first person shooter, originally formed in May 2005 and revamped in December 2006, have grown from a straight-up garage rock band to a highly tuned electro-punk outfit. With more than 50 live shows under their belt, the band felt it was important to take a little time off this winter to add to their lineup and work on new material. “Player Three (Ryan Couture) programs all our drums-but was stuck playing guitar onstage.” says Nikkole Stone (Player Two). Enter the new guitar-slinging fifth player Andy DuRego, a seasoned metalhead ready for the challenge. The band unveiled their new lineup in February at the Horseshoe to a crowd of more than 200 frenzied fans, and is excited to be following this up with a turn at the Mod Club in Toronto. When asked about the band’s nerves going into such a large venue, Christina Kontos (Player One) replied: “Oh we’re ready to play, alright! We’re excited for the Mod Club mission. The only question is: are they ready to dance??”

first person shooter will be the special guests of DJ and Host MRK at the Mod Club on Saturday April 19, followed by the latest Electronic/UK, Indie and Rock as spun by DJ Bobbi Guy, DJ DaSilva and DJ Benny K. Doors are at 10pm and the party kicks off with fps at 11pm. No cover before 11pm with guest list-email band@firstpersonshooter.ca to reserve your spot on the guest list and on the dance floor.

For more information on first person shooter, check out their website http://www.firstpersonshooter.ca or visit their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/1stpersonshooter

Email: jailhouserecords@yahoo.com
Url: http://www.jailhouse-records.com/

Almost five years after the near collapse of their former label, and relative obscurity for the past 4 years, Moral Crux is back and seems to be working harder than ever before with their new label Jailhouse! Records.

Their recently successful trek along the west coast with label mates Teenage Rehab seems to have breathed new life into the the band.

Their upcoming projects include the vinyl only release of their debut album which includes various other early material and unreleased tracks, featuring a fresh mastering by Mass Giorgini. They will then be working with Teenage Rehab once again on a five way cd split with The Pink Lincolns, The Sweethearts, and Secretions, while simultaneously hitting the studio for a release of brand new material slated for a late summer/early fall release.

Extensive touring plans are also in the works for late summer.

Teenage Rehabs new album, is available for digital pre-order exclusively on their labels site, and on downloadpunk.com. Physical pre orders are also being taken at the label site, with a ship date of March 5th, 2008.

The question is not what, but who are Modern Crimes? With a no holds bared straight edge thrash/punk sound. Modern Crimes are the five original members of A Perfect Murder. They are working on their first self-titled album and will be entering wild studio in March, with producer Pierre Rémillard (Misery Index, Ion Dissonance, Despised Icon, Kataklism).

The album will also feature guest vocals by Karl Buechener from Earth Crisis, with a tentative release for early June 2008, followed by a Canadian tour.

For further details visit: www.myspace.com/moderncrimes, www.myspace.com/Misfortune_records

If you’re a fan of bands like Soundgarden, A Perfect Circle, Incubus, Tool, or even Rush…keep reading. I came across a great band last month when I was at the Green Room here in Plattsburgh, NY. They’re called The Integral and they’re from Montreal, Canada. I had never heard of them before and didn’t even know they were going to be playing there that night so I was very pleasantly surprised. I’m pretty finicky with what I like and most bands just don’t do it for me, especially live, but these guys rose to the occasion.

The band is a 4-piece (drums, bass, guitar, and vocal); very stripped down and organic in their sound but intricate and very melodic in their approach which was the clincher for me because I’ve always loved punk and hard rock, but appreciate bands that have progressive/technical elements. The Integral have the perfect blend of both.

For a band sporting just one axe, The Integral made a lot of noise. The guitar work was fluid and melodic while the bass and drums laid down heavy and authoritative grooves, allowing their singer to really belt out some memorable lyrics and hooks. I definitely felt their pulse-pounding intensity, which drew roughly 200 strong to the Green Room, and kept our rapt attention.

The crowd seemed to love it just as much when they toned down and waded into more ballad-ish material. It’s hard to find bands that can switch things up so effortlessly. Although I didn’t know their material I found myself enthralled with each song.

The Green Room is a cool little place and doesn’t have a stage, so the guys were set-up right on the floor opposite the bar and patrons were able to get right up close with them and vice versa. The band interacted really well with the audience, and with each other. On several occasions the singer offered the mic to a few enthusiastic onlookers to join in and they happily obliged. Not knowing the lyrics didn’t stop them…all in good fun, and isn’t that what good music is about?

It was that kind of night - 3 sets of polished rock radio sheen made to set fists pumping and hearts beating. After the gig was over I had the chance to talk to the band members while they tore down their gear…the best part of being in a band…Not! They were all very cool and spoke to me in detail about what the band’s been up. Long story short: they’ve been playing together for nearly 10 years, had a few member changes along the way, released a few CDs (independently), and have managed to share the stage with several signed acts like Trapt, Dredg, The Ataris, Pulse Ultra and got a slot on the Vans Warped Tour in Montreal a few years back. I love finding Indie bands that not only make great music, but also work really hard at building their story, so I wish these guys all the best.

See this band in an intimate club setting. I’m really glad I had the opportunity to see them this way. They’re planning on doing more gigs in the New England area so if you live around here, don’t miss out. They have played to big crowds in their native Montreal so it’s only a matter of time before they blow up here in the US and can’t be so “under the radar” anymore.

The band’s official website is www.theintegralband.com where you can find sound clips and mp3s from their killer new album “002”, which is on sale along with some cool merchandise. I’ll be reviewing the album here soon so check back from time to time and feel free to comment. Cheers!

