Music

Premiere: The Dying Arts Revive A Lost Punk Rock Generation

Gearing up to release their debut self-titled EP on June 3rd, Toronto’s The Dying Arts are far from dead. They’re a raw, raucous and unapologetic foursome that have been leaving their mark on every sweat-soaked stage they’ve set ablaze since 2011.

The record was produced by ace Canadian producer/engineer Jon Drew (Alexisonfire, Fucked Up, Tokyo Police Club), and is a remarkably poignant blend of 90’s grit with its sort of unpolished gravelly tone – deep bellowing drums, melodic bass line, soaring guitars, and brash screaming vocals.

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Best heard on lead single “Scratch,” it’s talking the fury of Fugazi and early Nirvana meets the somber ambient soundscapes of later Radiohead. It pulls on that slightly seedy sense of urgency that was characteristic of the late 70’s UK underground and yet its punk rock at the core. “Scratch” is the kind of track that erupts inherently and then falls gracefully almost back-to-back. It speaks directly to this band’s musical sensibilities all while being the kind of deep, dark and sweaty rock and roll that could fill the gaping hole in this city.

You can catch The Dying Arts here in Toronto on June 7th at The Horseshoe Tavern, when they play their EP release show alongside Uncut, The Effens and Pile High.

Juliette Jagger is a rock n’ roll journalist living in Toronto. She’s on Twitter.

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