I Will Do My Worst #2
In lieu of a year end top ten list, I present to you a dirty dozen of selections from DEMO FEST 2025. In case you missed it, over 70 bands/musicians put together a new demo in October and November this year for our 2nd installment of DEMO FEST. All those releases are available online at 2025.demo-fest.org and all proceeds from donations/downloads go to the local Montreal mutual aid group Solidarity Across Borders.
I simply could not narrow this selection down to 10 releases, so it's 12. And even that was difficult, and many excellent releases were overlooked. I strongly suggest you check out the full collection of 70+ demos (and remember to donate). In alphabetical order, here's the list:
AMARGI - La única respuesta: la anarquía
One man band from Counterforce contributor Marginal. I think AMARGI wins the DEMO FEST award for "farthest traveled", contributing from Barcelona.
BASTARD IDOL - Demo 2025
Toronto-based recording project collab between Emily of TORPOR and INFLUX and Melody of HUMAN FORM. BASTARD IDOL has a live lineup with two Montreal members, and they've played one show in Montreal with a second one happening around the time this will be published... Not sure if it will be an ongoing full band but I hope so!
DISDICK S/T
Some DEMO FEST projects come about when someone realizes they should finally complete some unfinished project. DISDICK seems to have been in production hell for almost 20 year. Drum machine hardcore punk with mysterious origins. It's shocking no one has used the name before.
EGIDE - Demo
This demo was a total surprise from strangers in Quebec City. Perfectly executed mid 2000s crust. Usually time machine crust like this from Quebec (or Europe) falls totally flat for me. But not in this case! EGIDE is seemingly a recording project with members of ANEANTIX, but I hope they but together a live lineup and we see them at Varning this year.
IT CHOOSES YOU - Demo 25'
Scrappy an unpretentious hardcore that only a small town like Halifax can produce. This kind of demo gives me hope for the future of punk.
NORMAL NOW - Demo
The result of a last minute DEMO FEST sprint by Kelly from RECALL/DUREX and Evan from PSYCHIC ARMOR and CELL. NORMAL NOW shows once again that Evan is a deep well of creative and weird songwriting (see also OUCH! from DEMO FEST 2020).
PICEA - Boreal Raw Punk
DEMO FEST received more submissions from Homer, Alaska than anywhere else outside of Montreal. It seems like a whole crew of people there embraced the spirit of DEMO FEST and got together in several different configurations to spit out a pile of raw noisy punk demos. This one from PICEA has fit into my regular listening.
PROGRESS? - DEMO 2025
PROGRESS? is a proper new Montreal band who managed to rush out this debut recording in time for DEMO FEST. CF contributor Misery plus members of DUREX, DEADBOLT and NO WAR.
RECALL - DEMO II
Local heroes RECALL crammed to record a raw 4 song demo for DEMO FEST and it turned out amazing. I am sure you will hear more from this band this year.
RITALIN F.M. - Demo
I thought I would hate it but I love it. From the mind of GLASS DOLLS and you'll hear familiar things here but pushed in even weirder directions. Is it just a troll or is it so sincere it hurts?
SYNAPTIC ISOLATION SYNDROME - Consuming Mental Isolation
Montreal super-group with members of PORTAL TOMB, DRIP, WARKRUSHER and BALLAST (sorry Dave but it's true). I think it was originally pitched to me as some kind of crasher crust but in my (naive) opinion they ended up with more of a blistering fast hardcore crust sound. And a fun DOOM cover. "Crust!"
TRENCHCOAT - DEMO
The new IFO house band? Seb from DEADBOLT lineup joins Evan from PSYCHIC ARMOR and CELL plus CF contributor Corn. My guess is Seb and P-lou are finally getting to explore songwriting directions that falls outside of the DEADBOLT purview. More stripped down hardcore punk, but they still can't resist rocking with solos and bass lines.
Bonus: THE STEVE LAKE EXPERIENCE - The Feast of Stephen
After visiting Montreal to play with ZOUNDS, Steve heard about DEMO FEST and immediately committed to contribute something from his bottomless pile of unfinished tracks. DEMO FEST magic. A cosmic synth-based track followed by two sprawling rainy-day tracks that are vaguely psychedelic. A great way to cap off your DEMO FEST listening experience!