Top 10 Canadian Hard Rock Bands of All Time
Canada rocks - from its landscape to its multiculturalism to its beer and music. Compiling a list of great Canadian hard rock bands of all time is a daunting assignment that will invite many criticisms and this list is not without ifs and buts. But the task is the fairly definable "hard rock" genre, meaning no metal, no punk, no screamo, no industrial and no straight-up melodic rock. So that cuts out a range of Canadian rockers: Max Webster, Alexisonfire, Headstones, Nickelback, Prism, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, Loverboy, even Anvil and Helix. It also eliminates solo acts. So with that caveat, here is Noisecreep's list of the 10 all time best Canadian hard rock bands in no particular order.
Rush formed in 1968 in the quiet suburb of Willowdale in Toronto. More than 40 years later, singer-bassist-keyboardist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson and drummer Neil Peart have sold more than 40 million albums worldwide. Yeah, yeah, you're gonna argue that Rush is prog-rock, right? True, they are progressive and unlike any other band out there with its intricacies and musicianship. But at its core, the trio rocks - hard.Essential Song: 'Tom Sawyer'
One of Canada's newest and biggest rock bands, the long-time friends from Streetville, Ontario have headlined arenas across the country for the past few albums now. Billy Talent frontman Ben Kowalewicz has a vocal style and stage presence all his own and guitarist Ian D'Sa has long developed a distinct sound. They've had a tough time breaking the U.S. like most bands do, but check out the reception they get overseasin Germany at Rock am Ring. Billy Talent rocksomeness will spread.Essential Song: 'Try Honesty'