Judgement

We're glad to be premiering the rad new track "Define Alive" from Post-Hardcore band Judgement. This is a chilling single, and the third release from the band this year.

Every element of a hit within this genre is present in this track. As most of our readers know, we tend to be a bit picky with our Premieres. "Define Alive" boasts impressive instrumentals, vocal work, transitions and overall production. The song takes you on quite a journey, as does the Music Video they released to accompany the single.

We've been told an EP is on the way, though the title and release date is still TBA. The single officially comes out tomorrow, 11/24, and you can Pre-Save it on Spotify HERE. When the song does come out, it will be on our Heavy Heavy Heavy playlist on Spotify, and most likely on our Best of 2020 list at the end of the year. Make sure to follow the band (linked above) to check out the rest of their music! - Havoc Underground

July 8th, 2021 – Written by Em Miraglia

As we find ourselves two decades removed from the early 2000s, the trends of that era are due for a major renaissance. When it comes to alternative music, this means post-hardcore and 2000s pop-punk and emo are back in full swing. One group that draws from this era is Oshawa-based band Judgement, who made a strong debut with the release of their new EP Define Alive.

If you look at who Judgement lists as influences (in the form of a playlist on their Spotify page), you won’t be surprised to see the cover art for Alexisonfire’s Watch Out and Silverstein’s Discovering The Waterfront. The influence of these touchstone records in the genre shine through in major components of Define Alive like its vocal stylings emulating that of George Pettit and Shane Told, but also in the little details. I doubt I’m the only one who noticed the reference to Alexisonfire’s “Sharks and Danger” in Judgement’s “Anxiety, And The Fear Of…”, with its anxiety-ridden spoken word section and the sound of a phone line hanging up.

Though this group wears their influences on their sleeves, Judgement is worlds away from being some cheap nostalgia act. Define Alive stands as a solid collection of well-crafted and well-executed post-hardcore tracks that address social and internal issues that impact many. These songs tackle mental health struggles in terms of dealing with one’s inner demons as well as wrestling with the dissonance between one’s true self vs the expectations of those around them and society at large. With moments like the climactic final minute of opening track “Fading”, the line “You motherfuckers just want me to drown, but this water’s getting easier to tred. You motherfuckers are pulling me down, I shrug you off and I get back up again”, feels like it could be directed at either those inner demons or an external oppressive force (perhaps even both). Regardless, this moment is intensified by the layered vocal harmonies underneath the gut-wrenching screams. Considering the sheer force of that final minute and the simple yet incredibly catchy vocal melodies in the song’s chorus, “Fading” is definitely a highlight on the record.

Another standout track is “Terra Firma”, which I already named as one of my favourite songs of 2020 when it was released as a single. With its name translating as “solid ground”, this song is a letter of encouragement to every outsider who faces backlash for breaking away from the expectations that others project onto them. This song is a testament of the band’s ethos: be yourself, and accept and respect those around you with love and kindness.

The most anthemic song is closing track “November”, finishing the EP with its best sing-along material. “November” may be this generation’s answer to the undeniable 2000s alternative hit “Face Down” in that it’s a relatively karaoke-friendly emo song that speaks out against domestic abuse. However, Judgement’s song actually takes on the voice of the person facing the abuse, making it particularly hard-hitting. Interestingly, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus actually sits on their playlist of influences, just with a different song from the same album.

Though their music is great on its own, it’s worth noting that Judgement also puts their money where their mouths are when it comes to caring about mental wellness. As stated on their website, they donate to essential mental health service providers in Canada, and last December they organized a holiday donation initiative where they delivered care packages to local shelters. This band serves up killer tracks with a positive message, and they make a point to follow through and contribute to their community – it doesn’t get much better than that. - Canadian Scene Cult

TORONTO, April 21, 2021 /CNW/ - The votes have been counted from Canadians coast-to-coast as well as the CIMVA judges and the winners of the best Canadian Independent Music Video Awards have officially been announced. The winners were announced in a private Livestream awards celebration on March 13, 2021. This year's grand prize for Best Canadian Independent Music Video has been awarded to Ojibway/Irish Hip-Hop/Electronic artist Cody Coyote, who will receive a $500 cash prize provided by Toronto digital marketing agency Toronto Creatives, a year's worth of loose leaf tea provided by Canadian tea company Tea Squared, a year's worth of beer from Steamwhistle Brewery, a $100 gift certificate to Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, and a 1-year subscription to Sonicbids. All category winners will receive an award statue for their category as well as a gift pack including prizes from this year's award sponsors Tea Squared, SonicBids, Long & McQuade Musical Instruments & Steamwhistle Brewery.

The awards saw over 50,000 visitors to the Dropout Entertainment website from around the world and over 30,000 voters from across Canada participated in the voting process. The awards were presented at a private Livestream event on March 13, 2021, via the Dropout Entertainment website and welcomed over 400 attendees. The performances from the awards will be released on the Dropout Entertainment YouTube page.

This is the third annual iteration of the awards and the first year that featured a virtual awards ceremony. At the beginning of the year the team at Dropout Entertainment didn't know what to expect from Canadian artists with the on-set of the COVID-19 pandemic, but with the incredible videos submitted and the participation from Canadians the event fostered a greater sense of community within the Canadian music scene; and couldn't have been a bigger success.

Jesse Read, Dropout Entertainment's Founder had this to say about the Third Annual CIMVA Event, "It was weird to do the whole thing without a live audience but it was a blast filming the performances beforehand and getting an idea of what the whole night was going to look like a bit early" Read continued "I think one of the best parts was having artists provide remote acceptance speeches and performances from across the country, it gave the whole thing a bigger sense of community."

