Ten Second Epic
| Company type | Band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2002 in Edmonton, Canada |
| Defunct | February 25, 2014 |
| Fate | Disbanded (2014), reunited for performances in 2025 |
| Headquarters | Edmonton , Canada |
| Products | Alternative rock music, studio albums, EPs |
| Website | www |
Ten Second Epic was a five-member alternative rock group originating from Edmonton, Canada, established in 2002. The lineup consisted of Andrew Usenik on vocals, Daniel Carriere and Craig Spelliscy on guitars, Sandy MacKinnon handling bass, and Patrick Birtles on drums. Over their career, they produced three studio albums: Count Yourself In, Hometown, and Better Off. The band officially ceased activities on February 25, 2014, followed by a farewell tour in May of the same year. They later reunited for two performances in Edmonton on November 21 and 22, 2025.
Formation and early development (2002–2006)
Initially formed as a casual endeavor among high school peers, Ten Second Epic rehearsed in their drummer’s basement. After performing locally in Edmonton, they collaborated with Nik Kozub to record the 'Your Famous Last Words' EP, which they produced and distributed independently at live events. Expanding their presence throughout Western Canada, they partnered with Edmonton-based indie label Farway Records for their subsequent release.
The band recorded the One More for the Road EP alongside Real Cardinal. Its 2004 launch was accompanied by a complimentary concert at the Edmonton Events Center that reached full capacity with 1,600 attendees. This event garnered considerable media coverage and led to the band being named "Best Band in Edmonton" by SEE Magazine. When Farway Records dissolved, Ten Second Epic reissued the EP on their own.
Selling close to 4,000 copies across Canada and the United States—mainly through direct sales at gigs—the One More for the Road EP included the track "Home In The Heartland," which significantly enhanced their online visibility. Their vigorous touring schedule encompassed all Canadian stops of the Warped Tour and opening performances for several Canadian dates on the Taste of Chaos tour.
Count Yourself In era (2006–2009)
Building on the moderate acclaim of One More for the Road, Ten Second Epic sought collaboration with a seasoned producer, eventually securing Canadian producer Garth Richardson. Although initially unavailable, Richardson became accessible after a project cancellation, enabling immediate recording sessions at The Farm studios in Gibsons, British Columbia. Despite managing day jobs and academic commitments, band members financed the recording through personal loans.
Shortly after finishing production, Ten Second Epic signed a Canadian licensing deal with Blackbox Recordings. This partnership led to their debut full-length album, Count Yourself In, which was released on October 10, 2006.
The lead single "Suck It Up, Princess" featured a low-budget video directed by Colin Minihan that initially received 'Light Rotation' airplay on MuchMusic, later advancing to 'Medium Rotation' due to audience demand. This marked the beginning of substantial support from MuchMusic.
Following singles further propelled the album’s popularity. The title track "Count Yourself In" reached the Top 50 on Canadian Active Rock radio charts and earned a nomination for Rock Song of the Year from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters. It was included on MuchMusic’s compilation PunchMuch and received a nomination for Best Independent Video at the 2007 MuchMusic Video Awards. "Old Habits Die Hard" became their first video to enter the MuchMusic Top 30 Countdown and was featured on the Big Shiny Tunes 12 compilation, which achieved Gold certification in Canada (50,000 units) in 2008. Additionally, Ten Second Epic garnered a nomination for Best Rock Group at the 2008 Canadian Independent Music Awards.
During this timeframe, the band toured extensively across Canada alongside groups such as The Spill Canvas, Hedley, Moneen, Living With Lions, and embarked on a US tour opening for Cartel. They also appeared at prominent festivals including Calgary’s Virgin Festival, Cutting Edge Music Festival, and Toronto’s Wakestock.
Hometown (2009–2011)
Before releasing their subsequent album, Blackbox Recordings made The Virtual EP available digitally on October 16, 2008. This EP featured remixed versions of tracks from Count Yourself In alongside songs from Hometown. Their sophomore full-length record, Hometown, was launched on January 27, 2009, debuting at number 16 on the Canadian Album Chart and later saw releases in both Japan and Europe.
The album's lead single, Life Times, received a nomination for Rock Video of the Year at the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards and achieved considerable airplay on Canadian CHR radio stations. The third single, a collaboration with Canadian artist LIGHTS, was nominated for Best Independent Video at the 2010 MuchMusic Video Awards and was included on the compilation Big Shiny Tunes 14. Additionally, the band earned a nomination for Best New Group at the 2010 Juno Awards.
