If you know me personally, you already know that Canuck rock has a special place in my heart. Recently we featured the band on our show with a song called “Pretty Girls on Bikes.” The newest track “Alien” has a catchy blues infused vibe, add some bass distortion and you’ve got a fun song that really grooves well with anyone looking to discover someone who’s new and interested in the bands journey.

dubé is one of the reasons Canada’s talent pool is on fire right now. You won’t be able to get enough!

Welcome dubé, a young rock trio from Ottawa, Canada with their no-fucks-given attitude.

Consisting of three brothers (Quinn, 16, Jan, 18 and Liam, 20), dubé arrive with a fiery attitude, heavy hitting songs and a live show that oozes talent way beyond their tender years. Pulling inspiration from 90s and 00s hip-hop + pop-punk and from the aggressive, anarchistic outlook of earlier rock records, their new single
‘Alien’ is their most rebellious effort to date.

Speaking of the track, the band explain:

‘’Whether it’s teachers, parents or our friends parents, the song expresses rebellion and rage and is designed to “wake up” and shake up the youth to stand up for themselves and do what they want.

We want people to take action for themselves rather than be told they need to be more like “this” or “that” to be successful in life. We wrote this song because we feel different, like Aliens.

We know there are many of us out there that feel like we don’t fit in.We’ve come to realize we are all different, we are all Aliens.’’

With the release of debut single “Pretty Girls on Bikes” in late July, the band were introduced via Spotify’s New Music Friday, hitting 300,000+ streams to date, #9 Canadian Viral Charts, #32 US Viral Charts and further playlist entries in New Noise, Totally Alternative, Rock Your Block and Hot New Alt Tracks.

With over 180 shows under their belt on their Canadian soil, including performances alongside Arcade Fire, an appearance at Bluesfest, Ottawa, and a recent European tour with Sløtface, dubé are sure to make waves in 2018.

FB: dube.official
TW: @dube_official
INSTAGRAM: @dube_official

The legendary frontman is busy right now with The Rolling Stones tour in Europe, but seems that Mick Jagger’s new singles slipped under the radar this past summer.  Which blew me away. For a guy who’s got over 700,000 subscribers on Youtube his new video only has close to 1 million views.  Mick released 2 songs this summer England Lost and Gotta Get A Grip.

Gotta Get A Grip hit the second spot on the Billboard Hot Singles Chart – was in the top 50 on the charts in Mexico and France. 

The second single: England Lost experienced less success, but reached a top 50 spot on Twitters Top Tracks Chart coming in at #44. 

At 74 years of age, Mick still has what it takes to create new music and perform on stage like a guy in his early 20’s.  You can catch England Lost on this weeks episode of the World Rock Countdown.

Thank you Hamburg for an amazing first show! #StonesNoFilter pic.twitter.com/xcmDKJwQiQ

— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) September 10, 2017

They have taken Australia by storm and are ready to break on the international scene. Take note.

Skies Collide began in 2012

February 2017 saw the band release a new single and video for the track ‘Run Wild’, which debuted on Alex Baker’s ‘Fresh Blood’ program as part of Kerrang! Radio. Skies Collide released a second single ‘Come Alive’, which premiered on Idobi Radio with Mike Fishkin on the 4th of May and was featured in two Alternative Press articles. Skies Collide released their debut album ‘The Dream & The Lie’ on the 21st of July 2017.

The bands newest album “The Dream and The Lie” was recently released, can you describe what it was like working on this album?

What are some issues that you feel hinder a band from breaking out on the scene these days?

How did you all meet?

For the super fans out there, what is your pre gig ritual?

We actually don’t really have a set pre gig ritual. It’s mostly a lot of running around panicking to set up gear, making sure everything is working and Britt freaking out side stage haha

What are the plans to promote this upcoming album?

Lots of social media spamming but we’re also looking at booking a tour of Australia for the end of the year!

Who comes up with the arrangements for the songs on the record?

