Dead Set on Living
{{Infobox album
| name = Dead Set on Living
| type = studio
| artist = Cancer Bats
| cover = Cancer Bats - Dead Set on Living cover.jpg
| border = yes
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2012|04|16}}
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| genre = Hardcore punk, metalcore, {{nowrap|sludge metal}}
| length = 38:50
| label = Distort
| producer = Eric Ratz, Kenny Luong
| prev_title = Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones
| prev_year = 2010
| next_title = Searching for Zero
| next_year = 2015
| misc = {{Singles
| name =
| type = Studio
| single1 = Old Blood
| single1date = February 6, 2012
| single2 = Road Sick
| single2date = February 19, 2012
| single3 = R.A.T.S
| single3date = August 17, 2012
}}
}}
Dead Set on Living is the fourth studio album by the Canadian hardcore punk band Cancer Bats. It was released on April 16, 2012 through Hassle Records in Europe, April 17 through Distort Entertainment in Canada, April 20 through Shock Records in Australia and New Zealand, and April 23 through Metal Blade Records in the United States. The album was recorded in December 2011.
Style
The band has stated that the album is to be a more "upbeat" follow up to their previous album Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones, with vocalist Liam Cormier saying the album was lyrically far too dark for what the band wanted to do.{{cite web|url= https://www.nme.com/news/cancer-bats/57910|title= Cancer Bats at Sonisphere: 'We're ready to party on our new album'|author= |work= New Musical Express|date= July 10, 2011|accessdate= January 4, 2012|archive-date= December 23, 2011|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20111223075817/http://www.nme.com/news/cancer-bats/57910|url-status= live}} In December 2011, Liam Cormier was asked about whether the groups sound has change much. "I think sound-wise there's definitely more of the natural evolution of how gnarly we keep getting and how more refined everyone sounds. I'd say the majority of our fans now have seen our band live and know how gnarly and ferocious it is, so trying to compress that into a recording still is kind of difficult. Like we'd say 'I thought we did it pretty well on Bears', and then we'd re-examine it and see there's still some elements that are missing."{{cite web|url=http://blaremagazine.com/2011/12/12/interview-cancer-bats/|title=INTERVIEW: Cancer Bats «|author=Vince Neilstein|date=March 24, 2010|work=Blare Magazine|accessdate=February 11, 2012|archive-date=November 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121115010526/http://blaremagazine.com/2011/12/12/interview-cancer-bats/|url-status=live}}
The band's influences steered away from the "traditional hardcore record" and took a wide variety of influences from indie rock bands like Fleet Foxes. Cormier, when asked about his influences, stated: "In a lot of ways we get really inspired by non-metal bands. For me, I find I really like looking at other things because I just don't want to make a traditional hardcore record lyrically. So for me, I listen to a lot of indie rock and I've been getting super psyched on a lot of that, like the new Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes".{{cite web|url= https://www.nme.com/news/cancer-bats/60717|title= Cancer Bats: 'Fleet Foxes have inspired our new album'|author= |work= New Musical Express|date= December 1, 2011|accessdate= January 4, 2012}}
Release and promotion
The album was initially promoted by an album teaser made by the band in December 2011, revealing that it was planned for an April 2012 release.{{cite web|url= http://www.rocksound.tv/news/article/cancer-bats-announce-new-album|title= Cancer Bats Announce New Album|author= |work= Rock Sound|date= December 14, 2011|accessdate= January 24, 2012|archive-date= January 9, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120109024558/http://www.rocksound.tv/news/article/cancer-bats-announce-new-album|url-status= live}}
