Since I'm not a hard-core punk or ska fan, it's a style that can be overwhelming at times. Served with too much too fast, sometimes I feel like I ate my supper too quickly. It can be a very heavy genre, and even the slower songs can have a heavier feel to them. But luckily there are bands out there who are a comfortable balance for the leery listener.

The Flatliners have found a happy medium of music I can punk-out to. They have managed to maintain the core ska/punk feel without selling out to the radio-friendly watering down feel that can happen. They're heavy without being too much. They weave between styles seamlessly and they make it work. And their MySpace page is the perfect taste of what they have to offer.

The Flatliners MySpace page with 5 songs.

Eulogy starts out as a hard-core punk song, but has a toned down break as a bridge halfway through the song. It finishes strong and gives a hint of the versatility of the band.

The Respirator carries a guitar-heavy ska feel throughout the entire song. The vocals mimic that feeling, with a slightly more punk feel. It's a combination that can be either great or tragic and these guys have found the perfect balance.

The heavy punk feel returns for The World Files For Chapter 11. It's an energetic song with very strong backing vocals. The song is straightforward, but never gets boring. It truly is pure punk goodness.

Fred's Got Slacks won't let you mosh, but if your head-banging skills are up to par, this is the song for you. The energy just builds throughout the song, save for a very brief break between the chorus and the verse. It's a lot to take in for a song, but it really highlights the diversity of The Flatliners musical tastes and abilities.

Do Or Die is just a great song. It gives one more taste of their ska style and makes even non-punkers want to get into the groove of things. Expect your feet to start tapping a little bit, if nothing else. The feel of the song shifts and changes several times and is a strong song to use on their MySpace page.

Don't expect punk song after punk song with these guys. They're a band with a powerful, energetic, unique feel to every song and their live show is bound to impress.

The Flatliners
@ The Kathedral (651 Queen Street West)
416.504.6699
Saturday, May 3, 2008
$13.00

Photo by Shelby Soho