The OBGMs are a three-piece underground punk rock group from Toronto Canada. The Steve Jobs of this rock shit. The Steph Curry of this rock shit. Changing the dimensions of how the game is played. The band have made a name for themselves touring across North America and Europe, including appearances at SXSW, multiple Afropunk festivals, RiotFest and more.
Their new album “The Ends” landed in October to international critical acclaim. It was recorded in Toronto by GRAMMY and JUNO Award winning producer Dave Schiffman (Pup, The Bronx, Rage Against The Machine).
Writing about the album for Vice, Graham Isador lauded the album,
“Over its twenty-four minute run time The OBGMs barrel through hook-laden, guitar forward, tracks reminiscent of the early aughts garage rock revival. Underpinning that sound is feverish punk energy coupled with shout sing vocals. It's something like The Hives by way of The Germs. Or the Strokes covering The Stooges. The Ends is a truly exciting prospect in a time where rock's mainstream influence is continually waning. Maybe this is just the kind of kick in the teeth guitar music needs every few years.”
The band have taken their place in the BIPOC alternative scene very seriously, seeking to amplify, defend and uplift melanated voices at every turn, including a 70+ track takeover of Apple Music’s JUMPSTART playlist in July 2020 and recurring segment on SiriusXM’s The Verge station.
Check out the full album stream below.
“I fucking love the record. It is unreal, it doesn’t sound like anything else happening right now.”
PRESS HIGHLIGHTS
The OBGM’s listed as one of SPIN Mag’s Top 50 Rock Bands - SPIN Mag
2021 Polaris Music Price SHORT LIST Nominee for “The Ends” - Polaris Music Prize
“You can feel the heat coming off their sophomore album, The Ends. It’s a searing collection of punk songs, combining rhythmic swagger with hardcore intensity and some Pixies guitar hooks peeking through the cracks.” - Now Toronto
“The Ends is a truly exciting prospect in a time where rock’s mainstream influence is continually waning. Maybe this is jus the kind of kick in the teeth guitar music needs every few years.” - Vice
“The OBGMs make music that is rough and raw…punk music with soul.” - The Toronto Star
“…as catchy and anthemic as it is loud and driving. The OBGMs hold nothing back and are clearly not afraid to write punk songs that sound like they're built to fill stadiums. And they do it without ever sounding overly polished or insincere.” - Brooklyn Vegan
“The OBGMs just ooze cool. They have an indie punk-sound which is taking over in 2020. They are a band who have extremely diverse tastes in music, and this comes through in the uniqueness of their writing.” - Kerrang!
“Unafraid of confrontation and a fight, The OBGMs’ “Outsah” is a fast paced piece overflowing with lo-fi vocals and temperamental beats. Light bongos accent various sections of the two-minute piece, adding a sweet flavor to a track otherwise encompassed in grit.” - Alternative Press
Black Canadian musicians on the artists who inspired them (Densil McFarlane on Prince) - The Globe & Mail
“The Canadian trio’s post-hardcore racket might have antecedents in the likes of Black Flag, Hüsker Dü or Pixies, but The OBGMs’ music is delivered with such unbridled ferocity and melodic vigour that it feels bracingly fresh.” - Classic Rock UK
“It’s the sound of a decade’s worth of frustrations being unleashed in a feral howl that channels The White Stripes and Nirvana in their most primitive states.” Stuart Berman for Apple Music
“What strikes me….is the unconstrained rock'n'roll swagger The OBGMs project. While a few contemporary artists play with that imagery, that level of boisterous confidence feels rare.” - Adam White for Punknews.org
JUST ANNOUNCED - THE OBGMS TO SUPPORT DEATH FROM ABOVE 1979 ON THE “IS 4 LOVERS” NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2022
STREAMING Highlights
Apple Music
Playlists: The New Rock, Breaking Rock, New In Rock, Jumpstart, Negative Space and New Music Daily
Jumpstart Playlist takeover across North America amplifying BIPOC artists in the Alternative and rock genres (July 2020)
Original Content: Editor’s Notes, "All My Friends” song story
Spotify
Playlists: New Noise, The Rock List, All New Rock, Noisy, New Punk Tracks & Punk Unleashed
Featured on Green Day’s Black Lives Matter and Frank Turner’s Artists To Watch Spotify Playlists