The first single planning to support its release "Old Blood" being released.{{cite web|url= https://www.nme.com/news/cancer-bats/61235|title= Cancer Bats to play six London shows in one day|author= |work= New Musical Express|date= January 4, 2012|accessdate= January 4, 2012|archive-date= January 8, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120108201907/http://www.nme.com/news/cancer-bats/61235|url-status= live}} A music video was released for "Old Blood" and was played on Scuzz weeks before release online.{{cite web|url=http://www.scenebutnotherd.org/new-cancer-bats-album-info/ |title=New CANCER BATS Album Info |publisher=Scene But Not Herd |date=January 4, 2012 |accessdate=January 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029185525/http://www.scenebutnotherd.org/new-cancer-bats-album-info/ |archivedate=October 29, 2013 }} On 24 January, Distort Entertainment released the video for the single online. On March 7, 2012 Cancer Bats released a second music video in promotion of the album for the song Road Sick.{{cite web | url = http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/cancer-bats-release-fucking-awesome-road-sick-video/ | title = Cancer Bats Release 'Road Sick' Video | author = Merlin | work = Metal Hammer | date = March 8, 2012 | accessdate = March 25, 2012 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120318122628/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/cancer-bats-release-fucking-awesome-road-sick-video/ | archivedate = March 18, 2012 }} On April 10, 2012 Cancer Bats uploaded the second track Bricks and Mortar onto YouTube to stream.{{cite web|url=http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/news/article/exclusive_new_cancer_bats_track__listen_now?camefrom=fb_ext_cancerbats_april2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904150551/http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/news/article/exclusive_new_cancer_bats_track__listen_now?camefrom=fb_ext_cancerbats_april2012 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 4, 2012 |title=Exclusive new Cancer Bats track – listen now |author=Merlin |publisher=Download Festival |date=April 10, 2012 |accessdate=April 21, 2012 }}
Cancer Bats will start the touring cycle for Dead Set on Living with six performances in one day in London, England on April 21, 2012. The venue locations for the mini-tour, dubbed the Pentagram Tour, form a pentagram shape when seen on a map. About the unique structure of the tour, Cormier said, "We've already done three shows in 24 hours—that's now old hat," and that "it's funny that no-one has done this before."{{cite web |title=Cancer Bats to play six London shows on April 21 |work=Kerrang! |date=January 2012 |url=http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2012/01/cancer_bats_to_play_six_london.html |accessdate=January 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207234122/http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2012/01/cancer_bats_to_play_six_london.html |archivedate=February 7, 2012 }} All six shows sold out within a week of going on sale.{{cite web|title=Cancer Bats Are Dead Set On Living |work=KNAC |date=January 27, 2012 |url=http://knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=8596 |accessdate=January 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419200546/http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=8596 |archivedate=April 19, 2012 }} Hassle Records used social media outlets like Twitter to consolidate band and fan interviews and bootleg footage from the tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2012/04/cancer_bats_pentagram_london_t.html |title=Cancer Bats' Pentagram London tour will take place tomorrow! |author=Katie P |work=Kerrang! |date=April 20, 2012 |accessdate=April 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029194719/http://www.kerrang.com/blog/2012/04/cancer_bats_pentagram_london_t.html |archivedate=October 29, 2013 }}
{{clear}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| MC = (75/100){{cite web|title= Dead Set on Living Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More|work= Metacritic|url= https://www.metacritic.com/music/dead-set-on-living|accessdate= June 9, 2012|archive-date= May 23, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120523071841/http://www.metacritic.com/music/dead-set-on-living|url-status= live}}
| rev1 = AbsolutePunk
| rev2 = BBC Music
| rev2Score = (unfavourable){{cite web |last= Lawrence |first= Alistair |title= Canadian metal-punks deliver highs and lows on their fourth album. |url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/c8pn |work= BBC Music |accessdate= April 13, 2012 |date= April 10, 2012 |quote= Dead Set on Living is an album that provides a bumpy ride for anyone who hunkers down for its duration. Cancer Bats haven’t lost their swagger or even their appeal, but this is uneasy listening in every sense. |archive-date= April 20, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120420015633/http://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/c8pn |url-status= live }}
