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Top Dead Centre
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by
Shain Shapiro
April 1 - 7, 2010 |
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TOP DEAD CENTRE
Thursday April 8 @ Corktown Pub.
175 Young St. Hamilton.
One style of music that will always remain active in Hamilton is the consistent resurgence of 1970s–influenced heavy metal and guitar rock. No matter how many bands pass through the city, a few will always carry their love for Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath on their sleeve and in their melodies. One such act that has been getting more attention than the others of late is Brantford and Hamilton–based Top Dead Centre. Led by guitarist Jim McLean, the quintet channels melody and distortion simultaneously, creating music that sounds as if it could be perfectly placed in a garage in 1979. But that is not all with this lot. With anyone, the most important tipping point is the songs, and McLean and songwriting partner David Russ write effective four–minute slabs of hard–hitting rock. The result was a set titled Far From Nowhere, an album the band released to critical local acclaim last year. “We didn’t necessarily set out to prove anything with that album,” explains McLean. “We just wanted to document where we were as a band musically at the time. I think the album itself proved that there is still some great ass–kicking music here in Canada and particularly the Hamilton area. We’re proud to say that we’re part of the Hamilton area music scene. There is an abundance of great talent in the region, and it’s no secret to the people who frequent live music shows in this area.”
Now, as the band approaches album number two, Far From Nowhere feels like the distant past. Still, its lessons remain. For example, on Far From Nowhere, the band invited producer Steve Negus to the fold, who used to play drums in Saga. “If there was any route we took in the new record,” explains McLean, “I guess it would would be focusing on the light and shade in the tones of the songs. The sequencing of the songs was a whole different scenario altogether. Each member of the band had their own ideas as to how we should sequence the songs, and of course no two ideas were the same. So in the end we all agreed to put it in Steve’s hands. Having lived with the songs for a while, Steve decided that the fact that we are a hard driving band, it should only be natural for us to have our heavier songs up front. And as you listen to the album, the second half takes the listener though the more diverse aspects of our writing.”
A new album, still untitled, will see the light of day later in the year, as the band is currently finishing up with the mastering and production work. One aspect of the new album to be expected, like Far From Nowhere, is its focus on being a live record, one that does sound overproduced or tampered with. “I think the old album had a very live feel to it,” adds McLean. “We tracked the drums and bass live, and the bleed of our instruments is into the drum mix, which I think contributes to not only the sound, but also the feel as well. At the moment we are in the midst of recording our follow–up album. We’ve been performing the new songs live over the last eight months, and tightening them up considerably. The crowd response to them has been nothing short of astounding. I think, as a band, we are stronger and tighter than ever before, given the fact that this lineup has been intact now for the better part of two years as well.”
So until then, one will have to make do with seeing Top Dead Centre in the flesh. Thankfully, that’s an experience the band does not treat lightly. “The live show is always a work in progress,” adds McLean. “We’re looking to incorporate more visuals, like creative lighting and screen imaging, to start. Plus, delivering the music as close to the recordings has always been a priority for us. Walking the line between musical performance and performing is a line you need to walk when you’re in front of an audience, if you expect them to leave entertained. And we do."
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FALSE!
Top Dead Centre have NOT broken up.
The band have had a change in the line-up and until things are sorted out they are continuing to work on their follow up album to "Far From Nowhere".
All currently booked shows have been cancelled (for obvious reasons) and we apologize for any confusion on the issue.
Sincerely TDC Managment
www.tdcband.com
Posted by Top Dead Centre on April 07, 2010 at 2:11am | Report this commentI was under the impression that this band had broken up, as of last weekend! You might want to check into it! They were supposed to open a show for our band and e-mailed us that they had broken up.
Posted by Dave on April 06, 2010 at 9:39pm | Report this comment
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