ALBUM REVIEW: The Spark That Moves – Cancer Bats

When CANCER BATS posted a countdown on their website for this Friday just gone, the general consensus was that a new album would be announced and, if we were lucky, we’d get a new song from it to whet our respective appetites. As it transpired, we got both…and ten other tracks at the same time. In a year where we’re not even a third of the way through and several album of the year contenders are around, trust CANCER BATS to spring a trap and blow it wide open once more; sixth album The Spark That Moves is out now across all usual platforms.

At 34 minutes long and the longest song clocking in at just over three-and-a-half of those, this is a classic ‘caffeine shot’ album, perfect for your morning commute or when you need something to metaphorically punch you in the face and get your internal motor started. Mind you, CANCER BATS don’t really do punches; they’re more adept at pummelling, and The Spark That Moves is one of the greatest pummellings anyone will receive in 2018.

Gatekeeper as an opening is incredibly strong, presenting everything we love about CANCER BATS in one solid package; fast pace, massive chorus but with enough melody to warrant throwing shapes and a stellar performance from the masterful Liam Cornier, who might as well be grabbing your throat and actually screaming his words straight into your face. The frenzied punk vibes continue on Brightest Day, which will be a true mosh anthem when dropped live and We Run Free, which will make you wish Frank Carter was back in GALLOWS and fronting his own project at the same time.

Another big part of The Spark That Moves is the feel-good factor: this is a collection of brilliant hardcore punk songs that will put any listener on top of the world. The frenzied and frenetic Headwound will delight anyone who was moved by last year’s phenomenal GET THE SHOT album whilst Space and Time is more of a metal track than punk; “space and time is my state of mind” screams Liam with the utmost venom as the quartet rip through your ears once again.The band aren’t afraid to throw the odd curveball into the mix either, with Fear Will Kill Us All actually starting with a solitary piano before descending into unrivalled chaos once more.

At the end of the aforementioned We Run Free, Liam says enthusiastically “Pete, that was the vibe!”. Whether he’s talking to drummer Mike Peters or someone actually called Pete, we’ll never know, but the rest of that statement is outright fact; The Spark That Moves IS very much the vibe and CANCER BATS are very much THE band.

Rating: 10/10

The Spark That Moves is out now via Bat Skull Records.

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