EXPAIN – Just The Tip (2014)
Release Date: June 24, 2014
Label: Self Release
Distribution: Bandcamp, iTunes, CD Baby
ISRC Codes #:
UPC Code #:
R.I.Y.L. – Thrash/Death/Punk, Black Dahlia Murder, Revocation, Slayer, Metallica, Megadeth, Municipal Waste,
Contacts: PR Rep – Jon Asher – ashermedia[@]gmail.com
Radio Promotions – radiotrackingashermedia[@]gmail.com
“…this group takes various elements of their influences – which includes punk, jazz, classical, world, pop, and even country – and melds them into some serious stunning thrash metal.” – Pure Grain Audio“For some parts it reminds me of the instrumental genius of latter Annihilator/Jeff Waters’ material…” – Brutalism
“Expain are a young band with a lot of potential, playing their own stamp of technically and well-versed music, which makes for great recognition value. “Just The Tip” is an album full of energy and offers tech savvy crossover thrash metal with lots of speed and is played with much precise.” Metal Glory
“Expain is a solid five-piece that conjures the best of metal. Not exactly thrash, nor progressive or even metalcore, but certainly a lot of the above, it swims in raging waters where technique, grooves, speed and melody meet. Beautified with an artwork from no other than artist Tony Koehl (Deamon, Gorgasm, Malignancy, Heavy Lord, and many, many more), this first album has many attributes to attract both eyes and ears. – Metal Made In Canada
“a band built on displaying technical skills behind the instruments. A heavy and potent mixture of thrash and jazz metal, Vancouver, Canada’s Expain is hoping to become a staple in a genre built on technical skill and speed” – Under The Gun Review
“…blasting Progressive Thrash Metal for over 40 min. This is a very interesting album…The vocals of Daniel Brand are impressive as he brings in low tempo screaming vocals, not so commonly heard these days in Metal. The bass of Nikko Whitworth adds a whole new dimension to the music created by the axe-men Pat Peeve and Eric Morrison. The drums of Ryan Idris are fast paced, but sometimes sound as if they are made by some drum machine software. If it’s really him on the drums, then boy he is very talented, hahaha.” – Metal Temple
“The guitar, bass, and drums on this release keep things moving quite effectively. This band will stand out for a lot of people because they regularly take musical breaks that have the quality of jazz. This isn’t a jazz album, but it does flirt with a slightly more free-floating musical style.” – Sea of Tranquility
“a perfect blend of the technical and melodic, combining together to create a sound that is incredibly unique and forthright. I have listened to the album several times now, and each time I find myself enjoying some new dimension to the sound, or some new aspect of the music. It just keeps getting better.” – Vancouver Metal
“In my metal induced coma, I am inclined to say this band should not be sniffed at or trifled with, they are some serious thrash metal impresarios… For Fans Of: Uber thrash with a touch of jazz.” – All About The Rock
“Expain wastes no time in letting their aggressive sound progress and blare out as loud as possible ” – Kingston Music Reviews
“the music is contagious like a multilateral infection. I just use thrash metal as a standard hear, but in fact all fans of any bit of musical violence can find something to his likings back in this.” – Lords of Metal
“Wildly diverse band that combines elements of thrash, punk, tech metal and even some jazz with an off-the-wall comedic streak.” Prog NW Metal Zone
“a powerful album that plays host to melodic riffs, vengeful beats and impressive vocal. All in all the time chugged by with just over half an hour (36 minutes and 14 seconds to be precise) and is certainly an album that doesn’t out stay its welcome.” – Demented Magazine
“It’s one of the finest independently released albums I’ve ever heard in my life. From the short intro track ‘Bacchus’ all the way to the perfect closer in ‘Eating A Beating Heart,’ there’s so many quality thrashers on the disc. ‘The King’ is a personal favorite of mine as the musicianship is ridiculously tight. ‘Aggressions Progressions’ has an absolutely beautiful dueling solo section and ‘Manatee’ has a sick bass solo. Overall it’s 11 tracks of pure thrash mayhem” – Broken Neck Radio
“very well written, catchy songs of melodic Thrash Metal. It’s not bad, and certainly has some good Death metal parts as well, brutal riffs, insane blasting and raw vocals, so i’ll have to wait and hear what they do next. Their progressive influences is something cool and accurate as they could be, the playing is impressive, sometimes very much so. The super thick production is great too and a good idea. Somebody tell me why these guys aren’t signed?” – Soul Grinder Zine
“The band comes racing out of the gate with three dementedly heavy fist-pumpers….a promising metal act that is well worth a listen.” – Discorder (E.P.E.P Review)
“a strong mixture of early Thrash and Crossover Thrash concepts, blending them with a Melodic Death Metal sound, and plenty of energetic aggression.” – Apochs Metal Review (E.P.E.P Review)
“Don’t leave your children alone with The Almighty Excruciating Pain” – Metal Sucks (E.P.E.P Review)
Track Listing:
1. Bacchus (1:05)
2. Aggressions Progression (3:40)
3. Phoenix Writhing (3:19)
4. The King (5:04)
5. Don’t Worry The Worst Is Yet To Come (3:33)
6. Idol Worship (5:23)
7. Allegiance To Pain (2:18)
8. Manatee (4:58)
9. Headbang Your Head Off (2:31)
10. A.T.M. (3:44)
11. Eating A Beating Heart (4:57)
Total Length: 40:37
Album Credits:
All Songs performed by – Expain
All songs written by – Expain
Produced by – Matthew Roach
Mixed by – Matthew Roach
Available on – CD+Digital
Album + Live lineup:
Daniel Brand – Vocals
Pat Peeve – Guitar
Eric Morrison – Guitar
Nikko Whitworth – Bass
Ryan Idris – Drums
L-R – Daniel Brand – Vocals | Nikko Whitworth – Bass | Ryan Idris – Drums | (laying across couch) Pat Peeve – Guitar | Eric Morrison – Guitar – Photo Credit: Samantha Mayne
There’s something to be said about technology and its ability to bring musicians together and Vancouver’s Expain has Craigslist to thanks for its birth.
Mixing thrash with jazzier elements and everything in between, the band delivers music that’s energetic, diverse and thoughtful in every sense of the word. “Our music tends to be very melodic and we put a big emphasis on the songwriting, as well as the individual riffs,” says guitarist Eric Morrison.
The band’s debut album, ‘Just the Tip’, plays to its sense of humour, but also represents the beginning of a musical journey that’s not bound to stop or slow down any time soon. Writing about everything from overcoming adversity to partying hard, living in an ever-changing city and the state of today’s society as a whole, Expain has captured its true identity on record.
As Morrison explains, “We go through many different concepts on this album but I think throughout all of it there is an attempt to stay hopeful and make something positive out of difficult or unpleasant situations.”
Shared stage with:
Suffocation, Archspire, Powerman 5000, Nylithia, West Of Hell, Unleash The Archers, Mortillery, Into Eternity, Thor
Tours & Festivals:
2014 – Western Canadian Tour (BC/AB)
2013 – Western Canadian Tour (BC/AB)
2013/ 2014 – Armstrong Metal Fest
2013 – Medicine Hat Metal Fest
ashermediarelations.com 
Comments
Trackbacks & Pingbacks
No incoming links found yet.