Toronto-based quartet Cancer Bats are about as non-conformist as a punk band gets. Their debut LP earned them scores of fans here in the UK back in 2006, and they’ve since challenged just about every assumption thrown at them. Their most recent record marked a pivotal moment in their career, demonstrating an insatiable drive that shows no sign of slowing. Jimmy Volts caught up with their upbeat vocalist Liam Cormier to talk ups, downs, tours and motorcycles.
Cancer Bats surprised everyone with their latest record, “Searching For Zero”. The LP saw them shed the remnants of their lo-fi roots, to make way for more of a classic metal sound. But – perhaps much more important – it marked their triumph over a particularly low period. Liam explains:
“Whilst touring our last album, we had some people close to the band pass away. It was a time when, even though we were doing what we loved, we questioned ourselves. You start asking ‘Is this just a job? Is this just what we do?’ I had to remind myself that the band was the reason we’d met those people in the first place. This record pinpoints those emotions. Instead of letting it break us up, we wrote the fastest, harshest songs as odes to our friends. It was the bad things that happened which fueled us and ultimately helped us determine that we’re in this for the right reasons.”
Despite the dark backdrop, the band remained positive and forged a record that straddled musical tropes, impressing fans and critics alike with a sound that incorporated numerous genres into one tough-to -pigeonhole package. Their optimism extends not only to their creative endeavours, but also to their touring life. CB’s upcoming dates see them undertake a whopping 55 shows across the USA, UK and Europe. So, how do they stay sane on the road?
“By making sure we’re playing shows we’re totally stoked about! Sometimes you’re on a support tour
and you’re told it’s a
great opportunity to
reach new audiences. Whereas in reality, you’re
just playing to people
that hate you.”
(laughs)
“Our solution is to make
sure we go on tour supporting people we love
at our favourite cities, so even when a tour is long,
I’m stoked to see fans at
each show.”
This January, the UK leg of the tour sees them perform key dates at these venues:
Tuesday January 12 Wedgewood Rooms, Portsmouth
Wednesday January 13 – Concorde 2, Brighton
Friday January 22 – O2 Academy, Birmingham
Saturday January 23 – Manchester Academy
Tuesday January 26 – O2 Academy, Newcastle
Wednesday January 27 – O2 Academy, Liverpool
Thursday January 28 – Tufnell Park Dom, London
It’s clear they enjoy touring this side of the Atlantic. So what is it about UK audiences that Cancer Bats love
so much?
“We felt at home here right off the bat! It helped that we were playing with bands the UK already loved like the Bronx and Rise Against, but by the time we did the support tour with Gallows in 2007, we felt like the UK really was our jam. I think that’s a testament to how good the scene is here.
We’re doing about 24 dates here this tour in all, but we wish we could do more!”
Liam’s tone shows that he’s completely genuine in his sentiment. And of course, prior to their UK visit, they’ll have the festive period in which to spend time with their families – we had to ask, what’s the best Christmas present Liam’s ever had?
“My girlfriend bought me a motorcycle a few years ago. It was an old bike from the nineties. I literally rode that thing into the ground! It barely lasted a year. But goddamn, that’s by far the coolest gift anyone’s ever given me. Now, I’m trying to ride as many motorcycles as I can.”
Proving he’s every inch the rock & roll star with that last nugget, it’s fair to say we’re as stoked as he is at the prospect of their upcoming UK dates.
See you at the front!
Words: Jimmy Volts
