The Simcoe Scene

  Big Fist are masters of packing in an ungodly amount of sound and substance into a short run time. Previously releasing 2 jam-packed studio EPs and a monstrous split with QWAN, Big Fist might give themselves time to breathe on their upcoming full-length debut LP…but that’s not their style. The Correct Way To Make Art explodes from the very moment track 1 starts and maximizes every second with a force that is unmatched. Self-described as ‘Hardcore Punch Punk’, there really is no better way to describe the Big Fist experience.  Since the release of the Play With Me EP last year, it is evident that Big Fist have doubled-down on their energetic, relentless, and unabashedly raw approach to writing material that hits all the right spots to produce this killer debut. Without losing an ounce of the formidable foundation they have laid with their previous EPs, The Correct Way To Make Art showcases the band’s power which hits even harder with their increased attention to production....

  Space and the worlds beyond our own have been a subject for many musical odysseys. David Bowie, Sun-Ra, Parliament, Hawkwind, Afrika Bambaata, and many artists spanning all genres have looked up and beyond the confines of planet Earth for inspiration. What lies beyond our atmosphere is a grand mystery, but one thing is certain - it ends. And there can be beauty in it. Afteglades, the third LP from Mappe Of (project of multi-instrumentalist Tom Meikle), explores the complicated emotional journey in the face of an extraplanetary reckoning. Against the backdrop of a world ending event, Meikle maintains a genuine essence of humanity and vulnerability. Afterglades is less of a concept album and unravels more as a meditation on how we as individuals would approach our distinct end with the people we love most.  The end of the world is an overwhelming theme, but the ethereal vocals and masterfully layered instrumentals feels like someone is holding your hand - leading you through ...

Feura doesn’t care if you don’t like them, or their music…but she’s gonna make you move and sweat whether you like it or not.  Released August 29, Feura’s debut EP EAT IT! delivers 4 tracks and covers a lot of ground in just under 10 minutes. Building their reputation for their wild, raw, and energetic live shows, it is clear that great time and effort was taken to synthesize that experience into the debut EP.  The time and experience Feura has garnered performing for a multitude of audiences, and sharing bills with established acts like NOBRO in the past year shines through in EAT IT! . The sound is so tight and every song is a nasty little dance-punk earworm won't want to flush out.  Preceded by the underdog anthem ‘SMASH’ and catchy grunge-inspired ‘Sick Medicine’, EAT IT! is an addictive blend of catchy choruses, hooks, and song structures that are as fresh as they are fierce. The most exciting part of the listening experience is the multiple directions the EP goes ...

Battlescarred is not a band that settles into complacency or nestles themselves into the confinements of genre. First introduced in 2021, Battlescarred exploded onto the scene with an aggressive, thrash-inspired sound and a work ethic to match. Never to be stagnant or find comfort in complacency, Battlescarred continued to hone their sound and not align themselves to any of the arbitrary do’s and don’ts of genre.  After the release of their EP and a few singles that swayed from deathcore to nu-metal, Battlescarred have released New Era - an apt and fortuitous title.  Released on June 13, New Era was a re-introduction to Battlescarred. Redefining their sound towards metalocre and elements of modern metal, New Era is Battlescarred evolved. With all the aggressive and intense tones of their previous work, New Era is a dynamic and cinematic album that plays out like a soundtrack to the apocalypse.   Opening with ‘Greetings and Welcome to…’, a sickeningly obvious artifi...

Pulling themselves out from the tunnels running beneath Sewer City, Spades GT deliver their second album that is coated in a well-defined grime that allows them to seamlessly traverse the lines between punk, thrash, and classic heavy rock.  With a window of just six months after releasing their debut, and sharing bills across Ontario, the odds of releasing a fully actualized sophomore album were against them - but odds be damned. When you have so much to say and wield the musical acumen to say it well and loud, there really is no reason to wait.   The Barrie-based quartet released their sophomore album United on July 5, and expanded their arsenal of tones and tempos to include a more polished sound without losing any integrity. Where Sewer City Radio was a rough and hard-hitting introduction, United is a bellowing testament that values precision and power in equal parts.  As the title implies, United is a call for undivided cooperation between all us street-level hu...

The lore of Kempenfelt Kelly is spotty, and in all honesty, pretty damn bland. Since its last sighting in 1967, ol’ Kelly has fallen into watery obscurity - until now. Two stalwart bands of the Barrie and beyond music scene are taking back the Kempenfelt Kelly name for their split LP Come Back, Kelly.   Like the mythical beast itself, tales of Heavy Petter and The Highdives have seeped into the oral history of this fair city. Known for nasty guitar riffs, blasting tempos, and lyrics that both bite and bring a smile to your face, this is a legendary collaboration. Though there are only 2 band names on the cover, each members carries with them copious credits to a myriad of projects that range from doom to solo acoustic and bear the same quality and energy present on this split.  Boasting a Heavy side and a High side, Come Back, Kelly displays both bands doing what they do best - creating aggressively energetic songs that connect to everyone in the community.  While the na...