don't mean just mildy overweight people, i mean people that can't walk 10 steps without their heart exploding.

Like This:


I took this article from the Toronto Star, it's what inspired me to rant like i just did.

The childhood obesity "epidemic" is so disturbing that today’s children will become the first generation in some time to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents, a new report says.
Entitled Healthy Weight for Healthy Kids, the report was issued by the Commons health committee today.
The committee said it "shares the fears of many experts who predict that today’s children will be the first generation for some time to have poorer health outcomes and a shorter life expectancy than their parents.
The committee noted that Canada has one of the worst rates of childhood obesity in the developed world.
Weight problems can bring on Type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, joint problems and mental health issues.
Recent data indicate that 26 per cent of Canadians aged 2-17 are overweight or obese, up from 15 per cent in 1978.
The committee heard that children continue to consume too many calories in fatty and processed foods and in sugary drinks.
The report proposed 13 recommendations, stating that to address the problem, programs that promote healthy weights for children have to be rewarding.
In addition, the committee said that interventions must take place at all levels - individual, family, community, school as well as all levels of government.
The committee also said it’s important to set specific, measurable health targets.
"The committee recognizes that childhood obesity is a complex and multi-dimensional problem that must be tackled immediately," the report said.

I was also thinking about how ugly truth can be. Truth about the world, about what we've morphed into. If truth were a person it would be a 90 year old, senile, meth addict with no arms or legs and 3rd degree burns from its head to its stumps.

Peace!

Today was the fourth anniversary of the U.S led Invasion of Iraq, as well as the fourth anniversary of the annual anti-war rallies that happen all over the world at this time.

I participated at the one in Toronto for the third straight year. there were some moving speeches given by citizens of the middle east, They brought a few war resisters from the U.S up on the stage during the rally, it was cool to see them sticking to their guns and basically giving up any normalcy they had in their lives because they believed something they were participating in was wrong. I have tons of respect for those people.

The protest also dealt with Canada's involvement in Afghanistan, and an array of other social issues that the Canadian government continues to neglect. Although its sometimes depressing to go to these rallies, i walk away with at least a sense of hope that people still care enough to do something about it.

In a city of over 5 million people only about 1000 people were at this rally, which makes me wonder if we're just so far gone that we've given up. Either that or we're to ignorant to know enough to care. Millions and millions of people have died in the name of Western imperialism yet we ignore it like it doesn't really matter how many people die, as long as we can still drive our BMW's and live in posh neighborhood's with guarded entrances. Just enough so we remain to numb to the realities of what has created the great wealth we enjoy.

Reading Howard Zinn today i was reminded that every great empire will fall, mostly due to their unsatisfiable lust for power and wealth. It's just amazing the lengths that governments go to in order to keep their head above water for just a while longer. If you think about it the U.S (and for economic purposes Canada as well) has been at war consistently since WWII, so what happens if there is no war? Is war what sustains our fragile economy?

This got out of hand a long time ago. I'll stop now, but here's a song that re-enforces some of what i was saying. I could use this entire album, but this will have to suffice.

VERSE

Start A Fire

I can't accept what's been done

I'll question the motives

Of all things under the sun

There's something wrong

When a man is kept down

By another man's hand with a gun

We need to start a fire

To act consciously

To save us from our own defeat

Because there is still a war

That we must eliminate

And save ourselves

From this unconscious state

When you just can't take anymore

And you're being kept down

START A FIRE

We've gotta cut our ties

To a life lived in denial

I wish I could strike a match

And set fire to this fucked up empire

I'll never let myself become

Just another apathetic motherfucker

Who knows what we could do

If we would only try

If we turn our heads and walk away

This fire won't survive

START A FIRE

Amibtions

Ambitions are one of my favorite new bands. From the No Limits demo to the Question EP everything this band has done has been incredibly solid. I can't wait for their new full length coming out on Bridge 9.

