Means
Encyclopedia
Means was a Christian
Post-hardcore
/Melodic hardcore
band from Regina
, Saskatchewan
. The band was formed in 2001 under the name of Means 2 An End as a 3-piece by main-songwriter/lyricist Matt Goud. They were originally from the small city of Dauphin, Manitoba
. In 2003, they relocated to Regina, SK. They eventually integrated more and more elements of hardcore into their sound and dropped "2 An End" from their name. After many years of touring, the band began to accumulate a large fanbase. It was around this time, in 2005, that original bassist Blair Roberts quit to pursue a family. He was replaced by Dylan Johnstone(formerly of Yorkton, SK hardcore group Statement of Service). They remained a 3-piece until mid 2006 when Todd joined so Dylan could switch to lead vocals. This era of the band saw them switch to a mainly Metalcore
sound inspired by Shai Hulud
and Misery Signals
.The group toured in the US and Canada constantly, and was featured in the June 2007 issue of Alternative Press magazine as well as multiple other publications. Their 2007 album, Sending You Strength, was released in the US on Facedown Records
.
Means disbanded after a series of farewell shows in select Canadian cities as well as a few US cities. They played their final show to a sold-out crowd at the Riddell Centre in the University of Regina on November 28, 2008. This show was captured on video and given out to friends of the band.
As Means,
Christian hardcore
Christian hardcore refers to metalcore and hardcore punk bands that promote Christian beliefs. How these bands promote Christianity, and to what extent, varies between bands...
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
/Melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore
Melodic hardcore is a subgenre of hardcore punk with a strong emphasis on vocal melody. The genre is commonly defined with fast hardcore drum beats, complex guitar riffs and melodic singing with occasional screaming and shouting.-History:...
band from Regina
Regina, Saskatchewan
Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The city is the second-largest in the province and a cultural and commercial centre for southern Saskatchewan. It is governed by Regina City Council. Regina is the cathedral city of the Roman Catholic and Romanian Orthodox...
, Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan is a prairie province in Canada, which has an area of . Saskatchewan is bordered on the west by Alberta, on the north by the Northwest Territories, on the east by Manitoba, and on the south by the U.S. states of Montana and North Dakota....
. The band was formed in 2001 under the name of Means 2 An End as a 3-piece by main-songwriter/lyricist Matt Goud. They were originally from the small city of Dauphin, Manitoba
Dauphin, Manitoba
Dauphin is a small city in Manitoba, Canada, with a population of 7,906 as of 2006. The nearby lake was given the name "Dauphin" by the explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye in 1741 in honour of the heir to the French throne...
. In 2003, they relocated to Regina, SK. They eventually integrated more and more elements of hardcore into their sound and dropped "2 An End" from their name. After many years of touring, the band began to accumulate a large fanbase. It was around this time, in 2005, that original bassist Blair Roberts quit to pursue a family. He was replaced by Dylan Johnstone(formerly of Yorkton, SK hardcore group Statement of Service). They remained a 3-piece until mid 2006 when Todd joined so Dylan could switch to lead vocals. This era of the band saw them switch to a mainly Metalcore
Metalcore
Metalcore is a subgenre of heavy metal combining various elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. The name is a portmanteau of the names of the two genres. The term took on its current meaning in the mid-1990s, describing bands such as Earth Crisis, Deadguy and Integrity...
sound inspired by Shai Hulud
Shai Hulud
Shai Hulud may refer to:*Shai-Hulud , the sandworm in the fictional world of Dune*Shai Hulud , A progressive metal-influenced hardcore punk band*Shai-Hulud, One of many Tuareg names for the Harmattan...
and Misery Signals
Misery Signals
Misery Signals is an American metalcore band formed in Wisconsin in 2002. The sound of their music is defined by bright melodies backed up by odd time signatures, chugging riffs, and breakdowns.-Formation :...
.The group toured in the US and Canada constantly, and was featured in the June 2007 issue of Alternative Press magazine as well as multiple other publications. Their 2007 album, Sending You Strength, was released in the US on Facedown Records
Facedown Records
Facedown Records is a Christian record label based in Fallbrook, California, devoted mostly to hardcore punk and metalcore bands . Founded by No Innocent Victim drummer Jason Dunn, the label started off small with a number of 7" record releases by bands such as Overcome, Dodgin Bullets, and Born...
.
Means disbanded after a series of farewell shows in select Canadian cities as well as a few US cities. They played their final show to a sold-out crowd at the Riddell Centre in the University of Regina on November 28, 2008. This show was captured on video and given out to friends of the band.
Current members
- Aaron Friesen – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(2001–2008) - Dylan Johnstone – vocals, bass (bass/vocals 2005-2006) lead vocals (2006–2008)
- Matt Goud – guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
, clean vocals, Lead Vocals until 2006 (2001–2008) - Todd Wells – bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
(2006–2008)
Discography
As Means 2 An End,- Soul Soup for the Teenage Chicken LP (Self Released, 2001)
- Demo 2002 (self Released, 2002)
- There's Always Right Now on Negatives to Positives compilation (Abednego Records, 2003)
- Am I Who My Dog Thinks I am EP (Self Released, 2003)
As Means,
- In Red Grace LP (Lonely Tree Records, 2004)
- More Than Watchmen For The Morning EP (Torque Recording Company, 2005)
- Sending You Strength LP (Facedown RecordsFacedown RecordsFacedown Records is a Christian record label based in Fallbrook, California, devoted mostly to hardcore punk and metalcore bands . Founded by No Innocent Victim drummer Jason Dunn, the label started off small with a number of 7" record releases by bands such as Overcome, Dodgin Bullets, and Born...
, 2007) - Means & Blind Witness Split CD (Torque Recording Company, 2007)
- To Keep Me From SinkingTo Keep Me From SinkingTo Keep Me from Sinking is the second album by Canadian metalcore band Means. It was released on May 27, 2008, through Facedown Records and produced by Mike Watts.- Track listing :#"Awareness" - 1:48#"Breaking In" - 2:37#"Somewhere Up Ahead" - 4:13...
(Facedown Records, 2008)
GMA Canada Covenant Awards
- 2006 Hard Music Album Of The Year: More Than Watchmen For The Morning
- 2006 Hard Music Song Of The Year: "You Will Become"
Misc
- The split with Blind Witness only featured previously released material from More Than Watchmen and was released after the band had already left Torque Records.
- The first show Means 2 An End played consisted of a bunch of MxPx cover songs.
- The band got its original name from the Stretch Armstrong song of the same title.