Album Review: Cancer Bats - 'Hail Destroyer'

Having knocked the music buying

public on their collective arses with 2006’s Birthing The Giant

(released here in Australia in 2007), Canada’s Cancer Bats

have returned with another slab of rock n roll infused punk, one that

pays less attention to the southern grooves of their earlier work and

instead focuses on a more streamlined assault on your senses.  

While the Cancer Bats’

previous records hit like a heavyweight boxer’s right hook they have

somehow found a way to dirty up their sound even further, the driving

nature of the songs making Hail Destroyer a relentless listening

experience. 

The album’s title track kicks

off with one of the best riffs of the year, which is ably assisted by

a shout along chorus that should have even the most jaded gig goer nodding

in approval. “Harem Of Scorpions” sounds like the work of a rough

and ready Boston hardcore band, the most obvious comparison being The Hope Conspiracy, however the song is too damn good to be dismissed

as a “copy-cat” effort, while the slightly down temp “Deathsmarch”

is another track that benefits from the punchy gang vocals. 

“Regret” is yet another tune

that draws from Scott Middleton’s (Cancer Bats guitarist) arsenal

of riffs and “Bastard’s Waltz” is everything a sleazy rock song

should be… which brings us to “Sorceress”, the most devastating

song the Cancer Bats have penned to date. Seriously, this is

tough as shit. “Lucifer’s Rocking Chair” must have been written

with head banging in mind because that’s exactly what you’ll be

doing when you hear it, while “Let It Pour” picks the pace up again.  

Hopefully we can see the Cancer

Bats back in Australia some time soon as I for one cannot wait to hear these songs in the live setting. Grab the record, learn the words and get ready to sing-a-long kids! 

1. Hail Destroyer
2. Harem Of Scorpions
3. Deathsmarch
4. Regret
5. Bastard’s Waltz
6. Sorceress
7. Lucifer’s Rocking

   Chair

8. Let It Pour
9. Smiling Polit