February 26, 2011

One Shot Left

The story of One Shot Left started back in 1995 from the ashes of the pop-punk band Seven Ate Nine when the guys attented high school. In 1998 the band recorded a homemade demotape that caught the attention of the label Meter Records. I always wondered how that demotape sounded, because the songs they put the same year on the split Wet Feet with Darryl's Grocery Bag and Guilt Trip are amazing! Well, the same year the band did his first tour in the western part of Canada and were already planning a new album. Funny fact : 3 of the songs off that album also appeared as instrumental versions on a instructional welding video distributed to technical schools across North America !!?? This is in 2000 that the new album (Something To Be Reckoned With) saw the light and it got great success amongst skatepunk/punkrock fans. In 2001 the band started a cross-Canadian tour as their popularity was good and they were backed by a good label. But soon after, One Shot Left changed their style a lot, and their latest release Restitution cant be considered as Skate-punk, although I think its a good album in the style that they now play. One Shot Left is definitly one of the good skatepunk bands that came out of Canada!

Discography:
- In Defence Of Liberty (1998) TAPE
- Split With Darryl's Grocery Bag & Guilt Trip - Wet Feet (1998) CD
- Something To Be Reckoned With (2000) CD
- Restitution (2005) CD

Listen to One Shot Left - Upside Down

February 24, 2011

Freak-Ed


Everything started in 1993 in Vantaa, Finland when 4 guys start to play some kind of melodic punk rock. In 1994 a fifth member join the band. This new member is Nora and she will add some female vocals to the songs which is pretty rare in the skatepunk genre. This is in 1995 that the band get signed to Spinefarm Records (a Metal label) and release their first EP. They will then start to make tours around Finland and they will release their full lenght Cantores Majores in 1997 on Spinefarm again. They will then have some lineup changes and this will change their music a bit. Then, after 1997 they will release 2 more CDs (1 EP and a full lenght), under their own label Red Five Records. I unfortunately don't know what happened after their last release in 2001, but the band seems inactive, if not dead..

Discography:
- That Day That Swept Us Away (1994) TAPE
- Don't Say What They Say, Don't Be What They Are (1994) 7"
- To Be Your Friend (1995) CD
- Cantores Majores (1997) CD
- Let's Rock Together (1999) CD
- Fortress Of Fear (2001) CD

Listen to Freak-Ed - Reach The End

February 22, 2011

Bankshot

Here's one of the amazing punk bands that came out of Sault. Ste Marie. Their story started in 1998 when 5 guys started to play punkrock together. During the only 2 years that Bankshot existed, the guys had the chance to play with big bands like Strung Out, Good Riddance, Choke and many more. They also put out an album in 1999 but in late 2000, they disbanded. Some members later started other musical projects in different styles.

Discography:
- Angst For The Memories (1999) CD

Listen to Bankshot - Friendly Foe

February 16, 2011

Hate For Nothing


Hate For Nothing was a skatepunk band from St-Ours, Quebec, Canada that was active at the end of 90's. I discovered them when I bought their tape some years ago. They also did a song on the compilation All That Bunch Of Punkers. They have a fast skatepunk sound with some reggea/ska/hardcore influences. I unfortunately don't have more infos about them, but I know that this tape was their only release. Some members later went to play in other bands but other styles than punk.

Discography:
- Hate For Nothing (1999) TAPE

Listen to Hate For Nothing - Old Exhibisionist

February 15, 2011

Fence 52

The history of Fence 52 start in 1999, when 3 members of the skatepunk band Scorch decide to start a new band. At the beginning the band is called Fence, but soon after they added the number 52. They complete the band with one of their friend and start to play music, at the very beginning they were supposed to do Foo-Fighter's similar stuff, but they change quickly to some Pennywise songs and start to listen to more and more skatepunk bands, which will influence their style as they continue to evolve as a band. After a few shitty demos and member changes, the band finally record a 3-song demo in 2000 that is sounding pretty good. Those same 3 songs will also appear on a split tape with the band Scorch. Fence 52 will continue making gigs and improving their skills, while recordind some demos. Their final release will be a split with AGNFAB and Skumdum, and the band will disband not long after. 2 members will then start another skatepunk band, Steamboat Rally.

Discography:
- Demo (2000) TAPE
- Split With Scorch (2000) TAPE
- Footprints (2002) TAPE
- Skategoat (2003) TAPE
- Split With A Good Name For A Band and Skumdum (2003) CD

Listen to Fence 52 - A Man And His Log

February 14, 2011

Loose End

Loose End was a Christian punk rock band from Chula Vista, California. Their story started in 1999, when the five members were into that Christian punk style that was getting pretty popular in these years (Slick Shoes, Mxpx, Sick Of Change, Dogwood, etc.) In 2003 the band stopped but fortunately during their existence they left for us an album in 2001 which is amazing.

Discography:
- Every Time I Fall (2001) CD

Listen to Loose End - My Friend

February 08, 2011

Standstill

Standstill was a skatepunk band from the state of Maryland, that had a very short existence. The reason why I know them is that I was lucky enough to find their mp3.com page back in the days and download the 2 songs they were sharing. The guys had a lot potential, there is no surprises that 2 members later went to play in 2 very big Hardcore bands : Champion and Pulling Teeth. As for Standstill, it was good skatepunk the way it's meant to be! I dont have more infos about them, but I know they released a 4-song demo in 2001.

Discography:
- Demo 01' (2001) CD

Listen to Standstill - Never Forget

February 03, 2011

Fat Chance


Here's a very particular punk band that comes from Ontario, Canada. The guys started in early 90's, and where influenced by this fast epitaph/fat style. What is particular with Fat Chance is that they added keyboards to their songs, and the result is amazing! The songs can be described as fast and technical progressive punk, and are very original and well built. I dont know any other band that did the same with keyboards. The band is now defunct but some members started another similar project called Hypercricket, which is really worth checking out too!

Discography:
- Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect 200$ (1994) TAPE
- Bologma (1996) TAPE / CD
- More Hairy Than Chewbacca (1998) CD
- M.A.S.S. D.E.B.A.T.E. (2001) CD

Listen to Fat Chance - Just So You Know

February 01, 2011

General Purpose

General Purpose is a skatepunk band from Glendora, California. They started somewhere in the mid-90's when the guys attented high school. After a couple of contests, trips and shows the guys released a 15-song CD which helped them to get known and have the chance to play at the big venues in Los Angeles. Unfortunately the band don't seem to be very active since many years, but I think they're still together.

Discography:
- General Purpose (200x) CD

Listen to General Purpose - 108