During the Hometown launch event in February 2009, they revealed plans to record a live DVD to coincide with their forthcoming album release.
To promote Hometown, Ten Second Epic embarked on tours across Canada, Japan, Europe, and the United States, sharing stages with bands such as A Day To Remember, You Me At Six, Silverstein, and Theory of a Deadman. Their festival appearances included performances at The Bamboozle, the 1000 Islands Music Festival, and Montreal’s Virgin Festival.
Better Off (2011–2014)
Released in September 2011, Ten Second Epic's third studio album, Better Off, was distributed through Hassle Records in Australia and Europe, Blackbox Records in Canada, and Bullion in Japan. The initial single, Young Classics, featured a music video shot at an Edmonton dirt biking venue.
Following the album launch, the band released a studio documentary combined with a band history DVD, which earned a nomination for 'Music DVD of the Year' at the 2013 Juno Awards.
In early 2012, Ten Second Epic toured Asia alongside Simple Plan, then filmed the video for Better Off before undertaking tours across the US, UK, and Canada. Their touring continued throughout the summer with appearances on the Vans Warped Tour.
At the 2012 Edmonton Music Awards, they secured four nominations: Group of the Year, Album of the Year, Rock Album of the Year, and People's Choice Award—winning Group of the Year.
In early 2014, Ten Second Epic announced their disbandment accompanied by a final Canadian tour scheduled for May that year.
Reunion (2025)
After more than ten years apart, the band declared their reunion in early 2025 with two consecutive concerts held in Edmonton. The opening night featured performances by Texas King and Drive By Punch; the following evening showcased Calling All Captains alongside The Red Threat.
Past members
- Andrew Usenik – vocals
- Daniel Carriere – guitar
- Craig Spelliscy – guitar
- Sandy MacKinnon – bass guitar
- Patrick Birtles – drums
Albums
| Year | Album Details | Chart Peak Positions |
|---|---|---|
| CAN | ||
| 2006 | Count Yourself In
|
98 |
| 2009 | Hometown
|
16 |
| 2011 | Better Off
|
N/A |
EPs
- Your Famous Last Words (2002)
- One More for the Road (2004)
- The Virtual EP (2008)
Singles
| Year | Track | Peak Chart Position | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAN Alt | CAN Rock | |||
| 2006 | "Suck It Up, Princess" | — | — | Count Yourself In |
| 2007 | "Count Yourself In" | — | — | |
| "Old Habits Die Hard" | — | — | ||
| "Avenue Days" | — | — | ||
| 2008 | "Life Times" | — | — | Hometown |
| 2009 | "Welcome to Wherever You Are" | — | — | |
| "Every Day" (featuring Lights) | — | — | ||
| 2011 | "Young Classics" | 22 | 37 | Better Off |
| 2012 | "Better Off" | — | — | |
Note: "—" indicates singles that did not enter the charts.
Music videos
| Year | Title | Album | MM CD |
Concept | Director |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | "Suck It Up, Princess" | Count Yourself In | — | Live performance | Colin Minihan |
| 2007 | "Count Yourself In" | — | Band members reflect on leaving unsatisfying jobs | ||
| "Old Habits Die Hard" | No. 19 | Story of a family dealing with addiction issues | |||
| "Avenue Days" | — | The group takes control of a small town following a canceled concert | |||
| 2008 | "Life Times" | Hometown | No. 15 | Band nurtures an infant abandoned near their garage | Cody Fennell, Colin Minihan |
| 2009 | "Welcome To Wherever You Are" | No. 10 | Filming captures an unsuspecting couple's story | Marc Ricciardelli | |
| "Every Day"(featuring LIGHTS) | No. 12 | A man attempts to win back his girlfriend's forgiveness | Sean Michael Turrell | ||
| "Young Classics" | Better Off | — | Performance video | Michael Maxxis | |
| "Better Off" | — | Preparing for a hockey match against an unknown rival | Ben Knechtel | ||
| "Runaway" | — | Live performance in Japan | Chady Awad |
DVD
- “Better Off” - Studio Documentary DVD (2011)
Awards and nominations
| Award Title | Year Received | Category Name | Outcome |
|---|
| 2007 | Best Independent Video | Nominated |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rock Category | Nominated |
| 2008 | Rock Band of the Year | Nominated |
| 2009 | Best Rock Video | Nominated |
| 2010 | Best New Group | Nominated |
| 2010 | Best Independent Video | Nominated |
| 2012 | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Won | ||
| Nominated | ||
| Nominated | ||
| 2013 | Music DVD of The Year | Nominated |