Music
Press
Thu Mar 20, 2008
By William McGuirk
Whitby's Only Way Back has an attack that comes at you on three fronts. Out on the wings and driven down the middle. A full furious assault that provides only one way back. Retreat.
Lead vox Bryan Begy brings the voice of radio-ready punks such as Simple Plan. Adam King does back-up vox. Both have the guitar grind of funcore punkers Gob or early Sum41 and trade bass and lead between them. It's obvious that their songs begin with melody.
When I put this to King in an e-mail, he replied, "I write the music for about 80 per cent of our songs and almost every single song I've written started on an acoustic guitar and did not get 'plugged in' until all the rhythms were complete and the foundation of the track was laid out. Once the track is ready for the band, I will bring it to our drummer Andrew (Staff) and he will add the beat that most suits the 'flow' of the tune. We have lived next door to each other for 15 years and have been jamming together since we were 14, so our song-writing process has been refined into a model of efficiency."
King provides a good pop hook and, if it weren't for the thunderous drumming of hardcore kit kicker Staff, one would fear the gigs that see Only Way Back paired with such granite-hewn rockers as Hostage Life. But as it is, they fit easily onto such a bill. They have also found a slot on 102.1 The Edge.
King continues: "Andrew has stayed true to his punk-rock roots, although a brief foray into hip hop definitely helped him develop his drum style. If you ask him about it, he'll lie, but trust me, his obsession with hard-hitting beats stems from his hip-hop years." The beats are what sets Only Way Back up on its recently released EP For Heavens Sake. Five tracks produced by Tom Petta which sing to the reason the band was formed.
"We were so tired of the music we were hearing that was classified as Punk/Rock which completely contradicted everything that we loved about the Punk/Rock that we grew up on", replied King, "So, in an effort to resurrect a genre that should have never been forgotten, we started Only Way Back.
"One thing we all agree on musically is the So Cal punk scene of the late 90s and the very early 2000s. That style of music just encompasses all of what we love about music in terms of the melodies, energy and just-have-fun attitude that we try to incorporate into our music and image"
Only Way Back is one of the finalists in Bandwarz to be held March 29 at Le Skratch. - Whitby This Week
Discography
- "For Heaven's Sake" EP 2007
- "A Voice to Speak" Full-length 2008
- Nation wide distribution of "A Voice to Speak" in stores in HMV's across Canada
- 102.1 The Edge is currently playing 13, For Heaven's Sake & Every Time I Leave
- myspace page currently streaming Every Time I Leave, Left Behind, Dear Christine, For Heaven's Sake, 13, and Reach The End
- The Riot Campus Radio (Durham College) currently playing These Walls, Reach The End, For Heaven's Sake, Dear Christine & Every Time I Leave
- Punknews.org currently streaming entire "A Voice to Speak" album
Photos
Bio
Straight from Canada’s musical heartland, Only Way Back is a three piece band from Whitby, Ontario. Fusing upbeat, melodic-aggressive music with honest and heartfelt lyrics, Only Way Back has created a fresh, powerful and distinct sound to call their own.
Only Way Back is Bryan Begy (Lead Vocals/Guitar/Bass), Adam King (Backing Vocals/Guitar/Bass) and Andrew Staff (Drums). Joined by unique circumstances in July of 2006, each of the three members have drawn upon their diverse musical backgrounds and past experiences with other bands to establish the framework for a band that was capable of making an immediate impact on the local music scene. Dedicated to the perfection of the live experience, the band played any and every venue that would take them in, striving each night to produce an explosive and memorable live show.
Over the last 2 years, Only Way Back has secured nation wide distribution of their full-length record "A Voice to Speak" in stores in HMV's across Canada, been getting radio play on 102.1 The Edge in Toronto and has played to thousands of fans at numerous venues, sharing the stage with such acts as: Silverstein, Ill Scarlett, The Cancer Bats, Social Code, GOB, Die Mannequin, Econoline Crush, Attack In Black, Hostage Life, DOA and many more. Ensuring that they make time for every fan after every live show and communicating directly with fans through their myspace (www.myspace.com/onlywayback) and purevolume page (www.purevolume.com/onlywayback), Only Way Back has developed a loyal and dedicated fan base. Spending countless hours together building and moulding their ideas, the band has created a diverse song catalogue showcased on their debut EP “For Heaven’s Sake” and their recent Full-Length LP "A Voice to Speak".
Produced by Tom Petta of Bigwig and recorded at The Soundmine Studio in the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania, “For Heaven’s Sake” is a collection of the five songs that became the foundation on which the band has begun to build its following. The EP is an introduction of the band that offers the listener insight into the bands hopes, dreams and experiences, but is accessible enough for the listener to relate to and be inspired by. Although each song is musically unique, the common thread is the honesty and raw emotion passionately expressed throughout the entire disc. Once again produced by Tom Petta from BIGWIG, "A Voice to Speak" is an extention and continuation of the bands melodic and hard hitting style that encompasses and truly represents the band and its members. "For Heaven’s Sake" and "A Voice to Speak" are a culmination of everything Bryan, Adam and Andrew ever wanted from their music, but is only the first step in accomplishing their lengthy list of goals. Only Way Back’s ultimate goal is to be heard by as many people as possible so that mainstream music can be returned to it’s roots, it’s most basic and primal purpose: To promote Truth, Honesty, and Passion.
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