Click here to view the embedded video.

Related Stories:

The Weatherman serves up a hurricane

Sweatshop shout out Bill Murray on new EP

K’Naan is a rapper without borders

“Dungeon Dragon” is the somewhat surprising new single from Madchild’s King of Pain. The video comes as a bit of a surprise given the KOP EP was released last year and is the first of five solo offerings from the Swollen Members alumn in the last two years. “Dungeon Dragon” is the third single and video to drop from different Madchild project in the last three months alone. In addition to four EPs – KOP, Banned From America, M.A.D.E. (2011) and  Little Monster (2012) - Madchild  is also set to unveil his first solo LP Dope Sick in 2012. The album, which is already picking up steam by way of its first single, “Fuck Madchild,” is slated for release later this month.

Related Stories:

Madchild spits proof he’s a “Shit Talker” in new vid

Madchild releases first single from Dope Sick

Rap of the Titans welcomes listeners to The Goondox

New Swollen single a matter of life and death

Click here to view the embedded video.

Related Stories:

A Day in the Life of Animal Nation’s Garnet Clare

Mr. Brady Lets Loose on Labor of Love

Sage Puts His Strange Stamp on “Rooftop Shake”

Click here to view the embedded video.

“If this war is never ending,” croons Lights on the latest off her Siberia album, “I’ll take this love down with me.” An anti-war anthem, “Banner” marks the second single off the Northern Ontario songstress’s sophomore album.

Related Stories:

Lights Explores Unknown Land in Siberia

Lights’ “Toes” Borders Pop, Rock and Electronica

While the John Lennon and Brian Wilson references are no doubt present on the fourth single off D-Sisive’s Run With The Creeps, “The Invisible Man” is one of the songs from the dark side of the Toronto rapper’s 2011 release. The black and white video for “The Invisible Man,” which is directed by Alex Colthart and filmed mostly in the boiler room of what looks like an abandoned apartment building, matches well with the mood and middle-finger theme of the song. Colthart’s use of bright and disorienting backlighting in the video accentuates D-Sisive no-holds barred delivery. The beat is produced by longtime DL Incognito collaborator Techtwelve.

Related Stories:

D-Sisive Watches The Ceiling Fan Spin on New Single

D-Sisive Drops Second RWTC Video in as Many Weeks

“No More Words” First Taste of Run With the Creeps

Family and love come first for the classically trained pop and rock trio known as The Balconies.

The Neville brother/sister duo of Jacquie and Stephen lay down the string tracks and vocals, while Jacquie’s love and “soulmate” Liam Jaeger plays backbone to the beats on drums.

“Some people find it weird that I’m in a band with my brother and boyfriend,” says Neville. “I think it’s amazing, since I always have my two favourite people with me, I never get homesick.”

Topping off its third year on the scene, the band’s sound has echoed both on stage and in headphones as its records provide soothing rock melodies and emotionally-clad, frenetic vocals.

“Our energy really explodes on stage, since we have so much chemistry with each other on and off the stage. The whole situation definitely reflects in our subject matter, in our songs and the overall dynamics.”

Jacquie and Stephen both started on the violin at very young ages, which spurred their interest in classical music and theory. It wasn’t until their mid-teens that Jacquie picked up the guitar and Stephen took up the bass.

Their informal jam sessions shortly became what was for many years “Jacquie in the Kitchen,” their debut band, which got them their first few gigs.

“Both Steve and I started playing classical music at a young age. We were about seven when we started on violin; I was about 15 when I picked up the guitar and starting songwriting and singing. We never got along as kids until we found the grounds of music. When Steve picked up the bass, we started playing my songs and we made that high school band that ended up lasting five years.”

The Neville pair ventured to the University of Ottawa to study classical music. That is where Liam came into the picture after sniping Jacquie in the hallway, aloof to his presence due to her trademark of rocking headphones. Until the one day their eyes met. They’ve been playing music together ever since.

Their unison as a trio is interesting to say the least, and the creation of the name followed suit.

“Liam was playing in other bands when I met him at university and I missed playing music with my brother, but it all just came together and we have so much undying love and respect for each other, so it works.

“We were living in a place with two balconies, and when we think of a balcony, it’s a place where you can have a glass of wine or a BBQ, and just relax, but also watch the night sky or have a house party, and it’s crammed up with people smoking and being loud. We felt like this reflected our music and style. One of our good friends actually suggested it.”

The trio attributes the synergy in the writing process to its cohesive knowledge of musical theory. But in turn they reject the notion that it has had any direct influence on the band’s music. Simply put, it makes it easier for them to communicate on a musical level.

“I don’t believe that our classical training has any big influence on our music, or that we’re some groundbreaking musicians who write masterpieces. I do feel that it makes it easier for us to communicate, since we all have similar musical background” explains Jacquie. “It’s awesome since we all still play our classic instruments, so we can alter our songs for classical shows as well anytime we’re asked.”

Fans of The Balconies have much to look forward to in the upcoming months. Jacquie has been seen tweeting about the video shoot for “Kill Count,” which is expected to be released early in the new year and features the band in the ring, tight on the ropes. The band’s newest video production is going to be matched by their album production, as they expect to drop their first full-length album in May 2012.

“The new album is going to be more polished and we’ve been trying as hard as we can to make it heavier and more complete than the last two.”

Story by Devin Size; photo by Ben Welland

All photos by Tee Onek

Southern Ontario hardcore punkers Cancer Bats are gearing up for the release of their fourth full-length Dead Set On Living, out on Distort Entertainment April 16. The video for “Old Blood” is the first single from the highly-anticipated album.

“Shit Talker” is the second single off Madchild’s Little Monster EP. Directed by Big Shot Music, the video is the latest solo offering from the West Coast rhymer and Swollen Members veteran.

“It’s Ludicrous how we disturbing the peace” raps Toronto rhymer Price on the latest off his Light Work mixtape. Over two verses on “Ears to the Streets” Price proves he’ll soon be among the elite hip-hop acts coming up on the Canadian scene in 2012.