The Ex-Boyfriends are out to melt faces.

Their music is a brain-pan searing sonic assault, led by the yowling Djewel Davidson-- local DJ and Calgary music stalwart-- with a pounding assault on guitar led by Michael Paton. Backing them up is drummer extraordinaire Dean Martin, who plays in numerous bands all across Calgary.

When it comes to touring, Lamb of God are about as ruthless as a group of war-torn killer chimps. They are in the midst of a world tour, including a December leg through Canada with Metallica to promote the release of their upcoming album, Wrath. Though they're still immersed in of spreading their music across the country, it's nearly time for these impervious relatives of man to brush the blood of touring off their teeth and get back to business.

This year saw wide musical variability with its musical offerings from folky riffs to poppy licks. There were also a ton of new players on the scene, making some tight competition for established groups.

10. Lykke Li-- Youth Novels

While many musicians go as quickly as they come, Disturbed has managed continued success and is enduring.

"We're succeeding by gaining fans, by going out and giving 110 per cent when we play a live show and each time we return to a city, the crowds have been gradually growing and to continue to do that in a business like this, [there] is usually such a short-lived life span for most bands," explains guitarist Dan Donegan. "We feel like we are still going strong after a good, solid nine years."

Ubiquitous Synergy Seeker toss all sorts of different elements into their music and then blend it into one smooth, lip-smacking concoction, just like a deliciously refreshing smoothie. Take some drum and bass, mix in a bit of grungy guitar, add a little bit of folk lyricism to it and then blend it together to reach a blissful dance party for all involved. As they hit the road for their western Holidazed and Confused tour, they've got a long trip out on the road ahead of them.

Gauntlet: What's up with the band?

John Huver: We've been going since 1998, so it's been about nine years now. The album is mixed, so right now we're starting to tour to get some tour legs for the newer material off the new album. This will be our fourth album to date, so things are pretty cool so far.

G: What are the differences of playing your music in '08 versus '98?

It's great to have Bison back in Calgary, though they aren't the hairy four-legged ones. Bison B.C. is a band who can appreciate mosh pits while still seeing the value in something less traditional like a hug pit, head-banging and high fives.

Tetrix knows about the power of randomness. Whether it's on one of their nine CDs or during a live set, they improvise and play off one another to create a song unique to that set. They're an incarnation of musical randomness-- you never know what you're going to get when they take the stage.

The Shagbots have seen some shit, but they're a little too modest to brag about it. Starting off in a dingy basement in 2006, the 'Bots kicked things off with a bang, beating Kara Keith and Hot Little Rocket in the Fuel 90.9 Big Rockstar Competition, where they won $26,000 to record their as of yet untitled debut.

Montreal-based band Land of Talk knows the value of a good live show. The trio, consisting of guitarist and singer Liz Powell, drummer Eric Thibodeau and bassist Chris McCarron, always provides fans with inducing energetic performances and Powell's honest, nostalgic melodies and equally-emotive gritty guitar create an intimate, arresting atmosphere.