Toronto rock'n'rollers Sun K are set to unleash their debut record Northern Lies next week, but Exclaim! has got an exclusive stream of the album before it hits shelves.
The band bring together a gritty blend of rock, blues and folk, led by vocalist Kristian Montano. Going for a vocal delivery in the vein of Julian Casablancas and Lou Reed, he pairs his singing chops with a guitar sound "honed directly through the Neil Young songbook."
On Northern Lies, Montano leads the supporting cast of Stuart Retallack (keyboards, horns), Kevin Michael Butler (guitar, fiddle), JuHang Sin (bass) and Aaron Bravener (drums) through eight tracks that have been injected with new life in a band setting,
"A lot of these songs have been with me for a while, when I was doing more of a folkie thing on my own," Montano said in a statement. "But as the band came together, we started experimenting with heavier tones and seeing how what we all brought to the sound could be incorporated. We wrote more songs along the way, and I think the album overall reflects this journey of discovery we've been on for the past two years. It's been really interesting."
The collection was produced by Cone McCaslin (of Sum 41), whose previous production credits include work for the Strumbellas and Operation MD.
From the crunchy guitars and stomping drum beat of "Sweet Marie" to the bombastic blast that is "New York City Blues," the band prove that they know how to rock. They rein it in, however, for sweeter, softer moments like "The Road" and album closer "Hymn for the Living (One More Day)."
The band will be supporting the new album with a string of shows across Canada, including a March residency at Toronto's Dakota Tavern. You can see the full list of dates below.
Northern Lies officially arrives on March 10 via MapleMusic Recordings, but you can hear Sun K's diverse sonic offering a week early by hitting play below. You can pre-order the album here.
Tour dates:
03/04 Toronto, ON – Dakota Tavern
03/05 Ottawa, ON – Bier Markt
03/06 Kingston, ON – Clark Hall Pub
03/07 Montreal, QC – O Patro Vys
03/11 Toronto, ON – Dakota Tavern
03/12 London, ON – The Black Shire
03/17 Moncton, NB – Plan B Lounge
03/18 Halifax, NS – Seahorse Tavern *
03/19 Charlottetown, PE – Baba's Lounge *
03/20 Saint John, NB – Pepper's Pub
03/21 Fredericton, NB – Capital Complex
03/25 Toronto, ON – Dakota Tavern
03/26 Sudbury, ON – Townehouse Tavern
03/27 Oshawa, ON – Moustache Club
04/03 Winnipeg, MB – Times Changed High and Lonesome Club
04/04 Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina
04/07 Banff, AB – Elk & Oarsman
04/08 Kamloops, BC – The Dirty Jersey
04/09 Vancouver, BC – The Railway Club
04/10 Kelowna, BC – Fernando's Pub
04/11 Calgary, AB – The Palomino Smokehouse & Social Club
04/12 Twin Butte, AB – Twin Butte Store
04/14 Red Deer, AB – Fratters Speakeasy
04/15 Jasper, AB – Jasper Royal Canadian Legion Branch 31
04/16 Edmonton, AB – The Mercury Room
04/17 Regina, SK – O'Hanlon's Irish Pub
04/18 Brandon, MB – Double Decker Tavern
* supporting NQ Arbuckle
The band bring together a gritty blend of rock, blues and folk, led by vocalist Kristian Montano. Going for a vocal delivery in the vein of Julian Casablancas and Lou Reed, he pairs his singing chops with a guitar sound "honed directly through the Neil Young songbook."
On Northern Lies, Montano leads the supporting cast of Stuart Retallack (keyboards, horns), Kevin Michael Butler (guitar, fiddle), JuHang Sin (bass) and Aaron Bravener (drums) through eight tracks that have been injected with new life in a band setting,
"A lot of these songs have been with me for a while, when I was doing more of a folkie thing on my own," Montano said in a statement. "But as the band came together, we started experimenting with heavier tones and seeing how what we all brought to the sound could be incorporated. We wrote more songs along the way, and I think the album overall reflects this journey of discovery we've been on for the past two years. It's been really interesting."
The collection was produced by Cone McCaslin (of Sum 41), whose previous production credits include work for the Strumbellas and Operation MD.
From the crunchy guitars and stomping drum beat of "Sweet Marie" to the bombastic blast that is "New York City Blues," the band prove that they know how to rock. They rein it in, however, for sweeter, softer moments like "The Road" and album closer "Hymn for the Living (One More Day)."
The band will be supporting the new album with a string of shows across Canada, including a March residency at Toronto's Dakota Tavern. You can see the full list of dates below.
Northern Lies officially arrives on March 10 via MapleMusic Recordings, but you can hear Sun K's diverse sonic offering a week early by hitting play below. You can pre-order the album here.
Tour dates:
03/04 Toronto, ON – Dakota Tavern
03/05 Ottawa, ON – Bier Markt
03/06 Kingston, ON – Clark Hall Pub
03/07 Montreal, QC – O Patro Vys
03/11 Toronto, ON – Dakota Tavern
03/12 London, ON – The Black Shire
03/17 Moncton, NB – Plan B Lounge
03/18 Halifax, NS – Seahorse Tavern *
03/19 Charlottetown, PE – Baba's Lounge *
03/20 Saint John, NB – Pepper's Pub
03/21 Fredericton, NB – Capital Complex
03/25 Toronto, ON – Dakota Tavern
03/26 Sudbury, ON – Townehouse Tavern
03/27 Oshawa, ON – Moustache Club
04/03 Winnipeg, MB – Times Changed High and Lonesome Club
04/04 Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina
04/07 Banff, AB – Elk & Oarsman
04/08 Kamloops, BC – The Dirty Jersey
04/09 Vancouver, BC – The Railway Club
04/10 Kelowna, BC – Fernando's Pub
04/11 Calgary, AB – The Palomino Smokehouse & Social Club
04/12 Twin Butte, AB – Twin Butte Store
04/14 Red Deer, AB – Fratters Speakeasy
04/15 Jasper, AB – Jasper Royal Canadian Legion Branch 31
04/16 Edmonton, AB – The Mercury Room
04/17 Regina, SK – O'Hanlon's Irish Pub
04/18 Brandon, MB – Double Decker Tavern
* supporting NQ Arbuckle