Vince​ ​Santonastaso​ ​–​ ​Vocals

Kevin​ ​Cust​ ​–​ ​Guitar

Blair​ ​Smith​ ​–​ ​Drums

Fernando​ ​Carrera​ ​–​ ​Bass

James​ ​Soto​ ​–​ ​Guitar

Beautiful,​ ​humble,​ ​balanced​ ​and​ ​intelligent​ ​-​ ​a​ ​perfect​ ​dream.​ ​Hailing​ ​from​ ​New​ ​Jersey,​ ​where countless ​ famous​ ​ acts​ ​ have​​ ​been​ ​discovered,​ ​you​ will​​ find​​ ​Symetria.​ ​Pleasing​ ​the​ ​musical ​​taste buds ​ of​​ ​thrash,​ ​power​ ​metal, ​ metal,​ ​ hardcore,​ ​​classic​ ​rock​ ​and ​​straight​  up​ ​ rock​ ​ ‘n’​ ​ roll​​  ​fans ​ alike,​ Symetria’s ​ mission​ ​ is​ ​ to​ ​ connect​ ​ with​​  their​  ​fans​​ and​​ touch​​ ​their​ lives​ ​ as​ ​ music​ ​ has​ ​ touched​ theirs.

Vince​ Santonastaso​ ​ ​(vocals)​ ​and​ ​Kevin​ ​Cust​ ​(guitar) ​met​​ ​playing​ ​in​ ​an​ ​Iron​ ​Maiden, ​ Judas​Priest ​ and​ ​ Metallica​ ​ cover​ ​ band.​ ​ But​ ​ Vince​ ​ knew​  ​after​​ ​playing​ ​for​ ​over​ ​15​ ​years,​ ​it​ ​was​​time​ ​for more,​ ​and ​ boy​ ​ was​ ​ Kevin​ ​​ready​ ​too.​ ​In​ ​their​ ​eyes, ​​Symetria ​​wasn’t​ ​even​ ​a​ ​concept ​​yet​  but​ ​ little​ did ​ they​ ​ know​ ​ this​ ​ was​ ​ just​ ​ the​ ​ beginning.​  ​Fernando​ ​ Carrera​ ​​(bass)​ ​was ​​an​​old​ ​friend​ ​of​ ​Kevin’s, came ​ to​ ​ jam​ ​ after​ ​ moving​ ​ back​ ​ from​ ​ California​ ​ and​ ​ blended​ ​ right​ ​ in.​​ ​The​ ​missing ​ piece​ ​ ​was ​ Blair​ Smith ​ (​ drums) ​ who,​ ​ by​ ​ ​luck  ​of​​  the​​  draw,​ ​ they​ ​ found​ ​ on​​ Bandmix.​​  He ​​came ​in​ ​ on​ ​ ​a​  ​rainy,​  muddy​ Sunday ​ afternoon,​ ​ and​ ​ he​ ​ made​ ​ it​ ​ thunder.​ ​ His​ ​ style​ ​ ​and​  ability​ ​ to​​ bounce​ ​ around,​ ​ change​​  time​ and​ ​lay​ ​a​ ​groovy​ ​beat​ ​made​ ​the ​ band​​ bring​ ​ ​him ​ ​back. ​ And ​ so​ ​ Symetria​ ​ ​was ​ born.​

Symetria​ ​spent​ ​the​ ​fall​ ​jamming​ ​and​ ​writing.​ ​They​ ​had​ ​7​ ​songs​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​play​ ​but​ ​were​ ​still missing ​ that​ ​ second​ ​ ​guitarist​ ​they​ ​needed ​​to​ ​really ​​solidify ​​the​ ​bands​ ​sound​ ​and​ ​power. ​​But finding ​ “the​ ​ one”​ ​ was​ ​ proving​ ​ to​ ​ be​ ​ more​ ​ difficult​ ​ than​ ​​expected. ​ Regardless,​ ​ ​the ​ band​ ​ took​​  their​ first ​ show​ ​ in​​ ​November​ ​2016,​ ​a​ ​Toys​ ​for​ ​Tots​ ​benefit​ ​in​ ​PA,​ ​and ​ the​​ response​​ ​they​received​​ ​was overwhelming. ​ The​ ​ rest​ ​ was​ ​ history.​