I got this in the mail today from Surprise Attack Records. These guys are great with sending stuff through mail. Fast/cheap shipping, well packed, and they stock a lot of rad records.

Also, i got to go to a Toronto Maple Leafs game with my dad and brother in town on Tuesday. They won and pretty much dominated the entire game. The reason it's worth cheering for this team despite how frustrating they can be to watch at times:

Enough said.

Another Breath/About To Snap/Fever Out/ In Time

This show was a matinee on a Sunday so it was a little weird, especially given the venue, but it was a really good show given the circumstances. The venue was this really small indoor skate park located in Kensington Market, which in my opinion is one of coolest neighbourhood's in the city.

In Time played first. They're a local band that got back together after a couple years with a new lineup. They played a bunch of old songs a Civ cover and one new song called Breakaway, all in all i thought they played a good set. Check out their music here. www.myspace.com/intime

Next Fever Out played, another local band, I'm not all that familiar with them and i didn't really like what i had heard prior to seeing them. I enjoyed their set though, they had a lot of energy and their lead guitarist is really talented. www.myspace.com/feverout

About To Snap played next, they play fast, thrashy hardcore punk. I don't really listen to them but i love seeing them live. Their singer is extremely comical. A few things he did that made me laugh: Jumped on a group of bored "scene kids" who were sitting on the table-top, he crawled all over them, messed their hair up and probably made them feel pretty uncomfortable. Next he grabbed a kids skateboard and road it across the floor before crashing into a group of assembled kids, in the midst of a song. And finally he made a lot of comical remarks that i can't remember but made me laugh at the time. www.myspace.com/abouttosnap

Another Breath was a lot of fun. the singer is really well spoken and sincere, he had a lot of meaningful things to say in between and during the intro of songs. It's nice to see a vocalist straying from the usual stage banter of a hardcore show. They had to cut their set a bit short because they were playing a show that night, but hopefully I'll be able to see them again on Wednesday before they leave the Province. They played Racing a Fading Image, Jailbreak, Orange, and a few others. There weren't a whole lot of kids familiar with them so there was maybe 3 or 4 of us consistently singing along, regardless the whole band had a ton of energy. In my opinion this is one of the best bands in hardcore today, Definitely check them out if they play your town.

Fired Up/At All Costs

This show was a lot of fun, it had a really positive vibe and the bands were great. It wasn't actually in a venue, it was in someones really small, really old, unfinished basement with 7ft. ceilings. The room was maybe 12 x 25 and when you factor in the presence of the furnace, water heater, and random basement garbage there was even less room. In all there was probably about 25 people there, which is about as many as there could have been.

The first band that played was Easy Days, i missed most of their set, but what i heard was really good. www.myspace.com/thoseeasydays Next At All Costs played, i was really impressed with these guys, they play youth crewish hardcore with a twist. They use a trumpet and a trombone, which i wasn't too sure about at first but once they started playing it was great. The whole band had a ton of energy, jumping around despite such a small area. They also played a GB cover, I'm sure you can guess which one. Before the song the singer encouraged everyone to mosh, just avoid breaking the water heater. Everyone moshed, sang alone and the water heater made it through. I picked up their Directions EP after the show, i haven't had a chance to listen to it yet but I've read some of the lyrics and I'm really impressed with them.

Fired Up played next, they played From The Heart, and Time Heals off of the demo and maybe one other i cant remember. They played most of the songs off of their 7". The highlight was either Dead Dreams or When The Lights Go Out. Kids sang along to every song and I'm sure some others who weren't all that familiar with this band will be singing along next time they come through. All in all this was the most fun I've had at a show since the summer, I also picked up this rad Fired Up shirt.

Inside Out

There was a huge snowstorm here today, which made my 20 minute commute into a 3 hour debacle that included waiting in a huge line up for the bus to show up, not get into that bus, waiting for the next one which doesn't take me as far as i need to go. I got on it, sat in a crowded bus moving 20km/h if it was moving at all for 90 minutes. Then had a 30 minute walk through 2 ft. deep snowdrifts and 70km winds. In skate shoes. I love this country.

