Birthing The Giant - Cancer Bats Album Review

Photo Credit:Vanessa Heins

Album Review

Guess the genre?

"This is all a blackout, we fade to black.

This is my dedication, I love my generation

We are the ones who'll die."

That's right, it has to be post-hardcore/metal, but these lyrics from opener 'Golden Tanks', are delivered Liam Cornier with a fresh, unforced passion and pride. This is done against a backdrop of blistering bass lines and abrasive guitars, to give these Canadians some drive and sincerity akin to that of Refused and Fu Manchu. Atmospheric guitar interludes set up the fierce cries of Cornier in 'French Immersion', to build perspective and give the mosh-circles a chance to hit gale force at their much heralded live shows. An "it doesn't matter where you are from, it is where you are at" theme trickles through this album, notably in 'Grenades' and 'Pneumonia Hawk'.

The metallic element is swollen by the ferocious guitars riff of former Toronto metal band (At The Mercy Inspiration) member, Scott Middleton. He and Cornier form the backbone of this heat maintaining outfit, as the blazing guitar riffs and scorching vocal tag team approach of 'Butterscotch', testifies. However, there are songs like the speaking for those without a voice offering, 'Death Bros' that doesn't really reach the intensity that the lyrics command and you feel that Middleton especially, has another gear that he is sometimes afraid to use. The rhythmic rush of the bass led 'Diamond Mine', steps things up to produce a whirlpool of bemused anger and release, encapsulating the qualities that you would expect in a true alternative band. For a debut album, there is more than enough to suggest that this seminal band, could go on to widen the appeal of an aspect of music that is currently suffering from one dimensional overcrowding.

David Adair