There's no time to rest for the Cancer Bats. Fresh off of a European tour, the hardcore punk group is set to play shows across Canada this May, with a Yorkton performance at the Legion on May 31.
Liam Cormier, lead singer of the Cancer Bats, says the band has only been able to sleep in their own beds for one day, but that it's worth the trip and the tours have been going well.
"It's been noticeably getting better every time, which makes it easier to be away so much. I think if it was sucking it'd be hard to be away for so long," Cormier says.
Coming off of a European tour, he is impressed by how far and wide the band's music has spread, and surprised by the number of people who know the songs.
"To go to somewhere crazy like Poland, and people are singing along to all the songs all night long, it's like 'We're in Poland! This is crazy!' It's definitely awesome to be at that point."
While the band loves touring Europe, Cormier says that touring around home is the best part for the band is getting back home, and seeing the people and places that the band knows well.
"I'm so stoked about headlining in Canada. We enjoy Europe and we love it a lot... But it's nice to come back and play home town shows, and already have that response from kids who are so psyched to see this tour. It's definitely really fun to get geared up for that."
This will be the first time in Yorkton for the band, which has played in Saskatchewan before but often only in Regina or Saskatoon. Cormier is excited that there are more places and fans in the province to see.
"To know that there's another spot where people have that demand and people want to see us is awesome," he suggests.
The band has been touring with their third, and most recent album, Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones. The album was released in 2010, and has received a Juno nomination along with positive notices from many magazines around the world.
"When we started we didn't even think we would have three records. We were playing in basements and putting out demos. So to see things come along like that has been awesome for us," Cormier notes.
Once this Canadian tour ends, the band will be taking time to work on a new album. The constant touring allows the band to understand what people like about their sound and what works, he explains, and with the new album they are planning to take the fans into account.
"I feel like this album, we're pretty excited about getting back in the groove and writing. Everyone is on the same page on how we want things to be and having toured three albums and seeing what our fans are into, you have those favorites everyone asks for, so lets focus in on that."
One thing the band notices is that wherever they go, the fans ask for the same songs, Cormier says, and this helps them understand what they're good at and what they do works.
"Every time you go to different cities you have the same songs people are asking for, so it's kind of 'I get it, this is what everyone across the board is into.' From Poland, to Sweden to England to Canada, to the United States, everyone loves Sorcerus or Pray for Darkness. It's like, I kind of get where our fans are coming from," he adds.
He notes that wherever they go, the fans are universal, and everyone into heavy music globally can relate.
"Kids are kids wherever you go. Everyone knows how to circle pit and everyone knows how to have a good time, and it's cool to see that."
Seeing the way people react globally has helped the band become more comfortable in the studio and with what they're doing. The nerves related to not knowing quite what you are doing are gone, Cormier suggests. Still, the band is celebrating the release of their first record on the new tour, as it has been five years since it came out.
"It's fun to see how much those songs have still stood up, and it's cool to see that kids still appreciate that record as well," he concludes.
The show will take place on May 31 at the Legion. More information can be found at www.cancerbats.com.
