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The Veer Union

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The Veer Union
The Veer Union performing in 2018
The Veer Union performing in 2018
Background information
OriginVancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Genres
Years active2004 - present
LabelsRock Shop Entertainment
Pavement Entertainment
Universal Motown
MembersCrispin Earl
Ryan Ramsdell
Ricardo Viana
Past membersJames Fiddler
Marc Roots
Neil Beaton
Eric Schraeder
Tyler Reimer
Amal Wijayanayake
Dan Sittler
Websitetheveerunion.net

The Veer Union is a Canadian rock band from Vancouver, British Columbia. They have released multiple studio albums, Time to Break the Spell (2006), Against the Grain (2009), Divide the Blackened Sky (2012), and an EP Life Support Part 1 (2013). Their fourth studio album, Decade, was released on January 29, 2016. The fifth and sixth, Decade II:Rock & Acoustic and Decade III:Demos & Rarities were released on August 31, 2018. Their seventh album Quarantine Collaborations was released on December 17, 2021, and on December 16, 2022, their eighth and latest album release Manifestations (Deluxe Edition).

History

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Time to Break the Spell as "Veer" (2004-2007)

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The band was formed in 2004 by founders Crispin Earl, and Eric Schraeder, under the original name of "Veer".[6] The band released one independent album, Time to Break the Spell, in 2006. After the album's release, and touring with bands like Hinder, Theory of a Deadman, Seether and Black Stone Cherry, the band was able to attract major label interest, and signed a record deal with Universal Motown Records.[7] Once signing to the label, the band decided to change their name to "The Veer Union". The band explained that it wasn't legal problems, but rather getting away from negative situations and coming together in a more positive one.[8]

"It was more of a band decision. Before TVU we were all in other bands and not digging the situations we were in. So we "veered" away from the negativity and came together as a "Union". Originally it was Veer, when we got signed, we added the Union."[9]

After the band received major record label attention, the album was re-issued in August 2011.[10]

Against the Grain (2008-2010)

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Before releasing their debut album, they recorded and released a self-titled EP containing alternate versions of songs on their debut, and unreleased songs as well. The band released their debut album, Against the Grain, on April 21, 2009. Against the Grain has reached number 32 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers,[11] and its first single, Seasons, has reached number 10 on Billboard's Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart,[12] number 16 on the Rock Songs chart and number 30 on the Alternative Songs chart. "Seasons" was also the official theme song for WWE Backlash 2009, Pittsburgh Penguins,[13][14]

From July to September, the band supported Sick Puppies and Hurt in a tour throughout the U.S.,[15] and then later toured with Cavo and Framing Hanley.

Despite the band's success with the album, the single "Seasons", and reports of the band getting along very well with their record label,[16] the band was dropped from the label after touring in support of the album ended.

Divide the Blackened Sky (2011-2012)

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Despite being dropped by Universal Records, the band decided to continue on without major record label support. In 2011, the band announced the title of their second album would be Divide the Blackened Sky, and would be released on smaller label Rocket Science Ventures/Red Distribution. In 2011, they held a contest to have fans submit artwork to be picked to be on the album's front cover.[17] Divide the Blackened Sky was released on March 26, 2012,[18] and the first single was "Bitter End".[18] Frontman Crispin Earl said of the album, ""Our new record, Divide The Blackened Sky, is a much darker and heavier effort than our previous works. It depicts all the hard times we have been through over the last couple of years."[18]

On February 22, 2012, it was announced that bassist Marc Roots and guitarist James Fiddler left the band. The band chose to use their previous bass tech, Winston Wolfe, as a touring replacement on bass, and decided to not find a replacement for Fiddler as the second guitarist, opting to continue as a four-piece band. In April 2012, the band toured with My Darkest Days and Cavo. In July 2012, the band announced intentions on releasing a fourth studio album, for release some time in 2013.[19]

Life Support Part 1 and Decade (2013-2020)

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In early 2013, the band started a Kickstarter to help raise money towards working on future music. The band met the goal, and then began working on material in Edmonton, AB for an upcoming release, titled Life Support Part 1, which was released on December 10, 2013.

