Vancouver, BC’s Within Rust have released their new video ‘Surfacing’. The song was produced by Travis Saunders (Secret and Whisper, Young Sparrows, Jess Penner) and will be one the new tracks on their upcoming yet to be titled 2016 release. Vocalist Nolen Scott comments: “A lot of what got me excited about the new material was how much duality there is, and I mean with this song, it’s really…
CONCERT REVIEW: GIGAHEARTZ W/ SLEEP SCIENCE, WITHIN RUST AND OCEAN FULL OF FINS AT JOE’S APARTMENT - MAY 2ND, 2015
Blink-182 may have been able to generalize the rock show in 2001, but fusion genres have morphed the experience into quite an umbrella term present day. Saturday night at Joe’s Apartment was one of those experiences, featuring bands with varying degrees of blues, to progressive, to electro-rock leanings. The audience was sparse — more so than the acts deserved — but Gigaheartz, Sleep Science, Within Rust, and Ocean Full of Fins took the stage in their own right and electrified it.
Ocean Full of Fins was up first, starting a short half hour after doors opened. Comprised of Sean Michael Simpson, Theo Bach, and Devon Forsythe, the trio hone a west coast brand of blues rock rooted in reggae and grunge influence; melodic guitar lines and soulful vocals were a clear nod to classic rock, blaring through the speakers for maximum impact. “Dope Girl” was a standout, maintaining a bouncing bassline and surprisingly well-thought-out lyrics that tie seamlessly into its title (“I want to break free, free from your toxic love”). I was impressed by the group’s ability to craft a loud, in-your-face sound while keeping listeners swaying to the beat.
Bounding through their set with spirited aggression, Ocean Full of Fins tied the groove and rock ‘n’ roll attitude into an enjoyable, and not to be missed, package.
Next up were Delta new rockers, Within Rust. The lone four-piece of the night has some of the more sonically interesting tunes I’ve heard coming from the Greater Vancouver area, and their live effort mirrors that ingenuity. Hard-hitting riffs and shoegaze undertones were complemented by Nolen Scott’s sweeping range, wails flowing effortlessly into falsetto.
The band performed a selection of their current discography, from “Alive with Ease” off their 2013 EP, Born, to newly released single “Interstate.” In fact, a fair bit of material set to appear on their debut full-length crept into their set; I can’t recall if Scott announced the title, but a track introduced as “their take on indie pop” carried contemporary jazz elements not prominent on their previous releases. Pushing boundaries extends further than the studio walls for Within Rust, who utilize live shows as an opportunity to experiment with renditions that vary from their studio recordings. Heightened power chords and vocal-instrumental dynamics elevated “The Taking” beyond the more-or-less mellowed original to a state of jarring tension.
At times, heavy guitars and slurred vocal delivery made it difficult to understand what Scott was singing. I am sure the lyrics hold a lot of meaning to the band, and it would have been nice to hear them in a way the audience could connect with as well.
I appreciated their effort to engage the crowd, with Scott initiating a brief clapping sequence and sharing back story to each song. But it is their music, a relentless amalgamation of progressive metal and sonic rock, that truly brings out their innovative nature. Passionate and enigmatic, Within Rust yield to the unconventional – and it plays to their advantage.
Taylor Nichol, Dan Lomonaco, and Alexander Moscrip conveyed an equally offbeat atmosphere with bold, haunting melodies under the guise of Sleep Science. The three-piece played their first show — and released their debut EP, Avoiding the Cure — this past fall. Melodic rock imbued with aggressive tendencies and rich vocal delivery, Sleep Science shines best in the seconds before post-hardcore breakdown; simple builds give way to clanging instrumentals, in sync with Nichol’s generous mop of hair bobbing over his face. Though moody, their guitar lines and irregular time signatures entertain a rather uplifting approach, notable in “Is This Real?” and the title track of their EP.
Nichol indicated that surging electricity was causing his microphone to radiate heat like it was an inconvenience (and hey, maybe it was if you had to stand inches away from it for a good half hour). From a viewer’s perspective it could have only rekindled a spark within the vibrant rockers, who undoubtedly remain far from dormant.
Closing the night was Gigaheartz. Slick and striking, the band hold the title of Rednyne Productions’ 2014 “Best in Vancouver” and aptly so; a dance floor of family and friends supported the trio in attendance and motion as they glided through a set of memorable electro-rock numbers. Eddie Ross held his own as the lone vocalist and guitarist, tight control and enduring tone a welcome presence. Terence Trusdale and his three-tier synth rig lay the foundation of their polished sound, punctuated by drum beats courtesy of Jeff Renz.