Click the logo to hear the brand new track “The Fall” from ‘Abandoned’ - The new album!!

Read More…

Leeanne, Andy, Keith and Anne-Marie, who make up The Colt.45s, claim to be a happy family but this is at odds with their sparse fuzzed up electro punk, an unsettling merger of the minimalistic electro of Cabaret Voltaire and The Normal , the wit of The Smiths and the DIY punk and infectious hostility of Help She Can’t Swim. Their music sounds at least two steps removed from the current music scene which is reason enough to cherish the Colt.45s.

Go Try

The Colt .45s debut album “Let’s Have An Accident” will be available in October.

Go VisitThe Colt.45s - Myspace

Go See

14 July 2007, Tall Boy @ Echo Bar w/ Dayglo Syndrome, Heaton;
20 July 2007, A NIGHT OF FILTH! @ The Dog and Parrot, Newcastle;
21 July 2007, A NIGHT OF FILTH! @ Nice’n'Sleazy, Glasgow;
27 July 2007, FISHFOOD, Fish Tank, Durham28 Jul WV Festival! Halifax, Calderdale;
31 July 2007, Let Them Eat Gak, The Rhythm Factory, London;
2 August 2007, Born Snapped, The Station Hotel, Whitley Bay;
4 August 2007, The Hope & Anchor, London;
8 August 2007, Whistlebinkies - Edinburgh Music Festival - on stage 1am!!;
9 August 2007, Jabez Clegg, Manchester;
10 August 2007, The Windmill Inn, Blyth;
12 August 2007, Start, The Mixing Tin, Leeds;
20 August 2007, Ignition @ The Cooperage, Newcastle;
21 Sept 2007, The Travellers Rest w/ 2 Thirds Of Youth, Lincoln;

Big Picture Idiot revolves around his life - what it once was - and where it is going now. Music was Lavigne’s savior. He started writing songs, playing guitar, drums, and bass. Eventually the songs started coming together and then enough was ready for the release of an independent album.

This CD is a rocking from the green light and it does not let up until the CD stops spinning. Lavigne plays all the instruments while recording every track without any outside help. I admire him for having the guts to leave behind a career and have enough confidence to put his cards on the table for everyone to hear through music.

I heard many influences bleeding through his power chords - Nirvana, Ween, Rush, and many others. His voice takes a bit of getting used to then it steadily grows on you as each track plays through. The music as a whole is rock with a heavy dose of punk spirit and sound around the edges that jumps right into the core of the mix at times. Lavigne’s instrumentation is exceptional, on all fronts, his vocal style is very on purpose, never raising or lowering with the music. There is a reason for that, the music stays at one level so his vocals have to match that intensity without letting up. Looking at the project in its entirety, I would have to say that I found it very enjoyable from my own perspective on life and musical tastes.

I like the way Lavigne takes his jabs at the status quo of corporate America, sneers at them all, and walks away the victor. The musical setting is perfect for the lyrics and his use of the vocoder make his voice sound cold and robotic, much like the subject matter he is intent on focusing all of his frustrations on throughout this recording. It all makes so much sense after digesting everything. The highlight for me was the rockin’ guitars that Lavigne is so skillful at providing. The on time rhythm section turns out to be the glue that keeps that entire thing together for the rest of it to all fall into place properly.

Guys like Bryan Lavigne are the heroes of the new millennium-they are to me anyway. In addition, the added bonus is you get to do the “Blitzkrieg Bop” as you drive along life’s long and sometimes-tricky highway, turned up so high that the rest of the world goes away for a while.

Artist: Byran Lavigne
Title: Big Picture Idiot
Genre: Rock-Metal-Punk
Label: Independent
Website
CD Baby Link

Tracks:
01. The Question (4:03)
02. Porcupine (04:29)
03. Big Picture Idiot (4:24)
04. So Damn Smart (3:10)
05. Is It Too Late (04:00)
06. The Answer (4:13:)
07. Take Me With You (4:27)
08. Leave Me Alone (4:23)
09. A Choice (5:00)
10 Burn (3:39)

© MuzikReviews.com

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

It all started with some scraped together cash and a splash of arrogance. Reckoning they could do better than most, Bloody Tourists bought some cheap instruments at a local car boot sale and as soon as they figured out which end of the guitar was which and how to put the drum kit together they booked a gig at the finest venue in the South West, The Wunderbar (Midsomer Norton). Since this momentous debut gig they have come a very close second in Bath and London’s Battle of the bands, become ‘Artist of the month’ on littlebizaar.com have had a No.1 on Extraplay.com’s online world chart.

Second-hand instruments and raw talent is the only formula for this powerful and dynamic new punk rock outfit. This is real Pistols/Stooges/Fall like punk rock from the council estates. Check out the websites:

http://www.kinkalbum.com

Bloody Tourists: http://www.bloodytourists.co.uk/ and http://www.myspace.com/bloodytourists for interviews, news and samples.

Here’s what some have had to say about it:

The Tourists’ live set has been described as “outstandingly shameless and abrasive” as well as “resembling that of the lovechild of The Libertines and The White Stripes” –Wunderbar.

“Kink” is an incredible debut album with a good mix of raw and sleazy garage punk rock.

Think The Stooges with a dash of The Strokes and Velvet underground thrown in for good measure. This is a REAL garage punk rock album straight from the council estates….amazing songs that grab you and get you thinking.” - Matchbox Radio 24.