B-Lines Opening Band

Vancouver quartet B-LINES refuse to be killed by death and are finally back with another manic burst of proto-hardcore punk. Known for their short, spastic and occasionally bloody live shows, the band has captured that energy and broken glass once again on Opening Band, another quick 12-inch for Hockey Dad (North America) and Nominal (Europe). The record marks an evolution for B-Lines, who've matured enough to write a handful of songs that break the two-minute mark. That's not to say they've gotten smarter--these are stupid songs about feeling stupid, being stupid, trying to forget about one's stupidity and finally embracing the stupidness of it all. The nine song release concludes with its title track, a celebration of the leagues of forgotten go-nowhere bands clogging up your local DIY punk dive. As always, B-Lines offer terse blasts of melodic hardcore punk not unlike the sounds of Red Cross and the Descendents. Desperate vocals, frantic drumming and trebly guitar set the stage for frontman Ryan Dyck's smart-ass observations and entertaining ennui. All of it recalls a time when hardcore was as catchy as it was destructive.