During this i must have listened to Another Breath's Mill City at least three times. I've taken the time to sit down with the lyric book and actually read the lyrics lately and they're really well written. Every song has a pretty powerful message, many of them i can relate to. There's a song called Coming Home on the record that made this situation a little more bearable.

I've pretty much always had an issue with where i live, i always find a way to complain about the weather or the city, even if there isn't anything substantial to be complaining about. I know that this rampant complaining has nothing to do with my environment, it has to do with myself. It wouldn't matter where i am, I'd still feel like I'm stagnating and stuck in a rut. Anyway, this song speaks to this really well and it's helped me see this problem in a new light.

Coming Home

Everything is so empty. There's nothing here for me. This town is just a collection of dead ends and bad memories. It permeates everything I do. I was so convinced I could run away and just start again. I ran so far away but I found that nothing changed. Everywhere - the emptiness that I tried to escape. I found the same longing and desperation. I found the pain I thought that I could leave behind. See the town is not the problem. The problem lies in me and the failures and regrets that distort everything I see. I see it now so clearly in the sun that never left the home I left behind. The world is just a reflection of how I see. A projection of the ugliness and hate I live and breathe. Some things I can't outrun. Memories like asphalt never fucking change. Eyes turned blind to beauty. I cannot escape.

I'll probably post a few more songs off this record later, if you haven't taken the time to read the lyrics do so while listening along. The dude who writes this stuff is seriously talented.

I Rise!!

I've been slacking pretty hard in just about every area, including updating this thing. But more troubling is the fact that i have two huge essays due in less than 36 hours and i've only started one of them up to this point.

http://www.myspace.com/irisehc

I'm really digging this band alot. Their original which is nice to hear, they have a rad name, and for a band that just started playing have a ton of potential.

http://www.myspace.com/nothingdone

These dudes are great too. I've been listening to their song "Give It Back" continuously, there's a riff about halfway through the song thats ridiculously catchy.

So This Is Rock n Roll.... I Like It!!!!

I got this record about a month ago from Reflections Records. The artwork is some of the best I've ever seen. In my opinion this is No Turning Back's best album to date. They seem to have progressed to the point where they've found their niche. I guess you could describe their sound as a more metallic more pissed off youth crew hardcore. Aram Arslanian does guest vocals on the song "Alive or Dead" and it comes out really well, that song is one of the best on the record. The lyrics for every song are well written, honest, and in your face. Which is what I've come to expect from this band. This is a rad record and I'm glad i was able to pick up this cool looking vinyl.

Speaking of European hardcore, Apparently the new Justice record is really good. I've only heard 3 songs and I'm really liking what I've heard so far. Also, if anyone reading this knows of a band called Asptai from somewhere in Europe, i can't remember which country, let me know where i can hear more of their music. I stumbled across a few of their mp3's a couple years ago and haven't heard anything about them since.



I also got No Trigger's "Canyoneer" and this Down To Nothing 7". No Trigger plays melodic hardcore punk like Strike Anywhere or Crime In Stereo. It reminds me of some of the mid 90's Fatwreck releases, its a little more polished than i would like but its still a solid record. As for the DTN 7", i haven't even heard it yet, i can't find it anywhere on mp3 format on the Internet. I need alot more $$$, a bigger apartment, and really good speakers before i get a record player.

When The Lights Go Out

Finally, there's going to be a couple good shows in Toronto. Fired Up and Another Breath are playing shows in the first two weeks of March. Winters here are dead when it comes to just about everything, including hardcore or punk shows.

I finally received my copy of Fired Ups "When the Lights Go Out" from Youngblood Records. They also through in a copy of Lights Out "Overload" which was a nice considering how long it took. I've had the Fired Up EP in mp3 format for a while. I ordered the CD instead of the 7" because i wanted to hear the demo they did in 2005 remastered. I liked the demo a lot before i heard it remastered, having listened to it a few times now i like it even more. If i had this in my hands anytime last year it probably would have made my top 10 of 2006.