In December 2015, the band announced that they would be releasing a fourth album, consisting of Earl and an all new lineup, entitled Decade, on January 29, 2016. The First single, "Defying Gravity", was released in the same month. The release coincides with the tenth anniversary of their first album, Time to Break the Spell, and consists of five reworked unreleased tracks that were written prior to the first album, and five tracks that are completely new.[20] In addition to Earl, new members include Ryan Ramsdell on rhythm guitar, Dan Sittler on lead guitar, Tyler Reimer on drums, and Amal Wijayanayake on bass guitar and screamed vocals.[20]

In early 2016, the ensemble travelled the southern, southeastern and Midwestern United States along with Bridge to Grace, Bobaflex and Artifas.[21]

Slaves To The System (2020-present)

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In August 2020, the band release a new single titled Slaves to the System with the album planning to come out early spring next year in 2021.[22]

Musical style and influences

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The band's musical style is most commonly described as hard rock[2][3][23] or post-grunge.[4][24] They have also been described as alternative rock.[5] The band used to employ a style of dual harmonized vocals, typically between vocalist Crispin Earl and Eric Schraeder in a similar style to the band Alice in Chains, until Schraeder left in 2013, leaving vocals to only Crispin Earl. Earl has mentioned other influences of the band as Led Zeppelin,[25] Soundgarden, and Rush.[25]

Members

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Current
Former
  • James Fiddler - guitar, backing vocals (2004–2011)
  • Eric Schraeder - guitar, backing vocals (2004–2013)
  • Marc Roots - bass (2004–2011)
  • Neil Beaton - drums (2004–2013)
  • Tyler Reimer - drums (2015–2017)
  • Amal Wijayanayake - bass, backing vocals (2013–2017)
  • Dan Sittler - lead guitar, backing vocals (2014-2020)
Touring
  • Winston Wolfe - bass (2012)
Timeline

Discography

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Studio albums

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Year Album details Peak chart positions
US US
Heat
[26][27]
2006 Time to Break the Spell
  • Released: 2006
 — —
2009 Against the Grain — 32
2012 Divide the Blackened Sky
  • Released: March 26, 2012
  • Label: Rocket Science/RED
 — 33
2016 Decade
  • Released: January 29, 2016
  • Label: Pavement Entertainment
 — 23
2018 Decade II:Rock & Acoustic
  • Released: August 31, 2018
  • Label:
 — —
2018 Decade III:Demos & Rarities
  • Released: August 31, 2018
  • Label:
 — —
2021 Quarantine Collaborations
  • Released: December 17, 2021
  • Label: Rock Shop Records
 — —
2022 Manifestations (Deluxe Edition)
  • Released: December 16, 2022
  • Label: Rock Shop Records
 — —
"—" denotes a release that did not chart

Compilation albums

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  • Decade: History of Our Evolution (31 August 2018)[28][29]

EPs

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Year EP details
2009 The Veer Union EP
  • Released: 2009
  • Label: Universal Motown
2012 Demos & Bsides
  • Released: March 26, 2012
  • Label: Rocket Science, RED
2013 Life Support Vol. 1 - EP
  • Released: December 10, 2013
  • Label: Minus 4 Records
2015 Life Support Vol. 1: Acoustic Sessions - EP
  • Released: March 15, 2015
  • Label: Rock Shop Entertainment
2016 Decade (Acoustic Sessions)
  • Released: November 4, 2016
  • Label: Rock Shop Entertainment

Singles

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Year Song Peak chart positions Album
US
Alt 		US
Main 		US
Rock
2009 "Seasons" 30 10 16 Against the Grain
"Youth of Yesterday" — 23 49
2010 "Darker Side of Me" — 26 —
2012 "Bitter End" — — 19 Divide the Blackened Sky
2013 "Brave the Impossible" — — — Life Support: Volume 1
2014 "Borderline" — — — Divide the Blackened Sky
2016 "Defying Gravity" — — 28 Decade
2020 "Slaves to the System" — — —

