THE BALANCE

The Balances new EP titled Sonny's Night grew on me like a brown hair follicle on my quickly greying beard
The tunes make you want to get up and jump out if your seat. "Are You Ready" starts off the EP with rocking riffs and lyrics that slap you across the face and have you asking for more.

I have previously been following these guys since their debut album and was able to witness The Balance fill up venues like the Hard Rock Cafe and Racks in Brampton. It's no surprise that they are bringing the fans the energy that they've waited for. "Cougars Are Back" is their debut single from the album. Check out the video below. The title of the track is self explanatory as it was likely inspired by their energy-filled live shows that bring out all sorts of animals. Cougars no exception.

I'm not too sure if "Ride the Rocket" is a song written about the Toronto Transit Commission or a night between the sheets. Whichever it may be, you have no choice but to bump your bodies, mosh or ride the waves of a crowd surf.

"Say Good Bye", the last track on the EP, is my personal favorite. Nostalgia strikes as memories of ex girlfriends, late nights, and the good times that were. Give this one a few listens and you'll be chanting along with the catchy chorus while suffering from a slight case of whiplash.

All in all Sonny's Night is their best yet as they get better with each album while not deviating too far away from their pop punk rock roots. - Jamsterdam Radio

Michael Cera's success cannot be complete without some sort of musical entourage. Look no further as The Balance who are from the same suburb that Michael Cera comes from are rocking venues faster than a speeding bullet. The band members consists of Dan Riverso (lead singer), Steve Das (guitar), Nick van Loon (drums), Scott McDowell (bass) and DJ Tronix may look like Canadian boys who watch CBC's Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday Night and play the game on a frozen pond. But, let it be known that these guys can also take their helmets off, drop their gloves and pick up their instruments and jam like any rock star or rock band for that matter. The band which was formed in 2006 has gained quite the following. You may ask why are they so successful? Seriously? The name says it all.

"Everything in moderation" is what Dan Riverso's mother used to say to him when he was a child and this philosophy continues to grow on Dan and the rest of the band members of The Balance. "Equilibrium" their debut EP is a great representation of the band's philosophy of everyday life as the context of their album is a mish-mash of different styles of songs. There are beat driven songs such as "Gotta Go" and tunes that have incredible riffs such as "Owned by One" and "Answers". "I Believe I Belong" has mad melodies complemented with tracks such as "Sorts" and my personal favourite "Sound The Alarm" which are a few chilled numbers. The band's base philosophy is the root of their musical production and a sound that is so unique to them it engages their listeners to feel.

"Great music creates feeling," is what Dan said when we discussed the other element to the band's philosophy. The Balance has no problem with inspiring their strength of many facets of sound when performing amongst the best in Toronto. It is of course the standard in making music and this is what The Balance has worked so hard for. "Whether it excites you like "YMCA" or terrifies you like "Thriller", the feeling a song gives you is the greatest part of music," as Dan laid down the law as he spoke of what it meant to produce music from this group. Rather than giving their listeners a narrow tunnel of wonder, The Balance have a wide array of experience that produces many spectacles of feelings in life.

"The balance of these emotions was our aim in writing and in performing our music," and there is no doubt that Dan is able to say this and as well do this when performing as he can definitely engage the crowd and get them involved in a musical wonderland. Even though their music may be of a mature nature, Dan has the capability of charming the crowd and enlightening the vibe as he uses his tomfoolery to cover the brilliance of the band's music. Furthermore, disciplines of music are crossed when DJ Tronix brilliantly blends the elements of hip-hop culture through mixing his turntables with the uprooted rock sound of the band. It definitely gives The Balance another aspect of appeal as DJ Tronix brings a new sweet to the ear candy of their sound and what represents for so many to be a way of life. It is only so true to the colours of this band and gives a unique balance to their sound that cannot even be faded.

"Balance is nature. Nature is Karma" is the other vision that Dan reveals to us with regards to the band's manner of music. They truly believe that there is no substitute for hard work and it has given them the ability to accomplish so much in such a short period of time. In 2006, it took them only three weeks, after all the band members got together for their first jam, that they went into the studio to record their first album. All this before their first live performance.

A sign of determination that complements a level of fear, The Balance laid a foundation of music that engulfs the polar opposites of experience. The addition of DJ Tronix adds fuel to the fire "The Balance" has started and can not be extinguished because they are far from being satisfied and are hungry for more. And it's only a good karma of fire that The Balance breathe out of their souls. By all means sound the alarm!


