The team at HTZ-FM has listened, calculated and judged every entry… and now it’s your turn to weigh in and VOTE on the TOP 12 bands!
Check out the bands below, then follow the link to VOTE for your favourite. You can vote once per hour until May 5th.
VOTING IS NOW CLOSED.
TOP 6 will be announced on May 8th!
Feura
Toronto-based alternative artist Feura hits like voltage. Sharp, explosive, and impossible to ignore. 35K+ streams on her debut EP EAT IT!, radio play on ROCK95 FM and 89.1 The Max FM, and support slots alongside Silverstein, Big Wreck, The OBGMs, and NOBRO, Feura is building serious momentum.
Taking inspiration from artists like Avril Lavigne and YUNGBLUD, her music is alternative rock that’s fierce and hook-driven, with energy that carries beyond the recordings. 155K followers on TikTok, and 29K on Instagram, Feura has built a fast-growing audience that doesn’t just watch, they show up. Her debut album, Lose Your Head, arriving May 22, 2026, is set to push that momentum even further.
Fortunate Losers
Fortunate Losers is a hard rock band from Sudbury, Ontario, known for their blend of modern rock and 90s grunge. In 2023, they released a self-titled album produced by Steve Molella of Finger Eleven, featuring the standout single ‘Taste’ a tribute to Chris Cornell. They’ve performed with acts like Rob Zombie and Knocked Loose at major festivals like Rock Fest WI.
The Jailbirds
With a fusion of hard rock, classic rock, and modern rock, The Jailbirds deliver a dynamic sound that pays homage to legends while carving out a unique sonic identity. Influenced by the likes of Black Sabbath, Van Halen, ACDC and Royal Blood, The Jailbirds weave together a tapestry of raw energy and infectious melodies.
The recipient of multiple accolades, including the Mississauga Music Awards for “BEST ROCK” in 2018 and “BEST LIVE BAND” in 2022, The Jailbirds have solidified their presence in the rock scene. Their tracks have garnered recognition on Spotify’s HARD ROCK Playlist for an impressive 10 months with two different singles, capturing the attention of rock enthusiasts worldwide.
Onstage, The Jailbirds command a stage presence that captivates audiences, having shared the spotlight with heavyweights like Monster Truck and Rival Sons. Their music has not only graced the pages of Guitar World Magazine and BRAVEWORDS but also resonated with listeners across the airwaves, receiving FM radio play on numerous stations throughout Canada and the UK.
Fueled by a passion for gritty riffs, powerhouse vocals, and uncompromising artistry, The Jailbirds stand as a force to be reckoned with in the rock realm, continuously pushing boundaries and leaving an indelible mark on the rock landscape.
The Lemon Pistols
If a nuclear bomb was made of equal parts espresso, tequila, and unbelievably good looks, it would be referred to as a ‘Lemon Pistol’.
The Lemon Pistols are an explosive rock quartet that have become the embodiment of the term ‘Rock and Roll’. Between the savoury guitar licks, bone shattering drum fills, interstellar bass playing and cheeky lyrics; The Lemon Pistols will leave you excreting bodily fluids. All. Night. Long.
Live Animals
Born in the industrial sprawl of Southern Ontario, Live Animals are the visceral sound of cracked asphalt and restless nights. Fusing heavy grunge riffs with haunting melodies, their music channels the raw energy of 90s grunge-esque rebellion through a modern lens. Sweltering vocals tell stories of fractured dreams and quiet defiance, underscored by growling guitars and thunderous rhythm. Known for their sweat-soaked live shows, Live Animals draw audiences into a storm of high-energy emotion and catharsis.
The Lookout Service
The Lookout Service is a Toronto-based alternative rock duo formed in 2018 by guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Stergios Kalochoridis. Joined by drummer Ian Fragomeni, the pair fuse gritty guitar tones, driving percussion, and emotionally charged lyrics, in the crucible of Toronto’s indie rock scene. Drawing inspiration from bands like Death From Above 1979, The White Stripes, and Audioslave, The Lookout Service channel the urgency and emotion of 1990s and early-2000s rock through a modern, minimalist lens.
The Manic Boys And Girls Club
Video of the Year at The International Portuguese Music Awards, Band of The Year at The 2024 Gussapolooza Music and Arts Festival, U.S. and European tour dates in 2025. This is just the start of something much bigger.
Blending lush synthesizers with grunge inspired guitars, The Manic Boys and Girls Club is a brother / sister duo from Toronto whose music takes you from the feeling of an indie dance party to stadium anthems within one performance.
With a fanbase growing every day, 152K streams on Spotify alone and 680,000 video views across social media platforms The Manic Boys and Girls Club anticipate no downtime in the near future.
Neon Cowboy
Neon Cowboy is an alternative rock band from St Catharines, Ontario, Canada. Low tunings, primitive percussion, catchy rhythms, vocal harmonies, and reverb for days. Their lyrics that explore the truth of human behavior…even when its ugly. Songs inspired by the human condition.
Savelene
Alternative Metal from Hamilton Ontario.
For fans of Deftones, glassjaw, Alexisonfire.
Stella Rain
Stella Rain was formed in 2025 by Mackenzie Attridge (Vocals/rhythm guitar), Matthew De Sousa (Drums), Owen Gow (Bass), Jakob Smith (Lead Guitar).
Drawing from a wide palette of influences “Grunge, classic rock, punk, disco, jazz, prog-metal”, Our goal is to create authentic, experimental rock music that gives the listener a sense of nostalgia while still delivering a fresh modern edge!
Stitching Snakes
The sound of Stitching Snakes is a complex blend of Alternative Rock, Progressive Metal and Hardcore. Technical elements are woven into thoughtful and impactful song structures, which contribute to a unique listening experience.
The band formed in 2023, but there were many iterations of the project prior to its current form. Countless songs, styles, ideas, and philosophies were left on the cutting room floor, which facilitated the space needed to develop the quintessential Stitching Snakes sound you hear today. It was the pursuit of the perfect blend between influences that gave the band its original sound.
The Thick
The Thick is a rock band from Toronto, established in the halls of Northern Secondary in 2015. What started in basements and house parties quickly grew into something much more special. Fast forward nine years, The Thick is headlining highly attended shows in Toronto and across the region. Their magnetic performances and highly anticipated second LP MONGOOSE shows the band standing on new ground truly identifying with what it means to sound THICK.
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