The​ ​band​ ​engaged​ ​with​ ​Tim​ ​McMurtrie,​ ​an​ ​old​ ​contact​ ​from​ ​a​ ​previous​ ​band​ and​​ ​also​ ​the original ​ guitarist​ ​ for​ ​ M.O.D.,​ ​​and ​his​​  new​ ​ label​​  Tripsquad​ ​ Records.​ ​ Symetria​ ​ started​​ recording​ their ​ full-length​ ​ album​ ​ at​ ​ Trax​ ​ East,​ ​ produced​  ​​by ​ Eric​​  Rachel​ ​ and​ ​ Tim.​ ​ While​​ all​​  of​ ​ this​​  was​ going​ ​on,​ Symetria​ ​ hopped​ ​ on​ ​ a​ ​ friends​  ​​show ​ ​in ​ Allentown,​ ​ PA​​ ​and​ ​the​​crowd ​ ate​ ​ it​ ​ up​ ​ -​ ​ ​further solidifying ​ they​ ​ were​ ​ really​ ​ onto​ ​ ​something. ​ The​​  recording​ ​ was​​​done​ ​and​ ​sounded​ ​so ​​full,​ ​so powerful ​ and​ ​ so​ ​ intense.​ ​ Now,​ ​ it​​  was​ ​ time​ ​ to​​  ​add ​​the​​second ​​guitarist. ​ Enter​ ​​James​ Soto​ (guitar). ​ While​ ​ James​ ​ isn’t​ ​ on​ ​ the​​  full-length,​ ​ his​ ​ influence​​  ​is. ​ Behind​ ​ the​​  scenes,​ ​ Kevin​​  jammed​ with​ ​James,​ ​teaching ​ him​ ​ all​ ​ of​ ​ the​ ​ music,​ ​ ​making ​ ​his ​ audition​ ​ ​for ​ Symetria​ ​ gig-level​ ​ acceptable.​

What​ ​sets​ ​Symetria​ ​apart ​​from​ ​the​ ​ever-growing ​​metal​ ​scene​ ​is​ ​not​ ​just​ ​their​ ​unique​ sound,​ ​ but​ their ​ humanitarian​ ​ roots.​ ​ As​ ​ a​ ​ band,​ ​ they’ve​ ​ lived.​ ​ They’ve​ ​ ​been​  around​ ​ the​ ​ block​ ​ a​ ​ few​ ​ times​ and​ ​their​ ​goal​ ​isn’t​ ​only​ ​to​ ​sell​ ​out ​ shows​ ​ and​ ​ ​make ​ ​a ​ global​ ​ name​ ​ for​ ​ themselves.​ ​ From ​ animal​ shelters​ ​to​ ​habitat​ ​for​ ​humanity,​ ​Symetria ​ want​ ​ to​ ​ be​​  known​ ​ as​ ​ ambassadors​ ​ for​ ​ helping​ ​ people​ and​ giving​ ​ ​back.

Symetria’s​ ​debut​ ​album​ ​is​ ​slated​ ​for​ ​release​ ​September​ ​29,​ ​2017​ ​on​ Tripsquad​ ​Records​.​ ​The very​ ​same​ ​weekend,​ ​Symetria ​ will​ ​ share​  ​the​ ​ stage​ ​ with​​  idols​ ​ and​ ​ metal​ ​ icons​ ​ OVERKILL.​ ​ With​ two​ ​big​ ​milestones​ ​in​ ​such​ ​a​ ​short​ ​time​ ​for​ ​young​ ​band,​ ​Symetria​ ​has​​proven​ ​they​ ​are​ ​in​ ​it​ ​for the ​ long​ ​ haul.​ ​ Horns​ ​ up!​

Your music is Judas Priest, meets Avenged Sevenfold, why is it so important as musicians to stay true to your roots?

