Ariel Maniki and the Black Halos

Ariel Maniki and the Black Halos formed in Toronto in the early 1990s. Their music often dealt with difficult themes, and some of their lyrics about violence and alienation drew criticism at the time. The band's frontman, Ariel Maniki, was known for an androgynous stage presence and comments on gender that challenged conventional expectations.

They released their first album, 'The Brightness,' in 1996. Later records included 'Dead Man's Blues' in 1998 and 'The Pipe' in 2002. Their 2008 album shared its name with the song 'A Soft Kind of Violence,' which addressed domestic abuse. Other tracks like 'Boruca Song' and 'Broken' appeared in their catalog.

While the existing history mentions a core lineup, it doesn't list specific members beyond Maniki himself. The band's work from the 1990s through the 2000s maintained a brooding, post-punk sound that gathered a following despite, or perhaps partly because of, the conversations their material sparked.