Sam Salmon & the Grand Manan Bandits, Miserable Weekend, Pale Horse Ritual, and We're Only Here for the Snacks
Sam Salmon & the Grand Manan Bandits - DOWN FOR LIFE
“The Anthem of Sam Salmon” is perhaps my favourite Motherhood song of 2025. Yes, this is a review of Sam Salmon & the Grand Manan Bandits album DOWN FOR LIFE which is the (somewhat) solo project of Brydon Crain but let me explain… This tune is an anomaly on this album, leading me to believe it was originally a Motherhood song that spawned the idea for Crain’s solo project. I could be wrong but regardless of how Crain became inspired to write an outlaw country record, I’m damn glad he did. Joined by the rest of his bandmates in Motherhood plus Keith Hallett, DOWN FOR LIFE is the country music I love. Classic country tropes of heartbreak, depression, coping, and loneliness all make an appearance through an unapologetic outlaw lens. Cash that in with impeccably crafted twang and you have a modern “classic country” masterpiece.
Miserable Weekend - We're Just Like You
Where has Miserable Weekend been all my life! It’s true it can be hard to sift through the Toronto music scene to find the gold but this band has releases dating back to 2018 and I just heard of them now! We're Just Like You is an extremely fun EP that was released at the end of 2025. This six piece act churns out the best new-wave music I’ve heard in years. Glistening synths, a danceable rhythm section and hot damn… that sax rips! We're Just Like You is danceable but also weird enough to sit down with and discover something new and unique with each listen.
Pale Horse Ritual - Diabolic Formation
This Hamilton band lifts the veil on the hypocrisy of organized religion on their debut album, Diabolic Formation. Channeling classic metal giants like Black Sabbath into a stoner-doom style that is sludgy enough to work as some type of metaphor for what you need to slog through to have unwavering belief in whatever you believe. The world is messy, if you can’t see the bad, how can you be trusted to understand the good? Like past metal greats, Pale Horse Ritual use occult imagery and loud guitars to ask heavy questions about belief structures and the damage they can perpetrate.
We're Only Here for the Snacks - Missed Our Stop
How does one come to terms with listening to Missed Our Stop by Winnipeg’s We're Only Here for the Snacks after learning that this album was made by 13 year olds. I think back to my childhood and realize I could never have done something so substantial at that age. This instrumental synth-forward rock band leans into dancable-prog on their debut album which shimmers with fun as the bands name would suggest. If you too are only here for the snacks, I’ll let you know that Missed Our Stop is a tasty treat that won’t rot your teeth.
