The Flatliners

Biography

The Flatliners are a Canadian punk rock band from Richmond Hill, Ontario. Since their formation in 2002, the band has been a growing influence in the Toronto punk/ska movement, with consistently well-received albums and live shows.

History

The band self-released its debut album, Destroy to Create×Destroy to Create19 July 2005 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Intro0:332Fred’s Got Slacks2:293There’s a Problem1:564Public Service Announcement1:165Bad News3:546My Hands Are Tied2:307Gullible3:108Scumpunch!3:089I Am Abandoned3:0410Macoretta Boozer3:1811Broken Bones3:1712Quality Television2:5513Do or Die4:1014Picking at My Brain (live)5:46 in 2005; after signing to Stomp Records, it was reissued on July 19, 2005. It saw the band mix punk rock with ska, and was promoted with a Canadian tour. In March and April 2006, the band went on the Frostbite Tour alongside Death by Stereo, Bigwig, and Big D and the Kids Table. They appeared at the Ska Weekend festival at the end of April 2006. In October 2006, they went on a Canadian tour with Much the Same, and then embarked on a short US tour alongside Time Again, Against All Authority, and the Know How.
The Flatliners signed to Fat Wreck Chords in April 2007; they would distribute the band's next release in every country but Canada, where it was handled by Stomp Records. Following this, they appeared at the Wakestock festival, toured the US West Coast with No Use for a Name, and performed on the two Canadian dates of the Warped Tour. Their second album, The Great Awake×The Great Awake4 September 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1July! August! Reno!3:042Eulogy3:193…And the World Files for Chapter 113:204This Respirator1:575Meanwhile, in Hell…2:076Mother Teresa Chokeslams the World2:227This Is Giving Up2:278Mastering the World’s Smallest Violin3:159You Guys Want One of These?2:0710These Words Are Bullets3:1311Hal Johnson Smokes Cigarettes4:0012KHTDR7:09, was released on September 4, 2007. In September and October 2007, they went on a Canadian tour, prior to joining up with the Toasters, Saint Alvia Cartel, and the Peacocks. A music video for "Eulogy" was posted online in November 2007. They ending the year with a US tour with A Wilhelm Scream.
In February and March 2008, the band appeared on the Fat Wreck Chords Tour, alongside NOFX and No Use for a Name. Following this, they went on a US West Coast tour supporting the Loved Ones and a Canadian tour with the Rebel Spell. In May 2008, the band performed at the Groezrock festival in Belgium, which was followed by a Canadian tour with Strike Anywhere, Hostage Life, This Is a Standoff, and Carpenter. Following this, they appeared at the two Canadian dates of Warped Tour and the Cutting Edge Music Festival. They toured with Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, and the Real Deal in September 2008, and supported NOFX on their Canadian tour in October 2008. They ended the year with an appearance at The Fest in Florida. In March 2009, the band appeared at the Harvest of Hope Fest, and then played Groezrock in Belgium soon after. Following this, they went on a tour of Europe with NOFX; Snuff appeared on three of the shows. In May 2009, they went on a Canadian tour with Hostage Life, leading up to an appearance at the S.C.E.N.E. Music Festival. They then appeared on Warped Tour again; coinciding with this, they released a split with the Snips.
Between July and September 2009, the band toured across Europe, which included an appearance at the Reading and Leeds Festivals. Shortly after this, they played a few shows with Strung Out and Pour Habit, leading up to a performance at The Fest in October 2009. Around this time, they released the Cynics 7-inch vinyl record. They ended the year supporting the Dropkick Murphys on their headlining tour of the US. On February 9, 2010, Cavalcade was announced for release in two months' time; its artwork and track listing were posted online. In March 2010, they went on an Australian tour with No Fun at All and then went on a North American tour with Broadway Calls and Cobra Skulls through to the following month. Preceded by "Carry the Banner", Cavalcade was released in April 2010. It received rave reviews from numerous critics. Shortly afterwards, the band performed at Rockfest in Belgium. In August 2010, the band went on an East Coast and Midwest tour with the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and Teenage Bottlerocket.
The band toured almost non-stop from 2006 to 2019, starting out as the opening band for artists such as Joan Jett, Dropkick Murphys, NOFX and Less Than Jake. They have also appeared in numerous festival lineups, including the Warped Tour, the Reading and Leeds Festivals, and Riot Fest. Their fourth album Dead Language×Dead Language17 September 2013 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Resuscitation of the Year3:222Bury Me2:433Birds of England3:144Drown in Blood3:215Sew My Mouth Shut3:156Caskets Full2:487Ashes Away4:078Hounds3:139Dead Hands1:5710Quitters2:0311Tail Feathers4:0312Young Professionals1:5913Brilliant Resilience3:28 was nominated for a 2014 Juno Award in the category of Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year." Their 2017 release Inviting Light×Inviting Light7 April 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Mammals3:482Hang My Head3:253Nicotine Lips2:284Indoors3:565Human Party Trick2:416Unconditional Love3:507Burn Out Again3:558Infinite Wisdom2:259Sympathy Vote3:3110Wedding Speech2:3811Chameleon Skin5:0512No Roads4:11 did equally well.
In October 2024, after a long association with NOFX and Fat Wreck Chords, the band played on the final day (Sunday) of the 3 day Punk In Drublic Festival in San Pedro. The festival was a celebration and final farewell for NOFX after they toured North America, Europe, Australia and other countries over the prior year before their retirement. The festival line up included over 20 bands including Pennywise, Less Than Jake, Lagwagon, the Descendents, and the Dropkick Murphys.
In December 2025, the band signed with Equal Vision Records and released the single "Misanthropy & Me×Misanthropy & Me2 December 2025 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Misanthropy & Me2:54". 2026 saw the release of the album Cold World×Cold World8 May 2026 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Stolen Valour3:082Good, You?3:053Inner Peace2:364And They’re Off3:325Only Darkness3:066Whyte Light3:267Into Annihilation4:188Pulpit2:329Turning Signal Rhythm3:1710Gush3:0711Burn3:3112United in Spite2:51, in support of which the band released a videogame in which players can embody the different members of the band.

Band members

Chris Cresswell – vocals, guitar
Scott Brigham – guitar
Jon Darbey – bass
Paul Ramirez – drums