Cancer Bats live @ The Stiff Kitten, Belfast, 31/05/13
With respect to my previous review of Canada’s own long time punk legends NoMeansNo who demolished the Voodoo Rock Bar 5 days ago. Tonight, I was here to check out yet another Canadian band - the infamous sludgers, Cancer Bats, who were returning to Belfast for the first time since debuting at the Limelight [now Limelight 2] alongside US Hardcore protégés Trash Talk back in 2010!
I previously saw Cancer Bats tear The Olympia Theatre, Dublin a new one supporting their Canadian brothers [and one of my all-time personal favourite bands] the mighty Billy Talent, and they were incredible! Everyone I’ve talked to who has witnessed the Bats tear it up live in the past were very excited at their return visit to our home town.
Canada must be planning on taking over Belfast, just don’t send over Nickelback, you can keep them over there!
This is the final gig of a three-date Irish Tour, with support being provided by Belfast hardcore/metal outfit ‘Gacys Threads’ and newcomers ‘HOAX’ [Now ‘ZOAX’] who to my surprise notably comprised of Adam Carroll [former Time Is A Thief front-man] and Joe Copcutt [Ex- Rise To Remain who is fronted by Austin Dickenson, Bruce Dickenson’s (Iron Maiden) son; and Liam Cormier’s band mate in ‘Axewound’].
The Stiff Kitten is a great venue, which is excellent for gigs of this sort due to its low accessible stage that is ideal for crowd surfers and stage divers, big nightclub-sized PA and suitable size for a rowdy bunch of angry, riff hungry punters.
Hats off to the punter respecting lads in Cancer Bats, particularly Liam Cormier, who stayed in the crowd all night talking to fans, posing for photos as well as enjoying the local talent on offer right up until he was due on-stage. During tonight’s performance, he was also spotted sporting a By Any Means [Local Belfast based Hardcore Band] long sleeve baseball shirt. Liam Cormier: proud supporter of the Belfast music scene.
First onstage tonight were the newcomers HOAX, playing their unique blend of post hardcore with unusual rhythms reminiscent of bands including The Used, Dillinger Escape Plan and Norma Jean [not to be confused with Norma Jean of disco superstars Chic – that would be one fuckin’ weird, but awesome, sounding band if I say so myself] at times. I thoroughly enjoyed this band for my first time seeing them. The band displayed a massive amount of energy onstage, through actual stage presence and unpredictable sound, as well as Adam jumping into the crowd, creeping about the floor, getting up close and personal, and oddly stealing someone’s shoe. I’m assuming they had to change from HOAX to ZOAX due to name conflictions with other bands, maybe someday I’ll find out. Definitely a band to watch out for!
Next up, a band I’ve witnessed a few times sharing the stage with the likes of Australia’s ‘Parkway Drive’, local hardcore destroyers Gacy’s Threads always deliver a very heavy and passive-aggressive show sending the crowd and their dedicated followers into hysterics. Taking influence from the likes of Converge and The Chariot, Gacys delivered the big riffs and brutality in their own unorthodox hardcore styling. With songs including ‘Black Heart’ [from their 2011 debut ‘The Ignorance of Purity’], new offerings such as ‘Plague Wielder’, and Aaron [vocals] commanding the pits, keeping the energy levels buzzing by getting into the crowd and literally shoving people into others to start yet another pit, show that they are a band who are well practised, experienced and know how to get what they want.
Liam Cormier exited the crowd to get his game face on, there was a 20 minute change over and the crowd was getting restless, everyone was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the headliners.
Cancer Bats opened their show with the grooving headbanger ‘R.A.T.S’ which instantly got the crowd pushing and shoving, easing into the insanity that was to follow.
The set was a mixture of songs spanning their career up to now from their debut EP to their recent album “Dead Set On Living”, the reaction from the crowd became increasingly aggressive with each tune, spurring on an army of crowd surfers, stage divers and moshers hyped up to the max by Liam’s in-your-face punk attitude and frantic movements alongside Scott, Mike and Jaye giving it the message, and keeping the rhythm tight, noisy n’ beefy, and the songs recklessly driving towards the end of the set wrecking the punters one by one.
Tonight’s set included fan-favourites ‘Sorceress’; ‘Deathsmarch’; the grinding ‘Lucifer’s Rocking Chair’ and everyone’s favourite cover of the Beastie Boys classic ‘Sabotage’ to name a few which all went down an absolute treat before rounding off the night in the appropriate manner with the powerful “Hail Destroyer” which sent the crowd bat-shit crazy [no pun intended] before the band exited the stage to then talk and see every fan.
One thing is for sure, they are definitely a very fan-friendly band which is an admirable quality that I have only seen in a handful of bands over my time going to gigs, be it local to very big. Highlight of this evening, I won the battle in the pit over the last drumstick, and claimed my prize before exiting the venue drenched in sweat and sore from all the raucous behaviour in The Stiff Kitten tonight. Everything I love about this band was here tonight.