One of the most noticeable differences between the demo and the EP is the songwriting. The construction of the songs and the lyrics are a step above the EP, which is impressive considering how much i liked the demo.

Although i like all the songs off of the EP, the lyrics from "All I Could" are great.

Took the chance to go for something more

Don't want to make the same mistakes i made before

Don't want to settle for just getting by

I want to get the most out of this life

This was all i wanted to i gave it my all

Investing so much, didn't think i could fall

What went wrong? How'd things end up this way?

I'm willing to try so what does it take

Hit the ground hard, but i gotta get up

It's a tough loss to face cause i cared so much

Wondering was my best just not enough?

All i can say is i did all i could

Figure out the mistakes i made

Pick myself up for another day

Try again, its never too late

But i need to know, what does it take?

Still Desperate For Answers

I decided to change the layout of this thing, i finally figured out how to customize it and make it look a little better, so hopefully it looks okay.

I watched the movie "Children of Men" that just came out, its one of the better movies I've seen in years. The cinematography is probably the best I've ever seen and the story line and plot are really intriguing. If you haven't seen it, its set in England 20 years from now, the human race is basically falling apart because we can no longer reproduce ourselves. Women can't get pregnant. So there's a lot of war, fascist governments, and extremists trying to take back control. I won't get into the story, but watching it put me in gloomy mindset and i started thinking about our world, what its becoming and how i don't even know the half of it.

It also got me started thinking about what any progressive thinking person my age is struggling with. How long can you hold out? How long until the system that you hate so much swallows you and takes all your dreams away? And how do you avoid it, how do you turn your back on something that reaches every single aspect of your life in one way or another. It only keeps reaching further and further until it's got you in its hands.

I remeber at the GB reunion Civ said "What do you do when you grow up? When your forced into this system?.... You do what you love."

I wrote this mostly out of spite and anger, but there is hope, I'm just trying to find it.

Where It Ends

I fear nothing more than becoming oil for this machine
It eats you up, grinds your bones through the gears of progress
And spits you out a lifeless drone

You’ll comply or you’ll die, you’ll comply or you’ll die

How long can I hold out, how long until my persistence
Gives me life and I can rest my hope
In the hands that carried me this far
How long until we all wake up
Shackled to the promise of prosperity
Is this where you’ll stay, is this where you’ll waste away
Or will you hack through the bone, leave false promises behind
And find the strength inside to run away.

You’ll comply or you’ll die, you’ll comply or you’ll die

How long until I collapse, dead weight
I won’t land without the earth shaking
I won’t let you steal what little I have left

I’d rather die with dignity
Than with them pointing laughing at me
I’d rather die with all of me
Than with only broken pieces of me

Clean Living Youth, Hardcore Punk, And Social Change

I just finished reading this book last week. As far as i know its the first "academic" book ever published on straight edge. Throughout the book the author (Ross Haenfler) addresses a bunch of issues concerning straight edge including its core values and how they're interpreted, positivity, commercialization, the internet, and the involvement of women. He does all of this taking the perspective of straight edge as a social movement and a subculture that has the ability to create social change. Every chapter he interviews a bunch of edge kids and gets their opinions on the topic being addressed. The author has been straight edge since 1989 or something like that so he's able to lend his personal experience, which is really what makes this book so credible.

There's a fair amount of discussion on the issue of selling out, reading it got me thinking about why so many people, people in influential bands who inspired edge kids to keep moving forward end up selling out, sometimes not more than months after the band they were in breaks up. I think one of the reasons for this is that being in a band or being constantly associated with other edge people it becomes a lot easier to be straight edge. Once that safety net is gone, when they're not around edge people all the time or not consumed with music and touring its pretty easy to slip up, to fall back on old habits.

