Cancer Bats – Dead Set On Living [ALBUM] Review

9/10

Record Label: Hassle

Returning to Vespa Studios with producers Eric Ratz and Kenny Luong, this is the fourth full-length from Canadian hardcore rockers Cancer Bats. Never ones to shy away from the chaos in their unique, thrash-influenced style of hardcore, this new record bridges the gap between live show and studio recording with aplomb.

Liam Cormier is the whirling dervish at the helm of this monstrous machine; equally at home growling gutturally over sludge-laden, grooving guitar chops on opener ‘R.A.T.S’ or vocally matching the pace of aggression of tracks like ‘Old Blood’. The beauty of Cancer Bats is their ability to blur the lines between hardcore, thrash, doom and Southern-tinged rock’n’drawl and they shine brightest when effortlessly blending this myriad of genres. There are touches of Slayer, Ministry, Pantera, Hatebreed, Black Label Society and countless others that will keep your head banging and leave you dying to be standing at the front of a sweaty venue with a pint in hand and hair down to your waist, fending off the topless wind-milling fat guy next to you.

Cancer Bats have reached their zenith so far; big riffs, pounding drums, shredding lead and a vocal that could strip the paint off the side of a house. Comparing thrashing heavyweights ‘Road Sick’ and ‘Breathe Armageddon’ to other releases this month is almost embarrassing, this band are clearing a path through swathes of primped and preened boybands with a snow-plough of balls out riffage.

If this is the resurgence of rock, count us fucking in.