Born almost completely by accident, For The Hard Way is a marriage of two Kitchener local mainstays.  Featuring members from punk band Snatch and high energy, fast paced rock band The Mercenary Saints, this incarnation nearly never came to be.  Upon the departure of the rhythm guitar and vocal section of The Mercenary Saints, the remaining members went on an exhaustive and extensive search for replacements.  After multiple failed attempts to find the right fit, an impromptu jam session with Snatch front man Dan Adair led the four to realize one of life's oddest truths; in order to find what you seek, stop looking and it will find you.  Also understanding immediately that the new creations fit neither into the mold of Snatch or The Mercenary Saints, it was unanimously agreed that the grouping was a new identity.

 While categorized as punk in a wide sweeping over generalization, FTHW does not fit into the rigid pre-determination of skate punk or gutter punk.  Instead, the product seems to embrace the simplicity of the genre as well as it's aggressive, non-traditionally tonal melodies.  Taking the best aspects of both alums, FTHW combines the tight, melodic instrumental lines of The Mercenary Saints with the aggressive vocals and chunky guitars of Adair.  Much like in the past for both, the live show is the true experience with this band.  Aside from the nearly academic dedication to tight instrumentals, to see FTHW live is to understand fun.  Each of these men enjoy what they do and it is apparent with every movement.  From true expressions of the music to a tongue in cheek, nudge, nudge, wink, wink approach to 'performing' the smiles never leave their faces.