Blair – Honestly I think we are a bit more than that, we try not to be stuck in the past, while staying true to your roots is a noble endeavor you risk becoming irrelevant. We are all a sum total of our parts and we all have different influences that make us who we are as musicians and help us establish our musical identity. You need to keep fighting to do things a little different, be creative and innovate while alluding to your past and not play just like your influences , that has already been done .

James – I think it’s important because of the next generation that’s gonna be grabbing an instrument and making music. They should know what started it all and where the foundation lies for this music that we love. There’s a reason why many of these early metal bands are still so relevant today even among the younger crowd, it’s just great music, simple as that. At the same time we should be striving to build and expand on those roots, always moving forward without getting stuck in the past.

Vince – Why change the recipe for success, the challenge lies in finding ways to create new music with the old feeling, that’s how you re-connect with old heads, and bring in the young crowd at the same time.

Playing in cover bands in the past and now an original band, what are some differences you can decipher ?

Blair – The last cover band I was in was a loooong time ago . The ability to create my own sound and establish my own niche as a musician is something I have always wanted . Cover bands are all about playing and perfecting your skills so you can play someone else’s part. While there is always a place for this in the music world there is a danger as you can lose yourself and all of the things that make you unique; you didn’t take up an instrument and invest all that time to play someone else’s music . If you did have at it , you will make a lot of money and have a full gig schedule and I wish you nothing but success and happiness . That was just not in my cards .

Vince – Covers can be fun, and I’ll always enjoy jumping up with friends that are playing a bar and doing a Metallica song or something like that, but it’s still someone elses music. If you love it, and that’s what your happiest doing that’s great, I want to create, and there’s no creating when your playing covers. I used to think covers were easier, that’s not necessarily true, when everythings clicking you can write a song faster then learning somebody elses. On the flipside the response is always greater doing covers, at least at first, and all your friends will come out and see you every time you play.

Your newest album will be available via Tripsquad records, can you explain how all this came to fruition?

Blair – Vince’s relationship with Tim goes back a way , I guess the old adage never burn your bridges is true . It is a bridge we walk across today .

Vince – I’ve know Tim for a number of years, he had just released his bands full length, after an EP a year or so earlier, so I called him to ask about the differences between the 2, knowing that they re-recorded the EP songs for the full length I wanted to know if the EP was a step worth skipping. For us going full length right away made more sense especially considering theres so many different feelings to our sound that picking 3-4 songs for an EP was nearly impossible. That conversation led to him telling me about this label he was starting, a life long dream of his, and it just worked that his dream of a label, and my dream of a professionally released album all clicked together.

What are some of the bands goals?

Blair – To be happy, creative , make a difference in music, in the world and enjoy the journey .

Vince – To cross the lines of the metal community and break the sub-genre lines. I want to be the band that brings it all back to the basics, Heavy Metal Rock & Roll. Horns up in the air, heads banging, hair flailing around, body moving the whole time were playing. No haymakers, and round house kicks, we ain’t about that. Have a good time, feel good, and love eachother. I remember going to huge metal shows, tens of thousands of people all together, smiling, bobbing there heads, waving there arms, fists in the air, and everyone being there to be together. I want to see the brotherhood strengthen again, and I want to be a part of it.

You’re playing with Overkill at the end of the month ( September 29th), can you explain what it means to share the stage with these legends?

Blair – It means a ton, Overkill are guys who found the formula , they innovate , create new exciting original great music with every album . Personally now that Jason Bittner is playing with them it takes on an even more important tone . He is a guy I have followed since his Shadows Fall days and is a drummer that few can come close to in the musical world . It will be a humbling, emotional, surreal experience and to say I was not nervous would be a lie lol….

James – To open for such an influential band that is still going strong and putting out consistently good music is amazing. I’ve been counting down the days and I can’t wait!

Vince – For me it’s a dream come true, Bobby was the first guy that made me want to be a singer. To share the stage with legends like them the day after our album releases is amazing.