In October, 2021, it was announced that founding riff-slinger Scott Middleton would be departing the band to focus on other aspects of his life and other avenues within his experienced life in the music industry. This devastating change to the member line up could have proven to be a giant nail in the coffin of any other band, but we’re not talking about any other band here, we’re talking about one of the gnarliest, free-spirited, well respected and beloved bands in the entire game. With nearly 20 years of graft and grit woven into their fibres, the Cancer Bats unleash one of their most triumphant, rowdiest records to date.
The opening notes of the record roar with a comfortably familiar velocity, from the moment you hit play you already know this is still the ‘Bats as you know and love them, from Liam Cormier‘s signature barks to Jaye R Schwarzer‘s now double duty as the bands studio guitarist and his already established position as bassist, the first track ‘Radiate’ featuring some filthy bass riffs, highlighted by sections where the guitars and vocals drop out and let Jaye shine alongside the deadly rhythm of drumkit wizard Mike Peters. ‘The Hoof’ and ‘Lonely Bong’ keep the frantic punk action rolling, if you’re a veteran listener of the ‘Bats you know exactly what you’re getting here, groove laden punk-metal, a headbangers paradise, and if this is your first Cancer Bats record (where on earth have you been? and welcome!) you’re in for a hell of a ride.
Cancer Bats sound as dangerous as ever on ‘Friday Night’, a defiant anthem about being proud of who you are and kicking back against a world that would deny you your identity, with a face shredding guitar solo and a hefty singalong chorus; “The world is your oyster or so they say, but there’s too many assholes trying to take it away, so smash through their hatred and sing your song, be who you want to, prove the world wrong”, it’s sure to be a fan favourite to scream back at the band when they’re out on tour. ‘Hammering On’ harkens back to the vibe of fifth record Searching For Zero‘s Black Sabbath worshipping slow riffage, with lyrics about God and Lucifer, yet the addition of dueted vocals alongside Brooklyn Doran, her ethereal, haunting tones elevates the song to not only a change of pace for the record, but a deep dive into territory we’ve never quite heard from the ‘Bats in the past.
The pacing of Psychic Jailbreak continues in an organic fashion, ‘Crocodiles’ continues the Sabbath inspired riffs but ups the tempo just a few clicks, and Liam resumes his signature snarling vocal style as opposed to the more melodic approach he took on the previous song. By the time we reach ‘Shadow Of Mercury’ we’re back to a high octane headbanging momentum. ‘Keep On Breathing’ adopts the rock n roll rhythm and free spirited aplomb of previous album The Spark That Moves track ‘We Run Free’, and ‘Pressure Mind’ features instantly memorable lyricism from the very beginning of the track.
It’s hard to place any fault in this record, for the most part it’s Cancer Bats doing what they do best, and they do it damn well. Even the tracks that do take a turn down a more experimental road end up coming out strong, the unwavering quality of this band’s records over the years takes no sudden falls here, Psychic Jailbreak‘s title track finale crashes out on a tremendous high, in what’s possibly the most signature sounding song on the whole album.
It’s evident that there’s no stopping, no cease to the forward charge of the legendary Cancer Bats, and why should anyone want them to? Time and time again they prove themselves to be staggeringly beyond belief, and Psychic Jailbreak is just the latest chapter for a band that should never be underestimated, overlooked or taken for granted, for they are one of the outright best in the business.