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Artist Spotlight - Cancer Bats

Written by Alex Therrian

Friday, 15 August 2008

A couple years back during an interview with Billy Talent, the band raved about a Toronto punk band by the name of the Cancer Bats. It took a little while for the name to get out there, but the band’s new record Hail Destroyer is a blistering blend of punk and metal that breaks away from the pack of metalcore and thrash wannabes out there these days. With the April release of Hail Destroyer, the band’s material sounds like a mix of Black Flag-style punk with the groove of a group like Pantera. The album gets off to a hellacious start with the title track, in which lead singer Liam Cornier sets the entire tone for the album with a raw, throaty yell. Riffs on songs like “Smiling Politely” and “Deathsmarch” are instantly memorable and chug and wail, thanks to guitarist Scott Middleton. The band has no problems bouncing back and forth between and punk, which the track “Sorceress” is the most punk sounding track on the record. While listening to the record, you get the feeling that this is the type of stuff that a band like Every Time I Die would sound like, if they were hitting on all cylinders.
The band has had success in their native Canada, with their videos getting regular rotation on music networks there. The title track for Hail Destroyer is now starting to get airplay on Sirius’ Hard Attack channel, and this just might be the first inroad for exposure for the band to get noticed here in the States. The band has toured extensively in Canada with Canadian favorites Alexisonfire and Comeback Kid. But the band hits the States for their biggest touring endeavor as they open for Bleeding Through and Bullet For My Valentine on their summer tour. The tour has been hitting the States for the past month and ends right here in Detroit on August 16^th at the Fillmore Detroit. After that, it will be a extensive Canadian tour before heading off to Europe. So, make sure to get to the show early and check the Cancer Bats out before they cross the border and head for the Great White North.
Cancer Bats will open for Bullet For My Valentine at the Fillmore Detroit this Saturday, August 16^th. Tickets are $25 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Additional dates can be found at www.myspace.com/cancerbats.

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