Band: Maximum Force
From: Cobourg, Ontario
Their formation story:
(Ian, vocals): "Most of us have been friends for 15 to 20 years and have worked on a dozen projects together. This band was originally supposed to be a side project. However, once our old band fizzled out and Brandon (our guitarist) jumped on board, it naturally became the main focus. It’s basically the result of a long history of playing together and finally landing on the right lineup."
Their sound in their own words:
"Our sound is heavily rooted in late '80s NYHC. Production-wise, we aimed to capture that classic Normandy Studios sound but with modern loudness and punch. The blueprint for this record was definitely Best Wishes by the Cro-Mags, along with pretty much anything off the Where the Wild Things Are and New Breed compilations, Outburst, Raw Deal, and Breakdown."
Latest release info:
"The songs for this demo came together pretty quickly over the fall of 2025. We recorded them at our jam space early this year, and then Will Hirst and Arthur Rizk worked their magic to make it sound awesome."
"Lyrically, the demo explores the reality of being squeezed from all sides. We’re living in a neoliberal nightmare where everything - your time, your friendships, and your own head - is just something to be bought or sold. We touch on the corruption at every level of authority, from fascist politicians to hedge fund CEOs, all the way down to frustrations like whack people at shows and dumb fuckin people at work. Tracks like 'Mind Pollution' tackle the sensory overload of modern life and the feeling of your brain being occupied by garbage you didn't ask for. It ties into a broader theme in the demo: war isn't just on a map somewhere; it's in your head or someone else's.
"We’re stoked to be releasing this through Physical Therapy Records. We’ve been fans of the label and their recent releases, so we sent the demo over, and they got back right away. They’re doing a run of tapes on their website."
Future plans:
"We’ll definitely be getting active with shows this spring and summer. As for new music, time will tell. We’ve been writing some new stuff that could see the light of day later this year or next, but we all have various commitments outside of the band. So, no 'big things coming soon! [laughs]"
What other bands from their region should we check out?
"Iron Crusaders, BFD, Zero, The Many, and Will to Speak."
The Maximum Force demo is available on cassette via Physical Therapy.
Maximun Force on social media: Instagram
Tagged: maximum force
