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Categories: Canadian hardcore punk groups > Canadian rock music groups > Musical groups from Toronto > Musical groups established in 2004 > Black Market Activities artists
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Cancer Bats is a hardcore punk band from Toronto , Ontario , Canada .
Cancer Bats originated in May 2004 with singer Liam Cormier and guitarist Scott Middleton, former member of Toronto heavy metal band At The Mercy Of Inspiration. The two wanted to form a project that combined their favorite parts of bands like Refused, Black Flag, Led Zeppelin and Down, among others. The lineup was rounded out with the addition of Andrew McCracken on bass and Joel Bath on drums. The four-piece wasted no time writing and recording songs for a self-released demo that saw light in January 2005. The story is that the band considered the names Cancer Bats and Pneumonia Hawk after deciding that a combination of illness and animal name would give the best band name,Soon after, Mike Peters replaced Bath on the drums and the band began playing throughout Southern Ontario , playing live shows with bands like Billy Talent, Every Time I Die, NORA, Alexisonfire, Haste the Day, It Dies Today, Bane, Comeback Kid, Buried Inside, Attack in Black, Misery Signals and This Is Hell, Rise Against, The Bronx and Gallows.
On June 2, 2006, the band took part in a short interview and then played a free CD release show at The Edge 102.1 (CFNY-FM) and then on the 6th Birthing The Giant was released into major record stores. The album includes guest vocals by George Pettit of Alexisonfire. On June 7, 2006 they hosted All Things Rock, a show on MTV Canada, and had their own video played at the end of the show.
In the summer of 2006, they were on tour all across Canada, playing with NOFX and Silverstein. They also played the Rock The Mill festival with other bands such as The Fully Down and Shotgun Rules.
Bass player Andrew McCracken left to concentrate on his design company Doublenaut. His spot was filled in by Jason Bailey (Former member of bands Figure Four and Shattered Realm) for most of 2007 after which he was replaced by Jaye R. Schwarzer, who is formerly of Left Behind, Hope To Die, Minesweeper, Kover, and currently a Reefer Cathedral member alongside Cancer Bats guitarist Scott Middleton.
The band released their second studio album called Hail Destroyer on April 22, 2008. The album features guest vocals by Wade MacNeil of Alexisonfire and Black Lungs, Tim McIlrath of Rise Against and Benjamin Kowalewicz of Billy Talent. The release was held at the Mod Club in downtown Toronto with Liam Cormier singing for the band, along with drumming with Black Lungs.
On May 17, 2008, Cancer Bats were put on the cover of Kerrang!, which gave their album Hail Destroyer a KKKKK review (highest possible) as well as a 5k Live review on their headlining UK tour. Cancer Bats were also nominated for 2008 Album of the Year for the 2008 Kerrang! awards.
Cancer Bats have performed at the Download Festival in 2007, Groezrock 2007 and at both Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2007 and 2008. In the summer of 2008, the band did an extensive summer and autumn tour with Bullet for My Valentine, Black Tide and Bleeding Through, as part of the No Fear music tour across North America. Also in 2008 they were a support act for Welsh band Funeral for a Friend during their tour of Britain and northern Europe.
March 2009, they went on tour at the annual Taste of Chaos festival along with Thursday, Four Year Strong, Pierce The Veil and Bring Me The Horizon. They kept a daily blog on their website calling Calgary, AB their best show in six months.
Cancer Bats returned to the UK in 2009, even after Swedish melodic metal band In Flames cancelled their April 2009 concerts, on which Cancer Bats were slated to be main support.
In August 2009 the Cancer Bats played slot at the premier showing of the Sonisphere festival.
Liam Cormier lent his vocals to sing on fellow Canadian band Silverstein's fourth studio album A Shipwreck in the Sand on a track called "Vices". The band is also featured on Gallows' latest album Grey Britain.
The band is currently recording a new studio album that they hope to release early 2010. The new album is tentatively titeld Bears, Mayors, Scraps and Bones. Meanwhile, the band will be supporting Billy Talent on their European tour in October and November 2009.
Cancer Bats are usually referred to as a hardcore, metalcore, death punk and heavy metal band, and have also been referred to as having influences from stoner rock, southern metal, sludge metal and groove metal.
Current lineup
Liam Cormier - lead vocals (2004–present)
Scott Middleton - guitar (2004–present)
Mike Peters - drums (2005–present)
Jaye R. Schwarzer - bass (2007–present)
Jason Bailey - bass (2006–2007)
Andrew McCracken - bass (2004–2006)
Joel Bath - drums (2004–2005)
2006: Birthing The Giant
2008: Hail Destroyer
2010: Bears, Mayors, Scraps and Bones
EPs and splits
2005: Cancer Bats
2007: This Is Hell / Cancer Bats 7"
2009: Cancer Bats / Rolo Tomassi 7"
2009: Tour EP
Songs on compilations
2005: Distort Summer Sampler ("One Hundred Grand Canyon" and "Pneumonia Hawk")
2008: Distort Summer Sampler ("Hail Destroyer)
2009: Atticus...Dragging the lake ("Deathsmarch)
Cancer Bats often incorporate references to their friends Alexisonfire in their music videos. In the French Immersion and Pneumonia Hawk videos the band parodied some of Dallas Green's City and Colour songs. Fellow Alexisonfire members George Pettit and Wade MacNeil performed guest vocals on the tracks "Pneumonia Hawk" and "Deathsmarch" respectively, and also appeared in the videos for the songs that included their respective contributions.
All of their music videos have been directed by Marc Ricciardelli.
Hundred Grand Canyon (2006)
French Immersion (2006)
Pneumonia Hawk (2007)
Hail Destroyer (2008)
Lucifer's Rocking Chair (2008)
Deathsmarch (2009)
The Cancer Bats members also appear in the video for "Chelsea Smile" by Bring Me The Horizon.
Cancer Bats are soft at heart - From Torontomusicscene.ca
Distort Entertainment Official Website
Alternative Press interview
BBC Radio 1 punk show 27th of May 2008
MTV overdrive page showing performance.
Kerrang! - In Flames cancel upcoming UK/Ireland tour
http://www.alterthepress.com/2009/03/interview-cancer-bats-3032009.html
Cancer Bats – Listen free at Last.fm
Limited Edition Cancer Bats/Rolo Tomassi Split 7" Announced
Cancer Bats Releasing Tour EP
Taste of Chaos 2009
Official Cancer Bats Myspace page
Hail Destroyer site
Cancer Bats UK Fansite
City Sonic: Cancer Bats Film