Review from Exclaim Magazine, November 2007
Batoche - Terra Incognita
A continuation of Vancouver-based outfit Born of Ashes, Batoche show that one doesn’t need major label backing or top-notch production to deliver a scorcher of a metalcore record. Punk rock, technical mayhem and spacey retrospection are only really the tip of the iceberg, as all this material is wrapped up in song structures tighter than the strait of Gibraltar. The serpentine, diverse writing is capped off by well thought-out lyrics that touch on politics, environmentalism and the swindling of the public by authority figures in general. As mentioned before, the production could use a bit of tweaking — the all-too-common typewriter kick drums are irritating — but for an independent release offered for free download on the group’s website, it would truly be jerk-ish to complain. They are one of North America’s metalcore elite, not just Canada’s. (Independent)
By Max Deneau
"3 songs in and I'm fuckin' bleeding!" -Ryan Kennedy, Rednyne Productions
Batoche formed in 2002 and we have spent the past five years as a 100% DIY band. After independently releasing three records (2 under a different name), repeatedly touring across the country, surviving a name change, a near death experience and dedicating our every waking moment to music, we are proud to present our latest LP, Terra Incognita. This album was recorded at the Hive Creative Labs by Jesse Gander in 2007, and while maintaining our hardcore and metal roots has a character all its own. Each song brings new elements of chaos, atmosphere, flow and power. Lyrically we tackle global issues while focussing on history and politics from a distinctly Canadian perspective, encouraging listeners to search for solutions and explore these issues instead of simply relying on condemnation and knee-jerk reaction.
Simply wishing to get this record out to as many people as possible this record, in addition to the CD release, this album has been made freely available on our website (www.batoche.ca). So download it, check it out in its entirety, and if you like it pass it along to your friends. The best way you can repay us is by coming to see us live or simply send us an email to let us know what you think. That is worth more than money.
The basic theme behind Terra Incognita (latin for Unknown Country) and the inspiration behind the name may seem a little cryptic, so here it is in a nutshell: This record is about the danger and folly of drawing conclusions without sufficient evidence, of concluding that imagined monsters exist in every unexplored territory, and believing that what we know now is all that we could ever know. Examples of this common mistake can be seen throughout history; in books, stories, myths and maps, and we are just as guilty of it today as we ever have been. We must learn to admit when we are wrong and once in a while we must be willing to venture out into unknown county with nothing but a blank map, prepared to fill in and amend the details as we travel.
we're extremely excited about this record and hope to see you all on the road.
