- The Deviance
The Deviance are a Canadian rock band from
Hamilton, Ontario that specialize in what they describe as "post-apocalyptic-literary-prog-core." Formed in the summer of 2003, the Deviance set out to create a completely unique sound, drawing elements ofprogressive rock , punk, hardcore, jazz, reggae, and funk. After making their debute on the Hamiltonindie rock scene in August 2003, the Deviance wowed audiences time and time again.Debut
On
December 30 ,2003 andJanuary 2 ,2004 , The Deviance worked withMichael J. Birthelmer of Chatham Gardens Studio to record theirdebut album "Tribulation", which was released by Put on Your Drinking Cap Records that year. The album consisted of "an attempt to transform classic novel "The Chrysalids "," byJohn Wyndham , "into a musical odyssey." [ [http://www.thedeviance.eck.ca/index/] ]The New Breed Festival
In the fall of 2004, The Deviance provided a bombastic performance at the New Breed Festival in Hamilton. A local university columnist aptly summed up the experience: "The Deviance exploded onto the main stage around 10:30 p.m. with a slightly more bizarre, comical, and almost sinister approach to their music. ... Lead vocalist Andrew Richardson poured an eccentric mixture of singing and shouting over the wide assortment of music that the rest of the group produced. Thumping bass lines and
post-punk rhythms combined with spacey sound effects had audience members looking confused, laughing, and applauding all at the same time. The vocal interplay between Richardson and his bandmates was another highlight. Lines were often traded off between different members, while everyone else in the band shouted along in the background." [ [http://www.thedeviance.eck.ca/index/] ]The Lord of the Flies Sessions
Having played shows throughout the Ontario scene, in the summer of 2006 The Deviance once again began to tackle a new, ambitious project. After some discussion, they settled on creating a rendition of
William Golding 's classic, "TheLord of the Flies ". While the bulk of the material was written in the summer of 2006, it was not until the summer of 2006 that the band could enter the studio to record their eponymous second album. Unfortunately, further delays pushed the production back further due to scholastic commitments, side projects, and travels. Then, in December 2006/January 2007, the band entered the studio once again to work on the difficult project. Again, production was pushed back further due to commitments, and in the summer of 2007 the final push was on.The Deviance
In August 2007, the band released its self titled album and to the surprise of the band, it was well received by college radio stations. According to the Queens Journal, "The Deviance captures the English schoolboys-turned-savage spirit with desperate cries as vocals and a mixture of dissonant and melodic rock." Further, "As the album unfolds, the experimental journey into the heart of the story begins to feel jagged. Just as your attention lags, “You Never Told Me Not To Never Stay Away (From Nothing)” appears, tying the album up with a perfect blend of mournful discontent and sweet melodies in a relaxed, jamming-out style." In the end, the Queens Journal concluded that "The Deviance manages to compose a
concept album that turns well-worn material into a musical experiment for the literary-minded." [ [http://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2007-09-07/arts-entertainment/rock-roll-report-card/] ]Hiatus
Currently, The Deviance are on hiatus as they continue to pursue various side projects, including the Astroknaughts, the NeoConartists, as well as Billy Holmes and Steve McKay's respective solo projects.
References
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