Album Notes

The Ryde is a four piece hard rock band based in Toronto, Canada. The first incarnation of the band formed in 1998 around high school musicians in the northern hinterland of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada.

After the obligatory member changes of most school-age bands, a solid line-up emerged and the band began playing various small club gigs and recording rudimentary but energetic basement demos. Those early shows and recordings, and a growing fan base in their home town, bolstered their confidence and prompted a move to Canada's biggest metropolis, Toronto.

Once in "the Big Smoke", the band recorded their debut self titled EP. The disk landed them steadily improving club shows in their new home, opening slots for touring acts, and a prestigious festival show in Thunder Bay, opening for Vince Neil of Motley Crue. Shortly after this concert, the band parted ways with their lead guitarist, cementing their current line-up of Tim Shaw (vocals, rhythm guitar), Boris Novak (bass), Jeff Johnson (drums) and Andrew Roudny (lead guitar).

After accepting the new guitarist into the fold, the band's sound began to evolve away from their roots as brit-pop aficionados and veered to a more riff-laden guitar rock. The four members began each using their separate but compatible influences to create The Ryde’s signature sound.

Having found his voice singing against U2, The Verve and Incubus records, Shaw accepted his own band's quickened pace with an increased emphasis on syllabic attack and soaring choruses. Novak brought the heavy metal energy of Metallica and Tool. Johnson maintained the intricate drum sound of Incubus and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and added a straight ahead drive to his repertoire of complex patterns. Roudny rounded out the new sound with intense, highly technical guitar parts and a pop-metal accessibility.

Their driving songs, celebratory live performances and enthusiastic fan base have made them a regular Saturday night headliner at the world famous Horseshoe Tavern, Toronto's most prestigious live music venue for up-and-coming acts.

A rigorous writing schedule has set them up with ample material for their 2008 full length studio album "Take Aim". They have caught the ear of 30 Seconds To Mars engineer Andre Doucette, who engineered and produced the album.