References

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  1. ^ "The Veer Union | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  2. ^ a b "The Veer Union – Divide the Blackened Sky Album Review | Lithium Magazine". December 14, 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-12-14.
  3. ^ a b "The Veer Union – Divide The Blackened Sky (2012)". Hard Rock Hideout. 2012-04-16. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  4. ^ a b "The Veer Union, 'Divide the Blackened Sky' – Album Review". Loudwire.com. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  5. ^ a b "The Veer Union: 'Divide The Blackened Sky' Listening Party On UG | Music News". Ultimate-guitar.com. Archived from the original on 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  6. ^ "The Veer Union | Biography, Albums, & Streaming Radio". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  7. ^ "Total Assault - The Veer Union". Total Assault. Archived from the original on 2012-03-04. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  8. ^ "The Veer Union Interview". Contactmusic.com. 21 April 2009. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  9. ^ "Melodic Net - Interview". Melodic.net. 2009-09-22. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  10. ^ "Archived Release Dates – 2011 :: Rock Access – Rock News". 22 July 2012. Archived from the original on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  11. ^ "Top Heatseekers - Against the Grain". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 1, 2013. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  12. ^ "Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks - Seasons". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-05-03.
  13. ^ "Defy Ordinary - Opening Intro". PensTV. Archived from the original on 2012-03-16. Retrieved 2009-11-02.
  14. ^ Stapleton, Nicki (2012-04-22). "Interview with The Veer Union vocalist Crispin Earl". The Black Tooth. Archived from the original on 2013-12-08. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  15. ^ "Sick Puppies Return With New CD and Hurt Tour - Sick Puppies News". Antimusic.com. 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  16. ^ "Interview With The Veer Union". Upvenue.com. 2009-04-21. Archived from the original on 2016-01-27. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  17. ^ "The Veer Union Title New Album | tunelab™". Tunelab.com. 2011-01-01. Archived from the original on 2012-06-09. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  18. ^ a b c "Quick Hits: Grammy Awards, Ozzy Osbourne, The X Factor, Rock on the Range, Missy Elliott & Timbaland, Paul McCartney & Elton John, Damon Albarn & Flea, Killswitch Engage, Veer Union, Luscious Jackson, Deftones, MTV Video Play Awards, Juno Awards". FMQB.com. 2012-02-08. Archived from the original on 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  19. ^ Erickson, Anne (2012-07-27). "The Veer Union's Crispin Earl Dishes on Current Music Industry, Love for Def Leppard + More". Loudwire.com. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  20. ^ a b "THE VEER UNION To Release 'Decade' Album In January". Blabbermouth.net. 15 December 2015.
  21. ^ Childers, Chad (2015-12-09). "The Veer Union to Release 'Decade' Album in January". Loudwire.com. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  22. ^ "Bio - The Veer Union". theveerunion.com. 2016-03-07. Archived from the original on 2016-03-07. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  23. ^ "Interview: The Veer Union Talks About the State of the Record Industry". frontrowrock.com. 2012-05-22. Archived from the original on 28 August 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  24. ^ Pio, Gabriel (2012-04-07). "The Veer Union – Divide The Blackened Sky". thenewreview.net. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  25. ^ a b "SarkoTalk Interview - Crispin Earl/The Veer Union". Sarkophag-rocks.com. 2010-10-10. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  26. ^ Leahey, Andrew. "The Veer Union > Against the Grain > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-10-31.
  27. ^ "Divide the Blackened Sky - The Veer Union | Awards". AllMusic. 2012-03-27. Retrieved 2016-01-05.
  28. ^ "THE VEER UNION - DONATE". Theveerunion.com. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
  29. ^ "The Veer Union". Facebook.com.
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