There isn't anything wrong with having a lot of straight edge friends, but i also think its important to separate yourself from the pack so that when push comes to shove you have a backbone that can stand up to temptation. Personally, i hardly ever associate with other straight edgers, not because i don't want to, but because i feel the scene in Toronto is too much like a high school social scene. I go to shows and enjoy the music as much as anyone else, i just have no interest or motivation to really get to know a lot of people, especially because it seems so exclusive. The edge people i do know are in the same boat as me and seem to be pretty sincere about holding onto the ideals they profess to today, tomorrow.

The bottom line to all this is you've gotta do things for yourself, who cares what the world thinks, what your friends think, or what other kids involved with hardcore think. If your doing things for yourself and no one else that's as punk as you can be and its what makes the edge special to those of us who think it can make this world a better place

In light of this i was inspired to dig up the most famous song regarding this topic and one that still says it better than anyone has since.

"Straight Edge" By Minor Threat

I'm a person just like you but i've got better things to do then sit around and fuck my head hang out with the living dead snort white shit up my nose pass out at the shows i don't even think about speed thats something i just don't need i've got the straight edge i'm a person just like you but i've got better things to do then sit around and smoke dope cause i know that i can cope laugh at the thought of eating ludes laugh at the thought of sniffing glue always gonna keep in touch never want to use a crutch i've got the straight edge i've got the straight edge

It's a Disease

I was on the bus on the way back from class today and the most putrid smelling dude got on and sat close enough to me that i was having a hard time breathing. He probably hadn't showered in weeks and cleary hadn't washed his hair in years. His hair was in this huge matted ball on the side of his head that looked pretty solid, it was bouncing up and down and slapping him on the head when he walked. I found this pretty comical, but i also felt bad for the guy. He obviously had no motivation to clean himself, which probably means he isn't motivated to do much else. Looking around and seeing what some people have been depressed to is pretty disturbing sometimes. It's product of a diseased society. It can be pretty angering if you think about the reasons some people are the way they are. The key is to use that anger to create something good, create some positive momentum.

There was a band from Toronto called "No Warning" a few years back. They released a couple really solid records before signing to a major label then breaking up not long after. They had a really crunching sound, think Guns Up only better. Guns Up were obviously hugely influenced by this band. They had really angry lyrics, almost bitter at times, that complimented the vocal delivery and the music really well. For the most part the lyrics managed to remain hopefull. Anyway, they have a song that in a way speaks to what i was saying above.

Caught in the Web

We can't win. They're everywhere. Gotta fight back. / Not on my watch, not while I'm here / I'll hold on to this while I still care / Turn away from the lies, embrace the anger / And use it as momentum to break out faster / As far as I'm concerned, this is as far as it goes / Tired. Neglectful. Here I am, here I hate, here I go / Say goodbye to the wasted time spent on other lives / That are a part of mine / It makes no sense - I wish I could stop / I've tried before - The web has me caught / Twisted minds will try to keep me off track / Shifty eyes keep watch over me and await the time for attack / Only to become what I've hated all along / What I've fought all this time / I've made my bed and it's where I lie / But I'll be damned if I'm to live this fuckin life / Your mirror shows you've changed / Look close - that's who you are / Your mirror shows you've changed / Look close - You can see your pain / I won't be a prisoner / Release myself from life's chains / What I lose in this endless fight / Somewhere else I will gain

Slamball accident

Best Of 06'

If we're just talking hardcore music, 2006 was a great year. Alot of memorable releases, GB reunion, and alot of other rad shows, and as far as im concerned there seems to be a little less skeptisism and a little more optimism in the air. Hopefully the bands that had a memorable 2006 can continue to make a positive contribution to the hardcore community in 2007.

