Prior to Cancer Bats’ earliest incarnation, singer Liam Cormier and guitarist Scott Middleton had played in the Toronto-based heavy metal band At the Mercy of Inspiration. Looking to craft a heavier, more elemental sound, with inspiration drawn from Refused, Black Flag, and Led Zeppelin, the pair formed Cancer Bats and invited bassist Andrew McCracken and drummer Joel Bath to the lineup. By January 2005 the quartet had produced a self-released demo, after which Mike Peters replaced Baths on drums. Cancer Bats subsequently began honing their live skills by performing across Southern Ontario alongside the likes of Billy Talent, Every Time I Die, Alexisonfire, Gallows, and Rise Against.
In June 2006 the band released their debut record “Birthing the Giant” featuring guest vocals from Alexisonfire’s George Pettit. Earning a host of positive reviews, the album spawned the singles “100 Grand Canyon”, “French Immersion”, and “Pneumonia Hawk”. Following the release bassist McCracken departed to focus on his design company, who was temporarily replaced by Jason Bailey, before Jay R. Schwarzer took over the reigns in late 2007.
Cancer Bats’ sophomore full-length “Hail Destroyer” arrived in April 2008 receiving a plethora of critical acclaim. With features from Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath, Alexisonfire’s Wade McNeil, and Billy Talent’s Ben Kowalewicz, the record was supported by an extensive tour including dates at Download Festival and Reading and Leeds Festivals. Following a further period intense touring Cancer Bats issued their third studio album “Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones” in April 2010. The group subsequently performed as “Bat Sabbath”, a Black Sabbath tribute band, at the Sonisphere Festival in July.
The full-length “Dead Set on Living” was released in early 2012 marking a more upbeat direction for the band. Led by the single “Old Blood”, the record draws influence from indie rock bands including Fleet Foxes, and was supported by playing five shows in the shape of a pentagram across the UK.
Ontario's hardcore punk outfit Cancer Bats have reached out from their humble Toronto home and achieved global domination on the punk and rock scene. They are always at home in the UK when visiting our shores and often put in memorable performances at the likes of Download, Reading & Leeds and Slam Dunk. It is when the quartet is faced with thousands of revellers and a larger platform as possible that they really thrive. They have a true skill in being able to transfer the aggressive intimacy of a basement club to a huge field facing a main stage.
They make sure the whole audience is involved during the sing/chant-along choruses, they jump on command and of course they mosh constantly. Whirring circles of bodies, dust and dirt emerge during 'R.A.T.S.' much to the twisted delight of Liam Cormier. The rest of the band does not seem to be as focused on the crowd as they lurch around stage thrashing out their blistering instrumentals at incredible speed. The whole crowd is battered, bruised and elated as 'True Zero' comes to a close and they have their arms raised in salute to the Canadians.
sean-ward
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