CANCER BATS’ “OLD BLOOD” BLEEDS FRESH ON NEW TRACK

When people ask me to point to an example of a hardcore band that I really, really like (which is like totes every day!), I always point to Cancer Bats. Their post-punk/hardcore influences are salted with a dash of metal, for sure — there’s even some Kvelertakian bluesy licks here and there — but those meaty riffs are all about maximum up-tempo, let’s-fuck-shit-up hardcore MOSH at heart.

Take their new song (and video) for “Old Blood” — the bands that inspired modern hardcore heavy hitters like Stray From the Path and This is Hell are all over those riffs, although I honestly don’t know enough about hardcore to say who (maybe Refused?). The frenetic energy of Cancer Bats flows from every orifice of this track, and the jittery practice-space video perfectly fits the part. As Sergeant D would say, this = you’re moshing!

Cancer Bats’ new album Dead Set On Living will come out on April 24th via new label Metal Blade Records.

-VN