TimeGiant

Can you remember the last time you witnessed a band unleash a raw and completely unapologetic dose of rock ‘n’ roll on the unsuspecting masses? If your answer is yes, in all likelihood you’ve recently been introduced to TimeGiant. Their sound is sexy. It’s bold. It’s edgy. It’s rock the way it should be. In a musical climate that is dominated by the polar opposites of folksy artists and prefabricated pop stars, the milieu of good, old-fashioned rock music has gone largely underserviced. Armed with blistering guitars and booming vocals, with the release of its hotly anticipated sophomore album A Night To Remember, TimeGiant is clearly on a one-track mission to change that. "It's straight up, no bullshit rock music. The sound that we bring is simple and bold," says frontman, Tyrone Buccione. "It's big harmonies, big vocals, big guitars. That's how we define originality - by bringing something back that we don't see anymore." The journey towards TimeGiant began in 2006. While studying at university in Windsor, Ontario Buccione met guitarist Ryan Watson and the two began jamming together. Quickly the pair knew there was a creative spark growing that was about to change everything. “We would jam in the residence lobby with tiny 10-watt amplifiers and our guitars,” laughs Watson. “I remember, a friend picked up a copy of One Way Ticket by The Darkness on the day of its Canadian release, and after listening to the album we both had a feeling that music was about to become a way of life for us. From that point on, we began writing songs and recording them in the residence kitchen on a small 8-track, and that was it.” Tyrone and Ryan immediately enlisted the help of Ryan's former bandmate Pat Wilken who picked up the bass guitar to join the developing outfit, perfecting the early core trio of the band. A new dimension would emerge for the band in 2010, when they packed up and moved to Toronto where they would eventually join with drummer Charlie McKittrick in 2011. At that moment, it was clear that the four musicians had collectively found their equals and TimeGiant was fully formed. “Although I was a little reluctant initially,” admits McKittrick, “Eventually we jammed a few times, and it just felt so great! The energy of the music, the vibe, and attitude of the group really spoke volumes to me.” In between releasing a debut EP in 2009 and a full-length album, Grow, in 2011, the band began to tour relentlessly. "After our last EP there was a huge growing stage in our career. We had just moved to Toronto and had a lot to learn about ourselves as a band," explains Buccione. "We grew up listening to AC/DC, Queen, Led Zeppelin and KISS. These were larger than life bands, and we wanted to carve our place out by bringing back that huge sound. So everything we started to do became about capturing our live energy." The fiery showmanship of their live performance quickly became the band’s calling card, propelling them to share the stage with heavy hitters like Finger Eleven, The Tea Party and The Jason Bonham Led Zeppelin Experience. Industry insiders and music fans alike immediately began to realize that the arrival of TimeGiant heralded a fresh new lifeline of unadulterated rock music that they had been clamoring for. It was this intensity that provided the impetus for the band to return to the studio in 2013 with a clear sense of purpose. The hard work and grit that has propelled TimeGiant forward is evident in its newest effort. A Night To Remember harkens back to the heyday of bold rock music with clever nods to staple artists of the rock ‘n’ roll cannon like AC/DC and Queen, but make no mistake -- this band is certainly no imitation of its predecessors. "The music of TimeGiant makes me feel like I'm back in the 70s. It was during this period in music that my favourite songs of all time were written," says McKittrick. “There is a strong nostalgic component at work. But rock music has always been about feeling good, being creative and having freedom of expression -- that is timeless. For me that is exactly what TimeGiant is all about.” Lead single “I Am the Fire” was born from a lightening bolt of inspiration and translates into a flash of delectable drama. It showcases a side of the band that was born to exist in the expanse of arena rock, nailing the huge sound of the band’s live performance as it never has been able to capture in the past. To help dial in this new direction, the band enlisted the help of critically acclaimed producers Jon Drew (Alexisonfire, Arkells, Matt Mays) and Greig Nori (Sum 41, Treble Charger, Marianas Trench). Both producers, with their reflexes for taking innate talent to a more refined level, have brought TimeGiant to a different place. Recording this time around has been equally about establishing who the band is, and testing its limits. “Each person brought something new to the process,” says Watson. “Grieg Nori helped us mature some of our previously released tracks, whereas on ‘We Forgot The Reason’ we had the pleasure of co-writing with Sean Kelly of Crash Kelly and Helix. Working with such high-caliber musician really pushed us.” “This album is our band and songs in pure form, not a manufactured product,” says bassist, Pat Wilken. “We recorded most of the drums and bass at the same time live-off-the-floor for a more organic rhythm, the vocals are kept as natural as possible, and we found pure rock tones for the guitars.” “Hard Lovin’ Woman” is as pure rock as it gets. A no-nonsense summer anthem about heartbreak, it stays away from classic rock clichés by incorporating new approaches to musicality for the band. The rich harmonies that have become a TimeGiant signature intermix with bold saxophones to create an untested element for the band, setting them apart on a clear path of expanding and refining it’s sound to perfection. The musical payoff of A Night To Remember is getting to see a band that wears its musical influences as badges of honour take the simple allure of rock music and elevate it to a place of its own design. “We separate ourselves by being ourselves,” asserts Wilken. “We push our own personalities into the music and try to do everything our own way.” It has been a long time since a band strolled into the musical consciousness to slap it awake and allow it to remember how fun, inspiring, and joyful rock ‘n’ roll is. Thankfully the wait for TimeGiant is over. Download A Night To Remember album: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/a-night-to-remember/id701297192. Music Vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1uav5Df4d3U