So here's my best albums, best song, and best show of 06':

Best Albums:

1. Have Heart - The Things We Carry


- Not only is this record my favorite of this year, it probably makes my top 10 of all time, and i've only been listening to it since the summer. Have Heart are the epitome of modern hardcore, they combine everything i like about hardcore music. This record deos something that very few do, it speaks to a part of you that is hard to reach, a part that can only be reached by the most powerful and charasmatic words or actions. With The Things We Carry, Have Heart do more than make outstanding music, they connect with the listener in an intriguing way, and thats what sets them apart.

2. The First Step - What We Know


- Youth crew at its finest, couldn't ask for anything more from these guys. The thing that stands out most about this record is its sincerity. The lyrics are stripped down and straight forward so it's easy to pinpoint the message being portrayed in every song. The thing that makes this record so great for me is that i was able to see the majority of the songs played live at a show they played in July. Seeing this band pour their heart and soul out on stage was awesome and it gave me a great deal of respect and appreciation for what The First Step were able to accomplish with this record.

3. The Bouncing Souls - The Gold Record


- From the very first time i heard this record i was blown away, and every time i've heard it from then on i'm still blown away. I've always thought The Bouncing Souls were a great band, they were always just what i looked for in a punk rock band. So i had pretty high expectations for this release and those expectations were far exceeded. The Gold Record always manages to lighten my mood, its got a really feel-good vibe to it, even more so then previous releases from this band. I would recommend this record to anyone, regardless of muscial tastes. It's music that transcends genres and given enough time i think anyone would enjoy it.

4. Go It Alone/Blue Monday - Split


- Two of my favorite bands from the North West, both coming off stellar Lp's, Rewritten for Blue Monday and The Only Blood Between Us for Go It Alone. GIA's sound is pretty heavy on this split, but it's still melodic and full of energy. They cover a Reserve 34 song to finish their half of the split and do a really good job of making it their own. If GIA's next LP is anything like this stuff it'll be tops on my best of 07' list next time this year. This was also Blue Monday's last release, i was bummed out that they broke up, but it's good to know they left while they were still on top. The song Maplewood is probably second to The Everything Festival off of Rewritten as my favortie BM song. Two solid bands combine and put their best foot forward to release one of the more memorable splits over the past few years.

5. Ignite - Our Darkest Days


- All you need to know about this record is that Zoli's voice sounds as good as it ever has. Not to say that the vocals completely make this record, but they're an integral part of it and rightly so. The music is a little more on the punk side of hardcore punk, comparable to bands like Pennywise and Bad Religion. Personally, i think Ignite is a head above the rest simply because of the delivery of the vocals, not only on this record but on pretty much anything they've ever released. I'm going too thoroughly enjoy anything released by Ignite so my expectations were high for this record and i wasn't even slightly dissapointed.

6. Another Breath - Mill City


- Not Now, Not Ever was a really solid debut from this band and Mill City builds on it and then some. The heavily layered guitars, drawn-out, compassionatte growls, and often pounding mid-tempo drumming give this record a bit of a Modern Life Is War vibe. There isn't anything wrong with that and with this record Another Breath have found their niche and uncovered a uniqueness that really makes this record special. Songs like Diesel and Gunpowder, Sincerity, and Orange are my favorites and they really open up the unlimited potential this band possesses. Hopefully i can see them play a show in the new year, it's hard to really appreciate a record until you've seen pieces of it performed live.

7. Verse - From Anger And Rage


- The title of this record, From Anger And Rage says it all. This is probably the angriest release of the year, although it's not without merit. There are plenty of things to be angry about and many of those things are portrayed in the socially and politically driven lyrics that are prevelant on this record. The vocals are exceptionally passionatte and you can really tell the words being yelled come from the heart of the singer. I guess you could call the music on this record Epic, not in a traditional sense but some of the instrumental build-ups leading to the climax of some of the songs are pretty moving, and given the nature of the lyrics these moments are even more powerful.

