The Good Times / The Veil / Titan / Fear Before The March Of Flames

Annex Wreck Room, Toronto ON August 6

BY Dave SynyardPublished Aug 7, 2008

Etobicoke, ON’s the Good Times lived up to their name to some degree, but to what amount is beyond me. While they tried valiantly to entertain some 20-odd people with their hybrid mix of the Bravery’s pop sensibility and punk rock hardcore noise it was at times awkward and seemed unfocused. Whether you are a fan of the Veil or not, watching their last show, and my first one, brought out a little sadness considering the showmanship of the band and the fact that their hardcore sounds, tweaked with a little Dillenger Escape Plan mathematics, was completely absorbing. These guys went out swinging. Having just returned from a short stint in Europe, Toronto’s Titan were very close to the starlets of the evening. Their hardcore rhythm and downtempo style throughout their set was churning and it seemed a little too obvious how much respect and influence Cursed has had on these guys, but with a set performed to the greatness that they gave made it worthwhile. Titan played from both their older EPs Colossus and The Chrysanthemum and it was truly gripping in both sound and scope with the exception of one fan whose lust for stealing the mic for a scream or four was at first funny but soon very lame. Dude, start your own band. Toward the end of their set they played one new song from their impending EP, the name of which I can’t recall, and it was nothing shy of their top-notch quality music. If Fear Before The March Of Flames performance last night was a car chase scene you can be sure that it was as epic as the one in Death Proof. They got the mix started with their eclectic hardcore noise through "Drowning The Old Hag” to the now-filled venue and it was received with open arms and flailing bodies. The band gave an hour-long set that encompassed The Always Open Mouth, Art Damage and Odd How People Shake, which clearly went over very well with the crowd. Everyone was also fortunate enough to hear two new songs that are akin to their most current release. By the end of the night the only thing that seemed odd and out of place was the idea that FBTMOF were too big an act to be playing such a small stage, but considering that, they played like a band who were on the first night of a tour.

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