Album Reviews

On what is already their fourth album, these Canadians with a Pantera fixation simply show off more of the same. This doesn’t make their mix of punk, hardcore and metal any less interesting though. “Dead Set Of Living” is so full of kickass riffage, more guitar squeals than a pig can utter in his entire lifetime, tons of groove and a vocalist who’s screaming like he won’t need his vocal chords for a fifth album, that you’ll gladly forgive them the lack of originality. Or subtlety for that matter.

Whether you’re talking about the awesome opener “R.A.T.S.”, the pummeling title track or the sludgy “New World Alliance”, Cancer Bats will show you every corner of the room before they’re done. And you’ll thank them for it if you have any breath left.