It's rare that a band is given the opportunity to completely reinvent itself. It's rarer for a band to do it right. Welland, Ontario's The Snips have managed such a seismic shift with Blackouts, due October 12th on Drive Records/Fontana North.

Formed over ten years ago in the fuck-around way that most high school bands come together, by 2007, the band (then known as The Ceremonial Snips) had managed to get it together enough to grab the attention of noted Canadian punk label, Union 2112, along with Japanese imprint In-N-Out. Their full-length debut, "Check Your Audio," took The Snips all over North America, leading them to perform over 160 times in 2008 alone. Canadian and American tours with bands like A Wilhelm Scream, Streetlight Manifesto, and Black Lungs followed, as did dates on Warped Tour and a split 7" with good friends (and fellow Ontarian punks) The Flatliners, this time on Paper+Plastick Records.

But after over a decade, the band was due for a change. Outgrowing the frenetic, thrash-tinged ska-punk of Check Your Audio, the band parted ways with original vocalist Mike Podio, ditched the "Ceremonial" caveat of their name, and moved trumpet player Ricky Pridmore up into the frontman's spot. The reinvigorated band found themselves writing in a new, exciting way, using the horn talents of Pridmore and guitarist Chris Accursi to accent their songs, rather than lead them. Reaching outside the confines of melodic hardcore, the band's new songs sit somewhere between the world of fast-paced punk and thoughtful, energetic indie rock, flexing a musical muscle that would be equally at home on tour with Against Me! or Death Cab for Cutie.

The result of a year spent re-writing The Snips rulebook are the six songs contained on "Blackouts," which move from the catchy, anthemic rock'n'roll of 'Tired Tires' to the heavy, Hot Snakes-inspired groove of 'Finkle is Einhorn'.

Band Members:

Ricky Pridmore - Lead Vocals
Chris Accursi - Guitar
Mat "Barty" Breton - Bass
Tone Ventresca - Guitar
Brent Fulop - Drums

Online:

Official Facebook
Official Twitter
Official Website
Official YouTube

EXCLAIM MAGAZINE | "The Welland, ON group (now fronted by trumpet player Ricky Pridmore) segue seamlessly into rich, thick-throated pop punk on "Black Leather Vest," recalling vintage Attack in Black then filtering it through an arena rock generator. It's a sound that brings out the best in the band's energy and chemistry, both as songwriters and performers. Some of the old aggression still lingers, such as on "Finkle is Einhorn," a song that's both messy and technical, clearly coming straight from the guts, easily capturing Blackouts' well worn line between radio polish and road grease." [REVIEW}

DYINGSCENE.COM | "The Blackouts EP deserves all the praise in the world. There's a unique sound on it which opens up a new viewpoint on punk rock. While The Snips are still up and coming, Blackouts shows a band with potential and everything going for them." EDITOR'S RATING 4/5 [REVIEW]

GROUNDCONTROLMAG.COM | "...there's no doubt that the Blackouts EP is a success. It does precisely what most bands hope an EP will do: renew interest and curiosity among audiences for what might be coming in the future. In this case, Blackouts marks a significant artistic turn for The Snips and it will leave the hearts it wins waiting excitedly for another full-length." [REVIEW]

PUSHTOFIRE.COM | 2010 [INTERVIEW]

CITR 101.9FM: WE ALL FALL DOWN | OCTOBER 2010 [INTERVIEW: MEDIAFIRE | WINDOWMEDIA]

MUSICSHEBLOGGED.COM | OCTOBER 2010 [INTERVIEW]