some reviews.. www.punkoiuk.co.uk/reviews/ Bottle Of Smoke - Rubber Factory Records The first release on Toronto label Rubber Factory is appropriately enough a compilation of Toronto rock. Consequently you get 25 tracks from 25 bands that demonstrate the quality, class and diversity of the bands performing and recording in the area. From the sonic intensity of hardcore trio And Hell Followed and their ‘Get A Life’ the powerful female fronted Sinkin’Ships, the chug’n’riff metal of Goat Horn, the beefy punk rock of Random Killing, the anguished metal of The Dogs, the direct hardcore of The Fallout, the warped pop-punk of Blastcaps, the dirty distorted rock’n’roll of Cheerleader 666, acoustic rock courtesy of Cactus, the madcap mayhem of The Insultilators, the classic skate punk of Dayglo Abortions, the intensity of hardcore four piece Long Time Coming, the gutsy attack of Blundermen and closer the speedy raw edged hardcore of Bombshelter. Surprising, entertaining and a lot of fun. Welcome to Toronto folks! 4 out of 5 by Sean McGhee Artcore issue #23 Bottle Of Smoke - Toronto Rock'n'Roll Compilation Like the title says, from great new bands like Sinkin' Ships, to oldies like Random Killing, all the bases are covered, all from a punk and rockin' perspective with lots of garage influenced bands. Other bands Ive heard of include Cold Blue Sky, Dayglo Abortions (did they move to Toronto?) and Cheerleader totalling twenty five. A nifty little booklet with lots of info and photos helps to tie everything up into a solid package. Welly! - RUBBER FACTORY Punk Planet #66 V/A – Bottle Of Smoke, CD This way above average compilation showcases a number of bands from Toronto. Highlights include The Fallout, The Class Assassins, Cheerleader 666, and Dayglo Abortions. There’s something for everyone here, with many sub genres represented, and it made me wonder what other overlooked Canadian bands might be lurking out there. (AE) Sleazegrinder.com Bottle of Smoke V/A Rubber Factory Records My main man, Johnny D, has erected this 26-song monstrosity of Toronto rock as a homage to an abandoned warehouse and the rock n’ skating vagrants who called it home for a number of years. Sure, the rubber factory ended up meeting it’s fiery demise by the very people who helped create it, but the music has survived in one cleverly named cultural treasure chest of high octane, gasoline-streaked, dog n’ pony mayhem. Bottle of Smoke is, for all pretenses, a family affair. It could have been called the Cactus Vella, Jason Dwyer, and Chris MacDonald show, seeing as how these guys appear in six, five, and three different bands each, respectively. And we’d be remiss to excuse Johnny D., who plays in two bands himself, namely Dogs and The Insultilators. But hey, since when is a scene not a scene, ya know? And there’s still plenty of other rotten roll to sift through, including unhealthy helpings of punk, screamo, and straight up cinder block riff rawk. Highlights on this one include perennial Hero favs “To the Cliff” (Goat Horn), R’NR (Cheerleader 666), “Cutthroat” (Maximum RNR), and “Butterball” (Flashlight Brown), and some new and worthy blood, “Mayday” (Sinkin’ Ships) and “Nowhere Too Fast” (Downbelows). The only thing that could have made this kick ass compilation supremely more ROCK is the inclusion of Red Light Rippers, Crash Kelly, and Damn 13. But we’re not gonna let a little oversight like that stop us from rockin’, are we friends? I didn’t think so. So here it is, Canada’s answer to whatever it is we have to answer to in the rock n’ roll universe. And if you still ain’t convinced, then just ask Sleaze why it is that at least half the bands on the forthcoming Cock N’ Roll II album are from Canada. - JW Warren Edmonton Sun Smokin' Punk from T.O. BOTTLE OF SMOKE Various artists Rubber Factory Records Bottle of Smoke barely begins to scratch the surface of Toronto's reservoir of raunchy rock 'n' roll, but manages to dig a fairly deep hole into one very particular area of the city's huge music scene. Twenty-five bands, ranging from punk to metal-aligned and beyond, are featured on this debut release from label Rubber Factory Records. Things are positively incestuous, with many of these musicians doing double, triple or even quintuple time as members of band after band. Bigger names like TKO Records' Class Assassins, Canadian hardcore legends Dayglo Abortions, Maximum RnR, and current Toronto sensations Sinkin' Ships stand alongside lesser-known acts such as No Man's Land, Stronghold and the Fire Side Band, with a couple of acoustic numbers thrown in. Many of these groups seem to be recent history, but if you've been wondering what the members of Sinkin' Ships were up to in 1998, here's your chance to find out. ROBIN SCHROFFEL <- BACK |
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