THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “You’ll Never Break Us: Separation Sessions Vol. 1 is a six-song fundraising EP that features acoustic renditions of Cancer Bats tracks. From start to finish, the set sees the band moving in a brave new direction, experimenting with different vocal melodies, guitar variations and new rhythms that breathe new life into the songs.
“After having our road-dog existence of constant touring over the past 15 years halted due to the pandemic, and with all four band members, now spread across Canada in separate cities, towns and provinces, we haven’t been in the same room since March,” says frontman Liam Cormier. “While separated from each other, we thought what better time to re-examine and record new versions of six classic Bats tracks.”
The six-pack includes a stripped-down version of Hail Destroyer favourite Deathsmarch, now aptly titled Deathsmarch To A New Acoustic Beat. Cormier’s snarling growl has been replaced with a steady croon, with Scott Middleton and Jaye Schwarzer both setting the right mood on guitar and drummer Mike Peters’ percussion carrying the whole track effortlessly. Says Cormier: “With the end of 2020 just around the corner, the optimistic lyrics to Deathsmarch seem to ring truer now than when first shouted in 2008, “Hey world, you’ll never break us, try your hardest, try your hardest.” The track also features guest vocals from long-time friend of the band, Ojibway singer-songwriter Nick Sherman.
You’ll Never Break Us: Separation Sessions Vol. 1 has been released exclusively via the band’s Bandcamp, with all proceeds raised to be donated to Water First NGO, an organization that helps to train interns in water purification in order to help their communities have access to clean drinking water. “While we are excited for fans to hear and enjoy these new renditions, the other goal for this project is to raise funds and awareness for the clean water crisis that still exists within Canada for many Indigenous communities,” shares Cormier.
Along with a different approach musically, the artwork itself takes another twist; The album art is a T-shirt. As this EP will only exist digitally, it gives fans a chance to still have a physical representation of the album, with the whole concept masterfully put together by the Mi’kmaq design team Born In The North. All prints in North America will be made by The Rezonance Screen Printing Studio, a group that supports Indigenous youth through their paid apprenticeship programs.”
