Shotmaker

Shotmaker were a three-piece post-hardcore/emo/screamo band from Belleville, Ontario (a small town about an hour and a half outside of Toronto) that were active from 1993-1996.

I think Shotmaker are one of those bands that were not heard by everyone, but had a profound effect on those that did (in terms of 90's post-hardcore, of course). They certainly had an interesting and innovative sound. Their songs seem to have this dissonant, rolling rhythm that pulsates at incredibly intense levels (kind of like later Black Flag, but in the most insane way). The drums beat ferociously while maintaining a certain technical ability, and the guitar just pours out these sloppy, jagged, distorted chords in a furious frenzy. The bass lines are incredible, and play an integral role in this band's sound. The three of them are an incredibly tightly-knit group, and produce a sound much larger than one would expect out of three people. The songs use very unique structures, with changes in tempo and time played with a perfect flow to them. Moments go from pure tension to sweet release, and vice versa. And of course, the throat-shredding vocals that foreshadowed pg.99 to top it all off. Just great stuff, what more needs to be said.  Shotmaker are certainly aggressive and intense, yet still had a melodic side. It just wasn't as blatant as their contemporaries. Overall, these guys are an incredibly solid band who are highly recommended for anyone even remotely into the whole 90's post-hardcore thing.

In 2000, they released a two-disc discography on Trouble Unlimited titled The Complete Discography: 1993-1996, which compiled the band's recorded material (which consisted of 2 LPs and a few EPs). However, a demo and certain songs from an early split are missing from it. The last six songs on the discography are also missing, but this is because I haven't been able to track them down yet (both in physical and digital form, though I'm always on the lookout). If anyone happens to have these missing songs, I would be incredibly gracious if you send them to me. Update: found them.

The Complete Discography 1993-1996 (2000)

Disc 1

1. Sky

2. Shortwave Radio

3. Uninhibited

4. Untitled

5. Bailer

6. Now And Then

7. Failure

8. Reconstructing Barriers

9. Controller.Controller

10. Driver

11. The Game

12. Archaeologist

13. Blocks And Channels

14. Untitled

15. Spark Lights The Friction

16. Newest Sound System

17. 7:14

18. Pilot

Disc 2

1. Satellite Screens

2. Security

3. Drifting

4. In Motion

5. 10/22/94

6. Curve

7. Drown

8. Two Left Standing

9. Table

10. Believe In

11. Rope And Pulley

12. Add And Subtract

13. Fine Day

14. Selector

15. Public Eye Opinion

16. Finest Noose

17. Radio Sampler

18. Cut

19. One Two

20. In Betweens

21. Nick's Question

22. I Say

23. Slow Down

24. In The Name Of

25. Trough