Steven Donnelly – June 2013
Rating: 10/10
Check out the bands:
HOAX/ZOAX: https://www.facebook.com/zoaxbandofficial?fref=ts
Gacy’s Threads: https://www.facebook.com/gacysthreads?fref=ts
Cancer Bats: https://www.facebook.com/cancerbats?fref=ts
I previously saw Cancer Bats tear The Olympia Theatre, Dublin a new one supporting their Canadian brothers [and one of my all-time personal favourite bands] the mighty Billy Talent, and they were incredible! Everyone I’ve talked to who has witnessed the Bats tear it up live in the past were very excited at their return visit to our home town.
Canada must be planning on taking over Belfast, just don’t send over Nickelback, you can keep them over there!
This is the final gig of a three-date Irish Tour, with support being provided by Belfast hardcore/metal outfit ‘Gacys Threads’ and newcomers ‘HOAX’ [Now ‘ZOAX’] who to my surprise notably comprised of Adam Carroll [former Time Is A Thief front-man] and Joe Copcutt [Ex- Rise To Remain who is fronted by Austin Dickenson, Bruce Dickenson’s (Iron Maiden) son; and Liam Cormier’s band mate in ‘Axewound’].
The Stiff Kitten is a great venue, which is excellent for gigs of this sort due to its low accessible stage that is ideal for crowd surfers and stage divers, big nightclub-sized PA and suitable size for a rowdy bunch of angry, riff hungry punters.
Hats off to the punter respecting lads in Cancer Bats, particularly Liam Cormier, who stayed in the crowd all night talking to fans, posing for photos as well as enjoying the local talent on offer right up until he was due on-stage. During tonight’s performance, he was also spotted sporting a By Any Means [Local Belfast based Hardcore Band] long sleeve baseball shirt. Liam Cormier: proud supporter of the Belfast music scene.
First onstage tonight were the newcomers HOAX, playing their unique blend of post hardcore with unusual rhythms reminiscent of bands including The Used, Dillinger Escape Plan and Norma Jean [not to be confused with Norma Jean of disco superstars Chic – that would be one fuckin’ weird, but awesome, sounding band if I say so myself] at times. I thoroughly enjoyed this band for my first time seeing them. The band displayed a massive amount of energy onstage, through actual stage presence and unpredictable sound, as well as Adam jumping into the crowd, creeping about the floor, getting up close and personal, and oddly stealing someone’s shoe. I’m assuming they had to change from HOAX to ZOAX due to name conflictions with other bands, maybe someday I’ll find out. Definitely a band to watch out for!
Next up, a band I’ve witnessed a few times sharing the stage with the likes of Australia’s ‘Parkway Drive’, local hardcore destroyers Gacy’s Threads always deliver a very heavy and passive-aggressive show sending the crowd and their dedicated followers into hysterics. Taking influence from the likes of Converge and The Chariot, Gacys delivered the big riffs and brutality in their own unorthodox hardcore styling. With songs including ‘Black Heart’ [from their 2011 debut ‘The Ignorance of Purity’], new offerings such as ‘Plague Wielder’, and Aaron [vocals] commanding the pits, keeping the energy levels buzzing by getting into the crowd and literally shoving people into others to start yet another pit, show that they are a band who are well practised, experienced and know how to get what they want.
Liam Cormier exited the crowd to get his game face on, there was a 20 minute change over and the crowd was getting restless, everyone was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the headliners.
Cancer Bats opened their show with the grooving headbanger ‘R.A.T.S’ which instantly got the crowd pushing and shoving, easing into the insanity that was to follow.
The set was a mixture of songs spanning their career up to now from their debut EP to their recent album “Dead Set On Living”, the reaction from the crowd became increasingly aggressive with each tune, spurring on an army of crowd surfers, stage divers and moshers hyped up to the max by Liam’s in-your-face punk attitude and frantic movements alongside Scott, Mike and Jaye giving it the message, and keeping the rhythm tight, noisy n’ beefy, and the songs recklessly driving towards the end of the set wrecking the punters one by one.
Tonight’s set included fan-favourites ‘Sorceress’; ‘Deathsmarch’; the grinding ‘Lucifer’s Rocking Chair’ and everyone’s favourite cover of the Beastie Boys classic ‘Sabotage’ to name a few which all went down an absolute treat before rounding off the night in the appropriate manner with the powerful “Hail Destroyer” which sent the crowd bat-shit crazy [no pun intended] before the band exited the stage to then talk and see every fan.
One thing is for sure, they are definitely a very fan-friendly band which is an admirable quality that I have only seen in a handful of bands over my time going to gigs, be it local to very big. Highlight of this evening, I won the battle in the pit over the last drumstick, and claimed my prize before exiting the venue drenched in sweat and sore from all the raucous behaviour in The Stiff Kitten tonight. Everything I love about this band was here tonight.
Steven Donnelly – June 2013
Rating: 10/10
Check out the bands:
HOAX/ZOAX: https://www.facebook.com/zoaxbandofficial?fref=ts
Gacy’s Threads: https://www.facebook.com/gacysthreads?fref=ts
Cancer Bats: https://www.facebook.com/cancerbats?fref=ts