...And the Saga Continues
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Headquarters | Montreal , Canada |
| Products | Hardcore punk music, studio albums, EPs |
...And the Saga Continues was a hardcore punk ensemble originating from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
History
The group was initiated by Jonah Aspler on bass, Truffle Simmons handling guitar duties, Matt "The Fridge" Dillitzer on drums, and Chris Ross as the vocalist. Prior to forming this band, Aspler and Simmons were members of the late 1990s Quebec punk outfit All the Answers, which also featured Chris Snelgrove and Mike Sokolyk. Simmons departed to establish One Step Away alongside Dillitzer and Ross; with Aspler joining later, the collective evolved into ...And the Saga Continues, adopting a swifter and more intense hardcore punk approach.
Drawing inspiration from acts such as Minor Threat, Suicidal Tendencies, Bad Brains, D.R.I., Agnostic Front, and SNFU, the band produced four studio albums along with several EPs and compilation tracks. They toured on an international scale and garnered favorable critiques. Exclaim! highlighted their "remarkably D.I.Y. ethos" coupled with a bold and unyielding demeanor.
Their first record, Braust Till You Die (2000), was produced by Ryan "Ron" Battistuzzi and followed by a tour across the U.S. East Coast. Prior to this tour, Ross exited the band, leading Aspler to assume vocal responsibilities.
In 2001, they laid down tracks for The Sinister 3 with producer Radwan Ghazi Moumneh and engaged in extensive touring. This album was recognized for delivering "high-energy fast hardcore characterized by a power violence influence."
The 2003 release You Can't Stop The 3rd, recorded with Rene Garcia of The Brains and issued through Contempt For Humanity Records, received positive acclaim. maximumrocknroll described it as "consistently quality hardcore." Subsequently, the band toured alongside label colleagues Hands of Death.
In 2008, the band unveiled Making Enemies and Burning Bridges under Fuck the Bullshit Records, once again collaborating with Battistuzzi in production. Critics praised this album for its "relentless assault of aggressive hardcore sound."
Following the group's dissolution, members continued their musical pursuits: Simmons joined Hold a Grudge (associated with Insurgence Records) in 2008; both Simmons and Dillitzer later formed The Forum in 2009. Aspler contributed to projects including Hard Charger (based in Fredericton), Jon Creeden & The Flying Hellfish, Chris Snelgrove and the Last Mile, Conditions Apply, and Psychic Raccoon—whose track "Smokey Mountain" appeared on a Cuchabata Records compilation. This label also released Psychic Raccoon's debut album Beaver Skull in 2021.
Full-length albums
- 2000: Braust Till You Die
- 2002: The Sinister 3
- 2003: You Can't Stop the 3rd (Contempt For Humanity Records)
- 2008: Making Enemies & Burning Bridges (Fuck the Bullshit Records)
EPs
- 2004: Heads Up Cause We're Droppin' Some Shit – Split 7-inch with Hands of Death (Contempt For Humanity Records)
- 2005: Ferocious (Fuck the Bullshit Records)
Other contributions
- 2004: Montreal Spirit, a DTC Family Compilation – The Ballad of the Bugs (Dare to Care Records)
- 2006: Crush Your Canadian Idols – This One's For You Dickheads (Capital Kill Productions)
- 2006: The Battle Must Go On! – The True Pleasure Of Life (Fight the Mentality Records)