| rev3 = Big Cheese
| rev3Score = (4/5){{cite web |last= Hagen |first= Paul |title= Cancer Bats – Dead Set On Living |url= http://www.bigcheesemagazine.com/albums/article/cancer-bats-dead-set-on-living |work= Big Cheese |accessdate= April 21, 2012 |date= April 16, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120623125219/http://www.bigcheesemagazine.com/albums/article/cancer-bats-dead-set-on-living |archive-date= June 23, 2012 |url-status= dead }}
| rev4 = The Fly
| rev4Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web |last= Glass |first= Matt |title= Cancer Bats / New Album Reviews |url= http://www.the-fly.co.uk/reviews/album/1012913/cancer-bats/ |work= The Fly |accessdate= April 21, 2012 |date= April 13, 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120416061022/http://www.the-fly.co.uk/reviews/album/1012913/cancer-bats/ |archive-date= April 16, 2012 |url-status= dead }}
| rev5 = Metal Storm
| rev5Score = {{Rating|8.5|10|score=8.7/10 stars}}{{cite web|last= Godin |first= Doc |title= Cancer Bats – Dead Set On Living review |url= http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=10663 |work= Metal Storm | accessdate = April 13, 2012 |date= April 10, 2012}}
| rev6 = New Musical Express
| rev6Score = (7/10){{cite web |last= Rowe |first= Sian |title= Cancer Bats – 'Dead Set On Living' Balls-out, riot-inducing metal madness |url= https://www.nme.com/reviews/cancer-bats/13039 |work= New Musical Express |date= April 13, 2012 |access-date= April 21, 2020 |archive-date= August 21, 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160821205641/http://www.nme.com/reviews/cancer-bats/13039 |url-status= live }}
}}
Dead Set on Living received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 75, based on 9 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable reviews"
Track listing
{{track listing
| extra_column =
| total_length = 38:50
| all_writing = Liam Cormier, Scott Middleton, Mike Peters and Jaye R. Schwarzer
| title1 = RATS
| length1 = 4:08
| note1 = featuring Rob Urbinati of Sacrifice
| title2 = Bricks and Mortar
| length2 = 3:45
| title3 = Road Sick
| length3 = 2:51
| title4 = Breathe Armageddon
| length4 = 3:47
| title5 = Dead Set on Living
| length5 = 3:06
| note5 = featuring Matty Matheson
| title6 = The Void
| length6 = 4:24
| title7 = Old Blood
| length7 = 2:48
| title8 = Drunken Physics
| length8 = 4:08
| title9 = Bastards
| length9 = 3:25
| note9 = featuring Dez Fafara of Coal Chamber and DevilDriver, and Kate Cooper of An Horse
| title10 = Rally the Wicked
| length10 = 2:22
| title11 = New World Alliance
| length11 = 4:06
}}
{{track listing
| total_length = 42:46
| headline = Canadian Re-Issue bonus track (Dead Set On Living II){{cite web|url=http://www.theprp.com/2012/07/17/news/cancer-bats-release-wolf-clan-as-digital-download-in-canada/|title=Cancer Bats Release "Wolf Clan" As Digital Download In Canada|publisher=ThePRP|date=17 July 2012|accessdate=21 July 2012|archive-date=29 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629221343/http://www.theprp.com/2012/07/17/news/cancer-bats-release-wolf-clan-as-digital-download-in-canada/|url-status=live}}
| title12 = Wolf Clan
| length12 = 3:56
}}
{{track listing
| total_length =
| headline = Dead Set On Living re-issue with Bonus Tracks and Bat Sabbath studio version{{cite web|url=http://www.teamdistort.com/dsol/|title=Cancer Bats Re-issue DSOL with bonus track and Bat Sabbath studio versions|publisher=Team Distort|access-date=2013-02-05|archive-date=2013-03-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312060208/http://www.teamdistort.com/dsol/|url-status=live}}
| title12 = Wolf Clan
| length12 = 4:04
| title13 = The Great Divide
| length13 = 2:42
| title14 = Sonic Mind Assault
| length14 = 1:41
| title15 = Over It
| length15 = 2:39
| title16 = Children of the Grave
| length16 = 4:44
| title17 = Into the Void
| length17 = 5:28
| title18 = Iron Man
| length18 = 5:33
| title19 = Nib
| length19 = 5:12
| title20 = War Pigs
| length20 = 7:09
}}
Personnel
;Cancer Bats
- Liam Cormier – lead vocals
- Scott Middleton – guitar, backing vocals
- Mike Peters – drums, percussion
- Jaye R. Schwarzer – bass guitar, vocals
;Additional personnel
- Eric Ratz – production
- Kenny Luong – production
Release history
References
{{reflist}}
{{Cancer Bats}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Hassle Records albums