Young Rival Prove You Can Go Back Home

Earlier this month, Hamilton, Ont. label Sonic Unyon Records and the city's garage rock revivalists Young Rival announced they were teaming up for the release of the band's upcoming self-titled full-length.

Bassist John Smith feels the well-respected imprint took more notice of Young Rival after the group's eponymous EP won alternative/indie rock recording of the year at the 2008 Hamilton Music Awards.

"I think the fact that we were both from Hamilton had lots to do with it," Smith shares. "When we were done our latest album, we shopped it around to various indie and major labels, and although we had interest in some other labels, Sonic Unyon just felt like the best fit for us.

"To have a label in our own backyard was a big plus for us. I think any relationship is stronger when there is a bit of a personal connection, and you can put faces to the people who you work with."

Young Rival formed in 2002 as The Ride Theory, and the group adopted their current moniker in 2007. They were well aware of the wealth of great music that the long-running Sonic Unyon has turned out, but despite sharing the same hometown and a mutual respect for one another, it took time for both parties to begin entertaining the idea of working together.

"To be honest I think we overlooked Sonic Unyon businesswise in our earlier days as a band," offers Smith. "And to be fair perhaps they overlooked us.

"We were very DIY-oriented, and still are in many ways. Ultimately, when they expressed interest in the album, then everything felt like it clicked and it made sense."

Sonic Unyon will issue Young Rival's new album on April 13. The 11-song effort was recorded mostly between late 2006 and early 2009, mostly in Toronto with Jon Drew last summer. A pair of cuts from a 2007 session in New York with Emery Dobyns will also be included.   

"There is one track on the album that we've been playing for years, and it must be at least seven years old now, but we never recorded it or released it because it never seemed to fit with the other records we had on the go," says Smith.

"I think if you played this album right after our EP, you wouldn't be thrown off. At the same time, if you go back and compare this album to what we were doing over five years ago when we were The Ride Theory I think we sound like a very different band."

Guitarist Kyle Kuchmey split from the band in December. He played on Young Rival and the group were unaware when making the disc that he would be leaving before its release. Smith believes Kuchmey had grown tired of the musician lifestyle and the unpredictability accompanying it.  

"He's been working a full-time day job that he enjoys for a couple years now, and I think he just reached a point where he was more driven to succeed in that then in the world of music," Smith explains. "We miss having him around, but we're happy, he's happy, and we're all on the best of terms which is the most important thing."?

Although Young Rival aren't against adding a fourth member again in the future, Smith is looking forward to exploring the dynamics of being a trio.

"We've found ways to play our newer songs as a three-piece in way that we feel doesn't give up any energy or sacrifice the sound and feeling of each song.

"I think that being a three-piece will surely influence our future writing as a band, and we're all excited to start working on some new ideas."

Young Rival will open for Born Ruffians on March 14 in Toronto at the Phoenix Concert Theatre.