Chiodos
Sometimes driving directions look overwhelming, and then you get in your car to use them, and the drive is smooth through until the end. Just as a song by Chiodos takes you in many directions, but when it's done you never question how you got there.
The band Chiodos formed in high school, just outside of Flint, MI. Then known as The Chiodos Bros, they played the local scene and began writing original music. In June 2002, they recorded a demo called, The Best Way To Ruin Your Life, which gave the group a healthy local following. Choidos (now with a shortened moniker) has covered plenty of ground since then. Lead singer Craig Owens' bout with pneumonia in 2004 stalled the band's progress for a brief period of time, but soon after, the band was ready to join the Equal Vision Records family to release their new album, All's Well That Ends Well. The band's style only definable as a melting pot - band influences include Saves The Day, Queen, and At The Drive In -a song could begin with electronic beats behind piano, ease into metal guitar riffs, then speed into a poppy melodic vocal line that leaves you humming. Lead singer Craig Owens says, "We don't want to feel pressured into a single genre - we have a rule to stay away from 'verse-chorus-verse' songwriting." From a band who named itself after an obscure term used in 80's horror movies, Chiodos' All's Well That Ends Well, is more tangible than their previous releases, which will ignite interest from metalheads, pop-punkers, and curious music fans in general. Chiodos has created an album that defies generic song structure - yet continues along on its signatory song-map, where no one gets lost and everyone ends up in the right place.Silverstein
Acquiring the name from the famous children's author, Silverstein was formed in early 2000 in an attempt to tear down the boundaries between Hardcore, Emo and Punk. Originally started as a side project, the band was a chance for its members to try something new and get away from their current Punk, Metal, Ska and Hardcore bands.
Coming from the thriving scene of Southern Ontario, which includes such acts as Grade, Jersey, Moneen, and Maharahj, Silverstein was met with immediate success, and quickly self-released their first CD-EP, "Summer's Stellar Gaze" in Summer 2000. This release was met with huge local success and led to great responses from all over Canada about their new, powerful sound. As their success grew, and Silverstein became the main project for all of the members, founding guitar player Richard McWalter left the band and was replaced by former Maharahj guitarist Neil Boshart. This brought a whole new batch of influences and ideas, and took the music to another level. With the new lineup in effect, Silverstein toured throughout Eastern Canada and Quebec, and found there was excitement all over about their music. In April 2002, their second EP "When the Shadows Beam" was released and found its way into the hands of Victory Records owner, Tony Brummel. After a meeting and showcase, Silverstein was quickly signed to Victory in October 2002. With influences ranging from The Get Up Kids to Grade, Mineral to Cave-In, and even Pedro the Lion to Slayer, Silverstein is a true mix of everything at once. The powerful melodic singing and gut wrenching screaming of vocalist Shane Told evokes the pain, struggle and emotion of the lyrics, which represent true feelings of heartbreak and frustration. Silverstein finds a way to keep the music unique and interesting, but always catchy. Bringing a violin into the mix, and adding 6/8 meter melodic parts to screaming breakdowns help to achieve this. The sound is reinforced by the creativity of drummer Paul Koelher and the energetic playing of bassist Bill Hamilton. The shimmering clean, and singing distorted guitars of Boshart, and Josh Bradford complete the lineup, and capture the listener with their harmony and power.