Best of 2010

First things first: Warpaint's The Fool was this year's best record. I'm a punk at heart, so most of my friends gawked at my love for them. Whatever, you don't get a Rumours every decade, so when it comes you have to take notice.

That said, I still had my eye on a lot of punk this year. From my list you'll see my pallet is quite Canadian-centric. Well, it's not my fault that we have some of the best punk and metal bands around.

Hoser-shit aside, I was blissfully impressed by Early Graves's debut record Goner. That came viciously close to Agnostic Front's Victim In Pain, for many, myself included, the pinnacle new-age hardcore record. On the other end of the spectrum was Jam frontman Paul Weller's solo record Wake Up The Nation. Chock-full of dubs and delectable garage-to-anywhere guitar, he approached filling Joe Strummer's shoes.

Anyway, enough of my rambling. Here's my favourite records, in the genres I have the right to judge, of 2010.

PUNK

1. Fucked Up - Year Of The Ox
2. Germ Attak - Death to Cops EP
3. Little Girls - Concepts
4. The Business - Doing The Business
5. No Age - Everything In Between

HARDCORE/METAL

1. Fuck The Facts - Unnamed EP
2. Bison BC - Dark Ages
3. Early Graves - Goner
4. 1349 - Demonoir
5. Madball - Empire

INDIE/GARAGE

1. Warpaint - The Fool
2. Myelin Sheaths - Get On Your Nerves
3. The Sadies - Darker Circles
4. Best Coast - Crazy For You
5. Weakerthans - Live At The Burton Cummings Theatre

This article was originally published by Tangible Sounds

CD Review: Bison BC - Dark Ages

Bison B.C.
Dark Ages
4.5/5

Listen To: Wendigo Pt. 3 (Let Him Burn)
Skip It: Nothing

All you headbangers better be excited, East Van’s Bison B.C. is back with their third full-length album Dark Ages.

“Stressed Elephant” settles you in, building energy with a melodic exposé before getting your head banging to a crash-along chugging match, upholding slick guitar leads and demonic vocals. The song fades with a bluesy acoustic guitar reappearing in “Melody, This is For You” and “Wendigo Pt. 3 (Let Him Burn).”

Dark Ages also showcases Bison’s knack for uniquely calculated breakdowns, like in “Fear Cave” which drops the tempo for over 2 minutes with a masterful power chord structure and the album’s best hell-growls.

The electrifying guitar riffs of “Two-Day Booze” grab your attention, pulling you along a ride of tempo changes from lightning fast to mere tricklings of a ride-cymbal. The anthem-like chants of What are we waiting for over a rejuvenating power-chord melody brings chills to your spine.

You have to love the old school heavy-metal foundation of Bison as well. The rockin’ guitar harmonies in “Die of Devotion” and the sharp-tooth pick-squeals of “Take The Next Exit” will arouse the Iron Maiden fan in all of us.

The album ends with “Windigo Pt. 3 (Let Him Burn)” displaying accredited musicianship through massively heavy riffs, in the standard style which can only be labeled Bison-esque. Dark Ages is a polished effort effectively displaying the untamed enthusiasm of Bison B.C.’s intimidating prowess.

Track Listing:

1. Stressed Elephant
2. Fear Cave
3. Melody, This Is For You
4. Two-Day Booze
5. Die of Devotion
6. Take The Next Exit
7. Wendigo Pt. 3 (Let Him Burn)

Published by Tangible Sounds Music Magazine