No longer an emerging progressive rock band, Matchbreaker is set to release their sophomore EP next week at The Artery.
Fronted by St. Albert vocalist Brad Roy, the six-track No Windows is a more polished release than their debut EP Love for the Loveless.
Roy, the four-piece band’s major songwriter, borrowed the “no windows” concept from that old saw, “When God closes a door, he opens a window.”
“The album is about the hard times and the hard decisions we have to make in life. Different tracks talk about different personal issues,” Roy states.
There’s Fly Away, a pop rock number about escaping from life’s hardships and Endlessly, a catchy single Matchbreaker hopes to push on radio.
No stranger to making difficult decisions, Roy is working towards a commerce degree from MacEwan University. But he’s also had an eclectic musical background performing with punk band Brother Voodoo, emo screamo band A Portrait of Midnight and modern heavy rock band City of Sails.
While working at a pizza restaurant, Roy met guitarist Isaac Rasmussen and invited him to record a Christmas song he’s written for his family. During the jam, Rasmussen started playing chime-sounding harmonics over Roy’s guitar and soon they were an acoustic duo.
In March 2012, they released Love for the Loveless, an eight-track that Roy describes as fun.
“When we were writing for the acoustic album, we wanted to have a lonely sound – not depressing, but lonely, separated, pensive. We wanted to give it a raw, earthy sound.”
In the successful backwash of Loveless, the duo decided to expand into a full band. As a twosome, they were limited in diversity and were booked exclusively at intimate venues.
Drummer Logan Cunningham came to their attention and was snapped up.
“He practices five hours a day, and his beats are very interesting. They’re not just the traditional beats.”
Bass player Bazier Butti arrived after promoting himself with a text message.
“We were looking for someone who was committed, someone who could play bass and understood the instrument. But the prerequisite was he had to work as hard as everyone else to promote the band.”
The result of this progressive rock outfit is a sound that is faster, heavier, more experimental and diverse.
Stoked and ready to release No Windows on Tuesday, Nov. 19, the band has invited three opening acts to get the party rockin’.
Ken Stead and Royce Mathew, two acoustic folk musicians kick off the evening followed by the young and rowdy rockers Cheap Date.
Admission is $15 and is available at www.matchbreaker.ca. The Artery is at 9535 Jasper Ave.
