Friends influenced by first and second wave hardcore bands, Fucked Up was formed in Toronto in 2002 and have the most perfect name for any band in rock history. Two words bluntly state the truth that lies behind the white noise maelstrom: things are different from what you expect. Formed ostensibly as a punk band, Fucked Up swiftly took on hardcore and twisted it into their own version with a psychedelic edge, unexpected instrumentation like flute and keyboards, and songs stretched to perverse lengths. The gigs were legendary, becoming a lunatic motif for a take on the hardcore genre that upended assumptions: lyrics about plants and rebirth, moneys to charities. All the time, there was a sense of narrative, and even in their loudest moments there was a deep intelligence to their music. The narrative itself has come to full fruition on the new album DAVID COMES TO LIFE. A rock opera, an album set to a play. They have now made their ultimate statement, tying up all the loose ends in this sprawling yet consistently brilliant album. Of course you could always ignore the backstory and just listen to a fiercely imaginative, powerful 78 minutes of blistering, melodic rock’n’roll crossed with all manners of psychic weirdness. Your choice.