Meet Hydrate, a new hardcore band from Edmonton, Alberta that just dropped a demo late last month.
"In early 2023, our buddy Jordan asked Cody (drums) and myself if we wanted to start a band with him called Hydrate," guitarist Marc tells No Echo about their formation. "He was trying to learn bass and had always wanted to start a heavy hardcore band in Edmonton and knew we wanted to.
"Cody and I play in another band called Eyes Front, and through connections we reached out to the vocalist for Boiling Lye, Sam, to come play guitar. We also asked our friend Zion, who used to play in Eyes Front, if he wanted to take up vocals. We began to write the demo.
"Unfortunately, Jordan wasn't able to commit as much time as he needed to learn bass, and was kind enough to let us know and give his blessing to keep at it. We knew Michelle, the vocalist for the Edmonton band False Body, was learning bass so we reached out to her and asked if she wanted to be in Hydrate. We're beyond stoked that she decided to join us for what is now the full Hydrate lineup."
According to Marc, Demo 2024 was a truly DIY affair. "We just borrowed some equipment from some really good friends and did it over the month of August 2024. Our boy Sam wanted to do it himself and wanted to do all the mixing and mastering so we were entirely in. I have done graphic design and video production for Eyes Front and other bands in the past so I got to work on creating a vibe and the material to go with the demo."
Marc also shared his feelings on the current state of Hydrate's local hardcore scene. "Edmonton has some unreal bands and the community is strong and constantly growing. The talent in this city is unmatched.
"From the old to the new, for Edmonton Hardcore you should check out: Contain (I know you really liked them, Carlos), Hate Mission, Anathematize, EverythingYouEverLoved, Vargouille, Power of Evil, Feeding, No Skies, Furthermore, Fold, Vibes, Pre-Breaker, Calder, 40 Hands, and End Game. I know for a fact there's a ton more bands on the way too."
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Demo 2024 will also be available on cassette soon via Wormwood Records.
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