What is in the water in Canada at the moment? On the back of some cracking punk and hardcore albums last year from Propagandhi, Billy Talent and Alexisonfire. Cancer Bats unleash Bears, Mayors, Scraps and Bones, a brutal album from start to finish that ignites a fire deep inside and burns you with its intensity.
While much will be made about their cover of the Beastie Boys ‘Sabotage’, the fact remains that this album delivers the shot of adrenalin punk needs. Tracks like ‘Sleep This Away’, ‘Black Metal Bicycle’ and ‘Dead Wrong’ are spat out with venom. The aural assault continues throughout the fourteen tracks before closing with ‘Sabotage’, at which point you feel drained by the experience. Grumbling bass lines, screeching riffs and screaming vocals – what all good hardcore records should have on top of sheer force and grunt.
2010 could be the year for Canadian punk. Don’t be surprised to see this in a lot of end of year lists in the scene. If this record sounds punishing, then good! Because this will be the best hardcore album you’ll hear all year!
