Birthing the Giant is the first full length album they released. This record is fucking non stop. I’m pretty sure I broke a sweat just listening to it. The lead off track “Golden Tanks” embodies the ferocity of the band. Singer Liam Cormier’s vocals are in your face though he is not screaming. Another amazing track, “Pneumonia Hawk” is done in similar fashion but with the addition of alexisonfire screamer George Pettit, for some dueling vocal action.
Hail Destroyer is the Cancer Bats second full length album. Much like Birthing the Giant, Hail Destroyer starts and ends in pure unbridled intensity. Keeping the trend alive with “borrowing” a second voice, many of Canada’s top band singers are also present on this album. Namely Tim McIlrath of Rise Against on "Harem of Scorpions”, Wade MacNeil of alexisonfire on "Deathsmarch" Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent on "Smiling Politely". The title track starts off with the a gritty guitar worthy of any southern metal band that leads into Cormier shouting “Tear us down!”, instantly making you want to grab the nearest authority figure and punch him in the mouth. They keep up this pace for the next 11 tracks, without missing a beat. If you are lucky enough to pick up this album with bonus tracks, you are in for a treat. The bonus cd contains three covers, including my personal favorite cover of The Murder City Devils’ “I want a Lot Now”
Their most recent release Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones was released in 2009. This album is exhausting..in a good way. There is a lot going on in this record. Multi-layered is understatement. Punk, hardcore, sludge: this album does it all. The opening track “Sleep This Away” is a sludgy mix of hardcore metal. The Cancer Bats also do a pretty nifty cover of the Beastie Boys “Sabotage”. The cover holds true the Beastie’s original but Cormier’s gruff vocals and the bands squealing guitars, make it their own.
Bottom line, the Cancer Bats have a bright future in today’s hardcore and metal scenes. They are defiantly one of the bands that is a “must see”. The bands overall stage presents is overwhelming and keeps you entertained.
-Cicatriz
Buy their albums here: www.indiemerchstore.com/cancerbats