THE VIDEO DEAD - BROTHERHOOD OF THE DEAD - 2006 - STEREO DYNAMITE / EMI

FORMAT: ALBUM / CD

COUNTRY: CANADA

GENRE: PUNK

YEAR: 2006

REVIEW (Courtesy of Exclaim Magazine)

BY Stuart Green

Published May 31, 2006

Talk about starting with a bang (pun completely intended)! Toronto’s fledgling Stereo Dynamite Recordings label is obviously intent on wasting no time in making itself known as a serious contender on the Canadian punk scene. The first release from the label founded by former Monster Voodoo Machine and current Damn 13 front-man Adam Sewell is this debut from Burlington’s the Video Dead… and what a way for both the label and the band to announce their respective arrivals. As the title would suggest, Brotherhood of the Dead leans heavily toward the unity hardcore stomp of NYC bands like Biohazard, Madball and Agnostic Front while injecting the sound with more modern dual guitar flourishes and a SoCal sense of melody. Lyrically, the band are more akin to the positive-force punk messages of bands like 7 Seconds. Fans of the aforementioned hardcore bands or Moneen and Strung Out would do well to check it out.

TRACK LISTING

01. Cover Me I'm Going In 

02. Like The Cover Of Damaged 

03. Suckubus

04. The Brethren 

05. I Love It When A Plan Comes Together

06. Little Fish In A Big Pond

07. Gooz Frabba

08. The Legend Of Billy Tipton

09. Rad, Like Tony Alva Rad

10. jesussavesdotcomslashkids

11. This Friendship's Flag Is At Half Mast

12. Breed The New Anthem

CREDITS

Vocals: Ben Rispin

Vocals/Guitar: Matt Richmond

Guitar/Vocals: Greg Fisher

Bass/Vocals: Matt Barnhart

Drums: Tyler Sumak 

Produced By: Justin Koop

ABOUT THE VIDEO DEAD

For the past 7 years Burlington's The Video Dead have been thrashing out old-school flavoured punk and hardcore. A sole survivor, and flag-bearer of the southern Ontario scene that has morphed and changed drastically over the last decade. The Video Dead has always maintained strong roots in the kind of rough and tumble, no-frills punk rock that the members have dedicated their lives to. The group's forth-coming LP Damn Disco is no exception.

Since the bands inception in 2002 there have been numerous line-up changes, at times hindering the progress of touring and recording, but now feature a solidified group for the past 3 years. Fronted by vocalist Ben Rispin (Saint Alvia) the band also features original member, bassist, Matt Barnhart, as well as guitarists Matt Richmond (Saint Alvia) and Greg Fisher (Saint Alvia) along with newest recruit, the hard hitting, dynamic Jesse King on Drums. The band have been hammering it out on the Ontario punk circuit for years, and have various recordings that have recently been brought together for an entire back catalogue re-issue on Juiceboxdotcom, called 'A Face For Radio… But Not The Songs'. The compilation includes the first EP (2003), The 617 EP (2004) and The Brotherhood of The Dead LP (2006), aswell as a slew of outtakes and demo recordings from the past 7 years. Some of the material being so rare, that few, other than the band, have even heard it. The re-issue is also a lead up to The Video Dead's newest LP Damn Disco, giving fans the opportunity to get (re)acquainted with older material, in true punk rock fashion (yes, it's available for free), in order to brace for a whole new era of the band.