The awards Livestream featured original performances by Moscow Apartment, Alex Leggett, Apricity, Trick Casket, produced by the Dropout Entertainment team at Toronto's Rehearsal Factory, as well as remote performances sent in by Mountain Head, Queens & Kings, PINEO & LOEB and SHOOK PLANET.

The award winners this year include The Saydes video for 'Nightmare' which took home Best Rock Video; 'Mysterious Vibes' by AllMillz who took home Best Hip-Hop Video; 'Soul Stain' by Mountain Head who won for best Indie Music Video; 'Real Deadly' by Snotty Nose Rez Kids won for Best Indigenous Video; Noah Malcolm took home Best Folk Video for his video for 'If Not'; Justin Fancy won the CIMVA for Best Country Video for his video 'Sure Beats A Good Time'; Dani Kristina took home Best Pop Video for 'Drift Away'; Judgement won Best Metal Video for 'Terra Firma'; and Emilie Landry won the Best Lockdown Video for her video, 'Bouillir d'la Misère'.

The winner of the overall award for Best Canadian Independent Music Video released in 2020 went to Cody Coyote for the video for his song 'Manidoo Dewe'igan'. The video by Ajax Creative from Ottawa ON, tells the story of the artist's struggle with racism, gang violence and finding himself. A Canadian story that is all too familiar to some and overlooked by so many others. Beyond the important story the video tells, the video itself is impeccably directed and stunning to take-in.

Interviews with the winners of the Third Annual CIMVAs will be published on Dropout Entertainment's website in the coming weeks. Nominations are now open for the Fourth annual CIMVAs scheduled to take place in January of 2022. For more information or to nominate a Canadian music video released in 2021 for a CIMVA visit independentmusicvideoawards.com.

Dropout Entertainment is the newest voice in Canadian Music. Founded by Canadian musician and content creator Jesse Read, Dropout Entertainment has grown and gone on to interview many incredible Canadian artists and entertainers. Dropout is on a mission to shine a light on real Canadian Music, featuring live performances, photography, mini-docs, reviews and interviews with artists of all genres. In early 2020 Dropout Entertainment launched Dropout Radio, an Internet radio station that streams the best in independent Canadian music 24/7.

SOURCE Dropout Entertainment

For further information: Media Contacts: Jesse Read, Jesse@dropoutentertainment.ca, 647.863.3155; Benjamin Gibson, Benjamin@torontocreatives.com, 647.883.1550 - Drop Out Entertainment

Judgement put out a few great singles this year, the first of which was “Terra Firma”. With lines like, “I won’t be disheartened, I’m not your puppet on a string / Syllables are sharpened, but your words won’t cut these wings”, this powerful post-hardcore track is a testament to standing your ground (“terra firma” literally means “solid ground”) and living your own life as you see fit. Judgement delivers this meaningful message through a combination of passionate screams and evocative cleans. - Canadian Scene Cult

Judgement is a post-hardcore band from Oshawa, Ontario, Canada. Their sound touches on elements from the early 2000s emo/post-hardcore scene and adds a distinctly modern flavour and unyielding energy. They’re dedicated to fostering a movement that works towards equality, racial justice, and supporting mental health & addiction services.

Song 1: “Terra Firma”

This song has an undeniable groove and drips with passion. The banging instrumentation grabs you and doesn't let go. When I close my eyes and imagine the evocative lyrics, "walking your path as you try to pave mine," I see a person desperate to push past anyone holding them down.

The screamed lyrics are alarming and appropriate. The speaker is at the end of their rope, and yearns for freedom. The chorus includes the visually-striking lines: "syllables are sharpened, but your words won't cut these wings." Words hold tremendous power, but this individual won't be held captive any longer. The screamed proclamation, "I don't want to be, I don't want to be saved" is perplexing. The speaker has been here before, and knows this time will be different.

"Terra Firma" roughly translates to "solid ground." Sometimes things that feel familiar and "solid," are only that way because we've internalized others' expectations. This song pleads with the listener to discover courage and independence. The song's official music video includes Judgement performing in a greenhouse. This setting of rapid growth relates to the "blooming" of one's path in life. The ropes restraining each band member are the naysayers who keep us from transformative change.

Song 2: “November”

“November” paints a picture of toxic relationships and wishing things could be different. The acoustic opening presents a reflective verse that propels forward into a galloping chorus. It’s important that the first screamed vocal is, “I won’t stay quiet anymore.” This aggressive declaration informs the epiphany the speaker describes throughout the song.

This relationship could be a days-long tryst or a years-long marriage; either way, the speaker has had enough. The song’s subject matter is sourced from real-life experiences. The band listened to stories and worked to create a track that sheds light on social issues that are often overlooked.

The lines “It’s just who you the artist sketched and sculpted me to be” will hit home for anyone who feels they’ve been subjugated by a significant other. It could take years to break away from a gaslighter. This song is a beacon for anyone in the darkness of another’s shadow.

Song 3: "Define Alive"
On Judgement’s “You, The Artist” podcast, the band explains that “Define Alive” is about examining one’s life and determining what “alive” means. Judgement believes people should push themselves and be driven by what they want to do, as opposed to the opinions of others. The opening flourish is influenced by Underoath, and interplay between clean and screamed vocals display Judgement’s evolution from their pop punk roots to a post-hardcore aesthetic.

This song is an anthem of self-empowerment. The slower pace half-way through the song is a slight respite from the world’s many expectations on young people. The lines, “maybe we control ourselves” is a mantra meant to spark a light in one’s mind. I love how lyrics and instrumentation layer on one another before the song fades out.

The official music video for “Define Alive” includes two wandering, blindfolded, individuals who also have tape over their mouths. After they find each other and are freed from sensory deprivation, they compare pencil sketches and escape to the future they’ve chosen. - Cam Brio Music