Gigaheartz does not yet have a lot of music available online; I wasn’t sure of what things to expect from their set, and ended up with a well-structured composite of many. From edgy, dance rock to instrumentals armed with blues tendencies, the lads of Gigaheartz have an energy that never wavers. “Fancy Cars” was a personal favourite, predominated by infectious techno rhythms and earnest vocals. Their debut single, “Lunatics,” showcased Ross’ powerful register and had the audience jumping in time with the chorus.
45 minutes and countless groove-inducing hooks later, Gigaheartz gained a new fan in me. Influence lying in both driving sonics and fervent rock enables the three-piece to execute radio-friendly tunes that still demonstrate risk; it was a fitting close to a rock show of ample diversity matched in talent.
Written by: Natalie Hoy
Photographed by: Quinn Middleton
"Hello good sir/ madam, if you’re unfamiliar with us we’re a band from Vancouver called Within Rust. We play a style of music that can best be described as some kind of Rock. On March 17th, our singer Nolen turns 20. In conjunction with his 20th birthday we will be releasing our latest song “The Taking” alongside the B-side “Rorschach” (both recorded with Matt Roach at Greenhouse Studios).
Now here’s when you come in. We shot a music video for “The Taking” with Brant Wladichuk and will be launching it on... March 17th with the single. The single will also go to iTunes but might not be up by then since iTunes has a two week delay generally and we’ll be getting the tracks mastered next week. However we’ll put it up everywhere else (bandcamp, soundcloud, youtube, ect.) Rest assured it will be on ITunes soon. Anyway needless to say we need YOU to spread the word in the coming weeks till the release so that these songs truly make a splash. All we ask is that you share this event with as many of your friends as possible, and do the same with the video when it drops.
Thank you for your time. Know that you are loved ♥
Within Rust have laid the groundwork for a promising future with the release of their debut EP, Born. Hailing from Delta, British Columbia, the alternative rock band – consisting of Nolen Scott, Matt Gage, Taj Wheeler and Lewis Scott – formed in 2011 and released their first single, 'Watch Me,' last November. The EP is short, consisting of only three tracks, but easily draws listeners in with its interesting mix of classic rock and progressive metal elements.
The first track, 'Watch Me,' starts off with a mellow vibe, but picks up a few seconds in. The opening lyrics, "The days are getting longer / in a shortened kinda way / I catch the words but fumble / as they all just slip away" contain the slightly cliché use of contradictory statements, but does not take away from the overall appeal of the song. Though haunting, 'Watch Me' produces some intriguing imagery through lines such as "The love has gone hollow / and you've seen it all before / It's the quality of life in the land of folding doors" and "You're a silhouette / on a cosmic breeze." I also enjoy the smooth guitar riffs and the post-hardcore energy that resonates throughout the entire track.
This ominous vibe carries over to the second song, 'Algorithms.' Indisputably the most post-hardcore-influenced track on the EP, 'Algorithms' would fit right at home on a Hot Topic playlist (or, at least, the Hot Topic stores that I have been to). The heavy hitting track is catchy enough, with lead singer Nolen Scott's vocals parading over powerful guitar lines and drum beats. Unfortunately, I sometimes find it difficult to understand the lyrics. Whether it is Scott slurring over the words or the instrumentals simply overpowering him, I'm not quite sure.
The EP closes on a high note with 'Alive With Ease,' a slower track that showcases a softer side to Scott's vocals and the band's ability to fuse airy melodies with heavier rock punches. The lyrics, "Foraging through the maelstrom / It's just another phase / And when it's said and done / You’ll only show you've aged" and "I’ve got to pick it apart to start again" demonstrate a sense of growth and acceptance, themes less evident in the previous two tracks. Possibly my favourite track on the EP, 'Alive With Ease' carries not only originality, but realism. The heavy guitar chords that are introduced towards the beginning of the song, and reappear at the close, round off a well-balanced track that adds depth to the band’s growing repertoire of songs.
Born is a solid debut effort from a band that lives around the core ethic of being 'ballsy and contrived, yet subtle and honest.' Though each song has a slightly different feel, they blend together to form a captivating EP full of edgy guitar lines and honest – if not mildly antagonistic – song writing. I thoroughly enjoy Within Rust’s approach to aggressive rock and post-hardcore fusion, and look forward to hearing what this band has in store in the coming years.
If you are interested in seeing the band perform live, they will be having an EP release show tomorrow (Sunday, April 21st) at Olympia Pizza in Surrey. Joining them will be Alberta natives Shark Infested Daughters and Submerge, Kelowna rockers Young Sparrows and Mete Pills (with their all-ages debut). For more details, visit the Facebook event here.
