Cancer Bats are a Canadian hardcore punk band formed in Toronto, Ontario, in 2004 by vocalist Liam Cormier and guitarist Scott Middleton. Their music combines hardcore punk, sludge metal and metalcore with heavy, groove-driven riffs and elements of Southern rock.
Cormier and Middleton had previously played together in At the Mercy of Inspiration. Their early influences included Refused, Entombed, Black Flag and Black Sabbath. After releasing a self-titled EP in 2005
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Cancer Bats are a Canadian hardcore punk band formed in Toronto, Ontario, in 2004 by vocalist Liam Cormier and guitarist Scott Middleton. Their music combines hardcore punk, sludge metal and metalcore with heavy, groove-driven riffs and elements of Southern rock.
Cormier and Middleton had previously played together in At the Mercy of Inspiration. Their early influences included Refused, Entombed, Black Flag and Black Sabbath. After releasing a self-titled EP in 2005, the band established itself through extensive touring across Canada and the United States.
Their debut album, Birthing the Giant (2006), introduced their abrasive sound, followed by Hail Destroyer (2008), which helped establish their international reputation. Subsequent albums Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones (2010), Dead Set on Living (2012), Searching for Zero (2015) and The Spark That Moves (2018) further developed their combination of punk intensity, metallic riffs and rhythmic grooves.
The band also performs Black Sabbath covers under the name Bat Sabbath, reflecting the influence of classic heavy metal on their music.
Founding guitarist Scott Middleton departed in 2021 after seventeen years. The band's seventh album, Psychic Jailbreak (2022), was recorded as a three-piece, with bassist Jaye Schwarzer taking on additional guitar duties. Jackson Landry joined as guitarist in 2023.
Their eighth studio album, Give Me Dirt, was released on 7 August 2026. Produced by Kurt Ballou and Zach Weeks at God City Studios, with additional vocal recording by Ian Romano, the album explores themes of nature, personal loss and resilience.
In September 2026, longtime drummer Mike Peters announced his retirement from touring to focus on his family, while remaining involved in songwriting, recording and band management. Ian Romano subsequently took over live drumming duties.
Cancer Bats have received six JUNO Award nominations and developed an international following through extensive touring, including appearances at Download Festival, Reading and Leeds, and numerous hardcore and metal festivals worldwide.
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…shrink me down again
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