Cancer Bats Unleash New Single/Video 'Long Tooth" + Band perform as Bat Sabbath at Download Festival Tomorrow

 

Ahead of the August 7 release of their eighth studio album, Give Me Dirt, six-time JUNO-nominated Canadian hardcore punk heavyweights, Cancer Bats, unleash the blistering new single “Long Tooth”. The track is now available on all digital streaming platforms HERE.

Featuring guest vocals from queer indie folk singer-songwriter Brooklyn Doran, “Long Tooth” is about living in the present instead of worrying about the future. Since there’s often little we can do until things unfold, it’s a reminder to enjoy the moment and not take life too seriously.




“The chorus reflects a realisation I’ve been having lately,” shares lead vocalist Liam Cormier. “I’m at the halfway point of my life (and yes, I fully intend to make it to at least 92). Like many people, I’ve spent years trying to fix certain parts of myself. Lately, I’ve found myself wondering whether those things really need fixing at all. They’ve carried me this far and have helped shape who I am. At some point, self-improvement gives way to self-acceptance, and the chorus embraces the idea that maybe it’s okay to just carry on.”




For the accompanying music video, Cancer Bats wanted to channel the wild, fun-loving spirit of classic videos like “Lucifer's Rocking Chair”, “Road Sick” and “Sabotage”. Bursting with jokes, charm, and a heartfelt message, the video for “Long Tooth” is the perfect visual companion to the song’s infectious energy and uplifting positivity.




Filmed by Mitch Barnes, who also directed the video for lead single “Stay Stuck”, the video for “Long Tooth” incorporates vintage theatre-inspired set pieces and green-screen effects to enhance the storytelling. The concept was developed as a way to bring other characters from the band’s universe into the narrative. Guest vocalist Brooklyn Doran appears in the video, while the villain is portrayed by Ian Romano, who helped record the album and is set to play drums on future tours.




“This video was a blast to make!” shares Cormier. “From building the sets to making the costumes, we worked really hard to bring this whole vision to life! I couldn’t be happier with how it all turned out”.

As the follow-up to their 2022 JUNO-nominated, critically acclaimed seventh studio album, Psychic Jailbreak, Give Me Dirt, pushes Cancer Bats’ artistry to new heights, fully realising the sound they have pursued throughout their musical careers. Produced by legendary metal producer Kurt Ballou (Converge, Kvelertak, High On Fire, Every Time I Die) and Zach Weeks at God City Studios in Salem, Massachusetts, with vocals recorded by Ian Romano (The Outfit, PigPen, Ancient Shapes) at Camera Varda Studios in Welland, Ontario, Give Me Dirt, sees Cancer Bats at their most sonically inspiring.




As with their earlier work, the music came together organically, with all four members jamming in the same room. One key lesson the band carried over from their last album was that the real magic happens when everyone is fully collaborating. Once the riffs, breakdowns, and grooves were locked in, Cormier returned to rural Nova Scotia to craft the lyrics and vocal hooks. Many of the songs took shape on dusty forest roads, along winding dirt bike trails, and while brewing campfire coffee on secluded North Shore beaches.




Inspired by a year of travel, Give Me Dirt unfolds as both an outward and inward journey, grounded in a deep connection to nature. The songs explore leaving urban life behind, processing personal loss, and confronting environmental devastation, while also reflecting on lessons drawn from the natural world.



Motorcycle travel forms another central thread on Give Me Dirt. From riding through the harsh conditions of the Canadian Rockies to a transformative journey in the mountains of Nepal just before recording, these experiences shaped the album’s perspective.




The overarching theme of returning to nature and reconnecting with the physical world also provided inspiration for the album's artwork. Instead of using digital tools, Cormier created a giant 4-foot by 8-foot mixed-media painting for the front and back covers. Using materials like paint, paper, stencils and drywall mud, he incorporated whatever he could get his hands on to build a large-scale, tactile piece. A second artwork of similar size was created for the liner notes featuring handwritten lyrics, collages, and similar paints and stencils used on the cover.




Cormier explains his motivation, “So many people I find are so sick of AI these days and all things that look too polished. I wanted the artwork to capture the energy of the album, but also represent us as a band. We are rough and dirty, our sound is loud and a mix of so many influences. Making art like this felt like such a good visual representation of not only the songs, but also Cancer Bats ourselves.”

ive Me Dirt Track Listing

01. World Wild Fire Death Race (feat. Nate Newton)

02. Stay Stuck

03. Don’t Trip

04. Bright Eyes of Gold (feat. Chris Creswell)

05. Give Me Dirt

06. Long Tooth (feat. Brooklyn Doran)

07. Speed Wizard

08. Ocean Crash

09. Positive Grid

10. Prognosis

11. Fools Like You (feat. Efrem Schulz)

Catch Cancer Bats live later this year on the Marshall “Made of Loud” Tour with Ignite and Knives

October 2026

12th Dover, The Booking Hall
13th Brighton, Chalk
15th Exeter, Cavern
16th Falmouth, Princess Pavilion
17th Southampton, The Joiners
18th Plymouth, The DepØ
20th Bristol, The Fleece
21st Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
22nd Milton Keynes, Craufurd Arms
24th Birmingham, The Asylum
25th Manchester, Gorilla
26th Newcastle, Anarchy Brew Co
28th Glasgow, King Tut's Wah Wah Hut
29th Leeds, The Key Club
30th Nottingham, Rescue Rooms
31st London, Electric Brixton

Tickets on sale now










About Cancer Bats:




With over 20 years under their belt, including 7 acclaimed studio albums, six JUNO Award nominations and countless tours around the globe, Cancer Bats have become an undeniable force within the world of heavy music. One of the hardest working bands in the industry, Cancer Bats have graced the covers and pages of countless tastemaking publications including Kerrang!, Exclaim!, Revolver and Rock Sound.


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