(Source: http://www.unchartedsounds.com)

- Uncharted Sounds - Vol. 1, Issue 2 (Febraury 2008)

Michael Cera's success cannot be complete without some sort of musical entourage. Look no further as The Balance who are from the same suburb that Michael Cera comes from are rocking venues faster than a speeding bullet. The band members consists of Dan Riverso (lead singer), Steve Das (guitar), Nick van Loon (drums), Scott McDowell (bass) and DJ Tronix may look like Canadian boys who watch CBC's Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday Night and play the game on a frozen pond. But, let it be known that these guys can also take their helmets off, drop their gloves and pick up their instruments and jam like any rock star or rock band for that matter. The band which was formed in 2006 has gained quite the following. You may ask why are they so successful? Seriously? The name says it all.

"Everything in moderation" is what Dan Riverso's mother used to say to him when he was a child and this philosophy continues to grow on Dan and the rest of the band members of The Balance. "Equilibrium" their debut EP is a great representation of the band's philosophy of everyday life as the context of their album is a mish-mash of different styles of songs. There are beat driven songs such as "Gotta Go" and tunes that have incredible riffs such as "Owned by One" and "Answers". "I Believe I Belong" has mad melodies complemented with tracks such as "Sorts" and my personal favourite "Sound The Alarm" which are a few chilled numbers. The band's base philosophy is the root of their musical production and a sound that is so unique to them it engages their listeners to feel.

"Great music creates feeling," is what Dan said when we discussed the other element to the band's philosophy. The Balance has no problem with inspiring their strength of many facets of sound when performing amongst the best in Toronto. It is of course the standard in making music and this is what The Balance has worked so hard for. "Whether it excites you like "YMCA" or terrifies you like "Thriller", the feeling a song gives you is the greatest part of music," as Dan laid down the law as he spoke of what it meant to produce music from this group. Rather than giving their listeners a narrow tunnel of wonder, The Balance have a wide array of experience that produces many spectacles of feelings in life.

"The balance of these emotions was our aim in writing and in performing our music," and there is no doubt that Dan is able to say this and as well do this when performing as he can definitely engage the crowd and get them involved in a musical wonderland. Even though their music may be of a mature nature, Dan has the capability of charming the crowd and enlightening the vibe as he uses his tomfoolery to cover the brilliance of the band's music. Furthermore, disciplines of music are crossed when DJ Tronix brilliantly blends the elements of hip-hop culture through mixing his turntables with the uprooted rock sound of the band. It definitely gives The Balance another aspect of appeal as DJ Tronix brings a new sweet to the ear candy of their sound and what represents for so many to be a way of life. It is only so true to the colours of this band and gives a unique balance to their sound that cannot even be faded.

"Balance is nature. Nature is Karma" is the other vision that Dan reveals to us with regards to the band's manner of music. They truly believe that there is no substitute for hard work and it has given them the ability to accomplish so much in such a short period of time. In 2006, it took them only three weeks, after all the band members got together for their first jam, that they went into the studio to record their first album. All this before their first live performance.

A sign of determination that complements a level of fear, The Balance laid a foundation of music that engulfs the polar opposites of experience. The addition of DJ Tronix adds fuel to the fire "The Balance" has started and can not be extinguished because they are far from being satisfied and are hungry for more. And it's only a good karma of fire that The Balance breathe out of their souls. By all means sound the alarm!


(Source: http://www.unchartedsounds.com)

- Uncharted Sounds - Vol. 1, Issue 2 (Febraury 2008)

04/16/2009
5 SONGS YOU GOTTA HEAR TODAY:

“Stingray” by The Balance

The Balance are from Toronto. Remember how Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter, went snorkeling and got killed by a stingray? All those years with all those animals and fish and his death is a total fluke. The reaction all over the world was very powerful.

This song is about that incident.

That is the top song of the “five songs you gotta hear today.” We collect these recommendations from hundreds of emails we get every day from people like you who want to share music that you’ve discovered—which is the whole point of what we do around here.

(Source: http://exploremusic.com/home/ExploreMusicShow/tabid/1464/m/4/y/2009/ShowID/142/Default.aspx) - Corus Entertainment

04/16/2009
5 SONGS YOU GOTTA HEAR TODAY:

“Stingray” by The Balance

The Balance are from Toronto. Remember how Steve Irwin, the crocodile hunter, went snorkeling and got killed by a stingray? All those years with all those animals and fish and his death is a total fluke. The reaction all over the world was very powerful.

This song is about that incident.

That is the top song of the “five songs you gotta hear today.” We collect these recommendations from hundreds of emails we get every day from people like you who want to share music that you’ve discovered—which is the whole point of what we do around here.

(Source: http://exploremusic.com/home/ExploreMusicShow/tabid/1464/m/4/y/2009/ShowID/142/Default.aspx) - Corus Entertainment