The Veer Union fearlessly confront the grim techno-horrorscape that awaits us all in their apocalyptic, incendiary and unrelenting new album Welcome To Dystopia — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
The lastest full-length from the Vancouver modern-rock power trio, the ambitious Welcome To Dystopia is a prophetic and pointed concept piece that examines the way politicians, industry, the wealthy and the elite and others use and abuse technology to manipulate, dominate, exploit and control the masses. With its grim fusion of thought-provoking lyrics and head-banging modern rock majesty, the eight-track album aims to deliver its dire message on multiple levels, painting a chilling portrait of the bleak future that threatens us all if we don’t take action now.
The opening focus track for the LP is No Excuse, which excoriates leaders around the world for leaving the poor, middle class and working class behind in an evolving world — in order to help the wealthy grow their net worth to obscene levels. An ominous spoken-word intro explodes into driving guitars, buoyed by a hypnotic piano and synth melody line that are propelled forward by thunderous drums with a chugging, relentless rhythm.
The Veer Union — frontman Crispin Earl, guitarist Ryan Ramsdell and drummer Ricardo Viana — explain that “No Excuse is a powerful rallying cry that exposes the deep-rooted betrayal of the working class by those in power. For decades, our leaders have decimated the middle class by outsourcing our manufacturing base, leaving communities to struggle while the wealthy elite thrive. At the same time, governments have colluded with big tech to suppress dissent, using cancel culture and censorship as tools to control the narrative.
“Endless wars have claimed countless innocent lives, torn nations apart, and yet, the only ones to benefit are those at the top. We’ve endured lockdowns, had our freedoms stripped away, and watched our futures grow uncertain. The dream of prosperity has been ripped from us, leaving today’s youth with little more than a dim outlook for a better tomorrow. The rise of AI and robotics threatens to further control, weaponizing technology to erode autonomy. But in this age of information, people are waking up exponentially to the reality of our situation — and they’re demanding accountability from those who’ve betrayed us. All hope is not lost… yet.”
Meanehile, the album’s titie track — featuring an appearance by Silent Theory — is a socially conscious melodic-metal anthem meticulously constructed from volcanic guitars, propulsive drums, horror-movie synths and an oppressive, ominously heavy vibe. The stars of the show, of course, are the soaring vocals and ripped-from-the-headlines lyrics about the chaotic state of the world — a rapidly accelerating downward spiral fuelled by technology. Their solution? Pull the plug.
“For the past 40 years, technological advancements in robotics have integrated into our daily lives,” they explain. “As governments worldwide hasten to incorporate robotics into military and law enforcement uses, it is crucial for humanity to remain vigilant and informed about the capabilities, potential consequences and the agendas of those in charge of these technologies. The situation is both awe-inspiring and alarming.”
Adds Silent Theory frontman Dakota Jerns: “This song feels like a statement from the point of view of a spectator watching the world burn. When I heard Crispin’s parts, I took them as someone not recognizing the world they once knew and reluctantly coming to terms with this new reality. I wanted to write my parts from the perspective of someone who couldn’t wait for society to collapse. Mirroring that reluctance with willingness. We sat down and worked these parts out together and when we come together in that final chorus, it’s as if those two ideas merge and I really like that.”
Another single, Empirical, pulls no punches lyrically or musically. Kicking off with melodic vocals layered over gritty vulcanized guitars, the song quickly explodes into a white-hot supernova of alt-metal power and precision, surging forward on a thunderous tempo-shifting beat as the track sears — and as Earl poetically prophesizes, probes and pleads for some organic truth and authenticity in our world of technological lies: “As we face innovation and the rapid advancement of technology, we in The Veer Union retain a profound sense of hope that humanity unites in its pursuit of freedom and individualism, continuing to champion the spirit that drives us to overcome challenges and strive for a brighter future.”
They’ve been on that path for some time now. The Veer Union released their first album independently in 2006. They landed a record deal with Universal in 2008 and garnered their first Top 10 Active Rock Radio single with the critically acclaimed Seasons. Since then, The Veer Union have amassed 360,000-plus social media followers, sold more than 225,000 albums and had their music streamed more than 190 million times. They have achieved 12 Top 40 singles on the Billboard Rock Radio chart, and their videos have more than 10 million views.
Known for their dynamic live shows, TVU play an average of 100 gigs per year. They’ve toured with RED, Puddle Of Mudd, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Hinder, Saliva and Alesana, among others. A spring 2025 North American tour is in the works.
Check out Welcome To Dystopa below and join The Veer Union on their website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