8. Get The Most - Common Goals EP


- Straight forward youth crew hardcore from members of Go It Alone, Blue Monday, In Stride, and Ordeal. This was the description given on the bands website, when i read it i needed to hear this band. Theres really nothing that immediately stands out about this record, its just really well done, almost flawless. The songs progress nicely the vocal delivery is solid and the drumming is what carries the band. The singer from GIA plays drums for these guys and he deos an amazing job, alot of really tight fills that fit the guitar work and the rythm perfectly. The lyrics are stereotypical of the youth crew style and i wouldn't have it any other way. Nothing new is being done here, but what is being done is something i've always appreciated and something that refuses to grow old.

9. Shook Ones - Facetious Folly Feat


- Anything that reminds me of Kid Dynamites' Shorter, Faster, Louder deserves a spot on this list. It isn't quite as clean and the songwriting deosnt flow at the level Kid Dynamite was able to achieve. But, with Facetoius Folly Feat, Shook Ones have made some significant progress and maybe even seperated themselves, even just a little, from the rampant Kid Dynamite comparisons. This record just has a really enjoyable sound to it and its one that i've come to love, so for that its one of my favorite records of the year.

10. Betrayed - Substance


- I anticipated this record more than any other release slated for 2006. I'd be lying if i said i wasn't a little dissapointed. Addiction was such an amazing EP and their side of the split with Champion was really impressive. That being said i was expecting something that only comes along once every 15 years or so, something that might have kept these dudes together for a while longer. It's not that Betrayed didn't deliver, they did deliver a really solid record like only they could have. I was just expecting something unrealistic. Getting to the record itself, i enjoy most of the songs alot, Arams' lyrics are as provokative as they were before and there are some really catchy guitar riffs that help move the songs along. Although this isn't the best Betrayed could have done, when compared to most other hardcore records released this year, its still in my top ten. Being the last music anyone will hear from this band also makes it a little extra special.

Best Show: Justice, TFS, Fired Up, Keep It Up, and Gunnar Hansen in Hamilton @ The Underground.


- Probably My favorite venue with one of my favotire bands and a really good supporting cast. This show opened my eyes to Fired Up and Justice. Justice, being from Europe i hadn't heard much of them before, i was thoroughly impressed with their set. Fired Up are an up and coming youth crew band and could end up being a real force. The TFS set was the most fun i had at a show all year. Stephen, the vocalist had so much energy and a really postive message that im sure lifted the spirits of everyone in attendance. When they played Something Inside chaos ensued, bodies flying everywhere with 20 kids up front yelling every word with as much conviction as the singer himself. If TFS play within 500 km of Toronto anytime in the future i am not missing it for anything.

Best Song: Have Heart - Watch Me Rise

- I'm not even going to say anything, just go listen to the song and read the lyrics, you'll see what i'm getting at.

Honourable Mention:
Sinking Ships - Disconnecting
Lion Of Judah - Universal Peace
Fired up - When The Lights Go Out
Strike Anywhere - Dead FM
Ceremony - Violence Violence
No Turning Back - Holding On
Champion/Betrayed - Split
Dead Hearts - Bitter Verses
Outbreak - Failure
Set Your Goals - Mutiny
Down To Nothing - Higher Learning
Iron Age - Constant Struggle
Legit - In Defeat Demo
No Trigger - Canyoneer
Set It Straight - Live Your Heart And Never Follow
Triple Threat - Into The Darkness

TFS!

I learned "Something Inside" by The First Step on guitar today. It's my favorite song by TFS and one of my favorite youth crew songs of all time. I don't know why i never learned it until today, it's so much fun to play.

If my brother and i get a decent recording of this song done in the week i have left on christmas break i'll post it up here. We have no bass player so its lacking in numerous crucial areas. I also hear TFS are releasing a 7 inch sometime soon. Anyone know if there is any weight to this?

Aslo, I've been getting into these bands recently:

www.myspace.com/theoneup - dudes play great melodic hardcore. They broke up months ago, but if you want hear more theres a new band featuring One Up dudes: www.myspace.com/crumblerhc

www.myspace.com/effortsmade

www.myspace.com/instride