Five For Five with Mike Peters of Cancer Bats
Photo credit: Joeri-C
Canada has produced some amazing artists and bands. Propagandhi, Comeback Kid, Rush. Some of Misery Signals, The Fullblast, Leonard Cohen, Voivod. Must be something in the water. Canada is also responsible for Nickelback, who i can only assume didn't drink the water and instead opted for Coors Light or Pabst Blue Ribbon. One of my favourite Canadian bands, however, is Cancer Bats. Their 2008 sophomore LP "Hail Destroyer" kicked my ass so hard when it came out, you can still see the mark it left. If ever there was an underrated, flawless, heavy album, it's "Hail Destroyer". Their drummer, Mike was kind enough to answer five questions. Here they are:
1. If you had to spend the rest of your life in a room with endless food, water a turntable and only FIVE records, what are they?
Paul Simon - Graceland
Propagandhi - Todays empires Tomorrows ashes
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Propagandhi - Less talk more Rock
Hatebreed - Satisfaction is the death of desire
I know its two Propagandhi records but they changed so much its like two different bands, and both records are amazing. I’m also from Winnipeg where they’re from so I have to love them. Haha Gotta have a little hometown when you’re locked in a room for the rest of your life.
This is a tough one obviously, and theres lots of other records that could easily take the place of some of these.
2. Is there a particular band or album that got you into music?
When I was a kid I would listen to my dads CCR, Beatles, and Doors records. But I think the CCR greats hits double Lp was my favourite.
If you’re talking punk and hardcore.
Green Day - Dookie got me into punk for sure
Gorrilla Biscuts - Gorrilla Biscuits
3. What Cancer Bats album are you most proud of and why?
Hail Destroyer - We worked really hard on that album, we gave up everything else in our lives at that time to work on the album. We had a tight deadline to get the album done, so we worked on it for 10 hrs a day 6 -7 days a week. It was intense but we made a great record that really took us to the next level.
4. What Cancer Bats album are you least happy with and why?
Bears, Mayors, Scraps, and Bones. - It’s the follow up to Hail Destroyer. We had more time, and I think we over thought everything when we were writing and producing this album. I think it took away for the intensity and urgency of the band. Theres some great songs on it, and it might be our highest selling records but to me it sounds a bit flat.
5. What has the rest of 2019 got in store for Mike Peters & Cancer Bats?
The Bats have a lot of touring planned, and we’ve started throwing new riff ideas around which is always exciting. Im working on writing songs with another band I have called AGAPITO. I also have a 2 yr old and a 5 month old. So Im going to spend time with my family, which is amazing. So I’ll be very busy in all aspects of my life.