Ahead By A Century 7: The Flatliners’ Punk Rock Punch to the Gut
Alright, let’s get one thing straight—The Flatliners’ Ahead By A Century 7 isn’t here to coddle you. This 2015 release from Canada’s punk rock torchbearers is raw, unfiltered, and dripping with attitude. Released under New Damage Records, it’s less of an album and more like a swift kick to your musical comfort zone. And yeah, they cover The Tragically Hip’s “Ahead By A Century,” but we’ll get into that later.
First off, this record doesn’t mess around. It’s short, sharp, and leaves a mark. One track that sticks in my head? “Waves.” Damn, this song hits hard. It’s got that relentless energy The Flatliners are known for—crunchy riffs, pounding drums, and Chris Cresswell’s vocals tearing through like he’s got something to prove. You can feel the urgency in every second of it. It’s not just music; it’s a fight-or-flight response for your ears. I remember blasting this on repeat during some late-night drives, windows down, screaming along like an idiot. That’s what punk should do—make you lose your damn mind.
Then there’s their take on “Ahead By A Century.” Now, covering The Tragically Hip is no small feat—they’re practically Canadian royalty—but The Flatliners don’t just phone it in. They rip it apart and rebuild it with grit and distortion. It’s slower, heavier, and way angrier than the original. Some purists might cry foul, but screw ‘em. This version feels like a middle finger to nostalgia, reminding us why punk matters—it takes the familiar and flips it on its head.
What makes Ahead By A Century 7 stick out isn’t just the music—it’s the vibe. These guys aren’t trying to reinvent the wheel; they’re smashing it to pieces and driving over the wreckage. There’s no polish, no shiny production tricks—just pure, unadulterated chaos wrapped up in seven tracks. If you’re looking for background noise while sipping lattes, keep scrolling. But if you want something that grabs you by the throat and shakes you awake, this is it.
Here’s the kicker though—why’d they name the EP after someone else’s song? Is it homage? Rebellion? Or maybe they just thought it sounded cool. Either way, it works. Like the whole damn album, it leaves you thinking long after the last note fades. Punk rock at its finest—or messiest, depending how you look at it.
