The Corps (CAN) + Blacked Out (CAN)

The Corps:

Vancouver BC’s The Corps are the perfect union of comic books and punk rock. Debuting in 2015, these 4 friends have honed their sound with speed, heaviness, heart, and a dash of humour. They have a unique take on fast, aggressive and melodic skatepunk while also drawing on the classics of the genre. The band then uses the larger than life stories in their favourite DC Comics to talk about real issues and demand a better world for us all.

Brett “Limo” Hopkins of Modern Terror and former NOFX tour manager has described the band’s sound as “like a child of the divorce of Propaghandi and early No Use For A Name.”

In August 2022 The Corps played a sold-out hometown show as direct support for California legends Pulley and have shared stages with other notables like Belvedere, Satanic Surfers, and Propaghandi. They have toured extensively in Western Canada and appeared at Montreal’s Pouzza Festin 2019.

Backed by Montreal’s Thousand Islands Records, The Corps recently teamed up with Tim Creviston (Spiritbox, Rest Easy) for their most recent EP, 2022’s From Oblivion. These 6 tracks offer a great snapshot of what the band does well, as well as where they are going. The lead single Dear Detective is already their most-streamed song on Spotify. Lyrically – like their older EPs and debut full-length Tales from 2814 – the songs are full of easter eggs that will delight comic book fans, and invite the listener to guess at which comics are being referenced. But blend of speed, power and catchiness of the music will captivate punk fans of all types.

The band look forward to returning to the road in 2023, as well as recording their newest full-length album.

Blacked Out:

Blacked Out is a Vancouver, BC-based punk band on Thousand Islands Records. Their tunes blend aggressive riffs, catchy choruses, and thoughtful lyrics into a classic-yet-modern take on melodic hardcore.

The band originally started in 2004 in the small tourist town of Banff, Alberta. Working as a 3-piece, Ryan, Wade, and Morgan toured regularly, making zero money everywhere they went. They did, however, have the time of their lives playing in cities and towns all over Canada, and released their first full-length album Life Beyond the Line in 2008.

Blacked Out decided to relocate to Vancouver, BC in 2009 and immediately got busy inserting themselves into the thriving local punk scene. They recorded a new record shortly after, but due to a number of complications it would be 2016 before they would be able to release their follow-up album, Sereena.

Even though they have played some awesome shows with some amazing bands over the years, it wasn’t until Lee joined the lineup in 2017 that things have really come together for the now 4-piece Blacked Out. Bringing a second guitar and a more melodic voice into the mix has really changed their songwriting and ramped up the complexity of their music. Their latest offering Wasted Breath was released on Thousand Islands Records in 2020.