THE LOCALIST: AUGUST 2025

Taariq Ahad, member of local hardcore band Solsic, has had a pleasant change of pace with their most recent solo project release “Tomorrow”. The song addresses their personal experience with burnout, with emotional and introspective lyrics that contrast comfortably against the bright and melodic hip-hop instrumentals. It is expected to be included in an upcoming EP set to be released next year.

Curbside’s sophomore return is a fourteen-track high speed album that is an absolute blur in the best way. Consisting of members from other familiar local bands such as Handheld and Frank Dux, this long-awaited album comes thirteen years after their debut and is faster and heavier than ever! Expect blistering drumming, relentless guitars and intense vocal performances. 

This debut single from Packing has a playful indie charm that is undeniably catchy. Despite the upbeat instrumentation throughout the song, the lyrics explore solemn feelings of squandered opportunity and lack of direction, culminating in a shouty emo- inspired outro that leaves the door open for what future releases from the band might entail.

Kitchener’s self-proclaimed “best espionage garage rock band” makes their introduction with a three-track EP that is the perfect soundtrack to the grooviest spy film you can imagine. With vibrant 1960s organ, fuzz-laden guitar and overall surfy vibes, the band manages to sound vintage and familiar while remaining fresh and exciting. 

This album was originally released on BandCamp as a direct fundraiser for Rama, a friend of the band, and her family, who currently reside in Gaza and require immediate support. Feeding is a beautifully somber collection of recordings and songs that were created using a phone over the last five months. The process with which these songs came to fruition causes the collective project to feel innately delicate and vulnerable. 

Album artwork sourced from Bandcamp.