The Flatliners/Direct Hit!/Junior Battles / Lawskof

With over a decade of cultivation behind them, the Flatliners carry a hefty reputation among Toronto’s punk scene and, more and more, all over the continent. Fans of specificity will often lump them into the “melodic hardcore” subgenre, and that’s actually a pretty fitting descriptor. Singer/guitarist Chris Cresswell angles back and forth between smooth singing and emotional screaming. Even within the same line, Cresswell will modulate enough to garner double takes from those jaded with the whole “screaming” thing. Cavalcade, released in 2010, remains a great entry point for those as yet uninitiated. (Sandy)