Metric: Indie Rock with a New Wave Pulse

Metric is a Canadian indie rock band known for its synth-infused sound and energetic live performances. The group, formed in Toronto, achieved mainstream success with their platinum-certified 2009 album Fantasies and its hit single "Help I'm Alive."

Early career

Metric was formed in 1998 by vocalist Emily Haines and guitarist James Shaw, who met in Toronto. The duo relocated to New York City and then London, crafting their early sound before solidifying the lineup with bassist Joshua Winstead and drummer Joules Scott-Key. Their debut full-length album, Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, was released in 2003 on Everloving Records and established their signature blend of rock and new wave electronics.

Breakthrough

The band's commercial breakthrough arrived in 2009 with their fourth studio album, Fantasies. Released on their own label, Metric Music International, and later via Last Gang Records, the record was a critical and commercial hit. It went platinum in Canada, spawned several successful singles, and earned the band a Juno Award for Alternative Album of the Year in 2010.

Key tracks

Help I'm Alive — This lead single from Fantasies became Metric's signature song, earning platinum certification and introducing them to a global audience.

Gold Guns Girls — Another standout from Fantasies, this track exemplifies the band's knack for combining driving rock rhythms with infectious synth hooks.

Breathing Underwater — A later-career hit from 2012's Synthetica, this song achieved gold status and showcased a more polished, anthemic side of their songwriting.

Black Sheep — Featured in the 2010 film Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, this track brought their music to a wider pop culture audience and remains a fan favorite.

The success of Fantasies propelled Metric to larger venues and festival headlines. They followed with the conceptually rich Synthetica in 2012, which was also certified platinum in Canada and nominated for the Polaris Music Prize. Subsequent albums like Pagans in Vegas and Art of Doubt continued to explore electronic and guitar-driven territories, respectively, maintaining their status as a vital live act. Emily Haines and James Shaw have also collaborated with Broken Social Scene, contributing to that influential Canadian collective.

Fans of Metric's stylish fusion of rock and synth-pop often appreciate the work of similar artists. Broken Social Scene shares members and the same Toronto indie rock pedigree. The Strokes parallels Metric's early-2000s rise and sleek, rhythm-forward rock style. Yeah Yeah Yeahs offers a similar dynamic of a charismatic frontwoman over art-rock and new wave influences. CHVRCHES continues the tradition of powerful synth-pop with sharp lyrical perspectives.

Metric's catalog is a staple on alternative rock radio stations and modern rock FM channels. Their anthemic singles receive regular airplay, while deeper album cuts feature on independent music radio stations and online rock radio streams dedicated to 2000s indie and beyond.

Listeners can discover the dynamic music of Metric on the radio stations featured on our website. Tune in to the alternative and indie rock stations available on onairium.com to hear their essential tracks and latest releases.