As one of the flagship releases for fledgling label Good Fight Music, Cancer Bats are forced to live up to perhaps their highest scrutiny yet. Not only do they have to deliver a strong enough album to warrant their continued label oriented game of musical chairs, they are also setting the precedent for a planned legacy to come.
Already rising stars in the UK, the band remain relatively unknown in North America, a situation which both they and Good Fight seem hopeful on changing with this release. To that end much of this album maintains a gritty, white knuckle velocity full of incendiary moments and DIY hunger. Edgy thrash riffs collide with southern metal licks to form a rigid, swampy mixture; while traditional hardcore elements instill a propulsive cadence that continually keeps the band on the offense.
Acerbic vocals are perhaps the best example of this unrelenting forward momentum and are bellowed and screamed with heartfelt intent. But that’s not to say that the the multitude of colorful riffing and lean sinewy rhythmic batterings aren’t right behind them antagonistically rattling the cages.
Striking a relevant mixture that is as reactionary as it is stimulating, the band keep a steady pace and allow ample breathing room to avoid falling victim to the dreaded thousand yard mosh. However, where Cancer Bats seem to fall flat is identity. The songs themselves are often catchy and worthy of note, but it’s hard to listen to this album and not hear a collage of Every Time I Die, Cursed and Maylene And The Sons Of Disaster.
Their feverish energy and raspy slant do much to invigorate their material and the band do deliver a rollicking listen throughout. But even so it’s not enough for them to escape from being eclipsed by the shadow of their seemingly prevalent influences – or at least similar sounding peers.
That said, “Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones” is an enjoyable listen and the included cover of the Beastie Boys‘ “Sabotage” will likely bring in some curious ears. But much like the aforementioned song, some elements of this album just feel a bit played out.
