SPILL LIVE REVIEW: CANCER BATS w/ ANCIIENTS, THE TEETH & CHASTITY @ THE OPERA HOUSE, TORONTO

CANCER BATS w/ ANCIIENTS, THE TEETH & CHASTITY

@ THE OPERA HOUSE, TORONTO

APRIL 9, 2026

Currently in the midst of their cross-country Canadian tour, Cancer Bats are celebrating 20 years of Birthing the Giant with the band performing their seminal debut, front to back, in its entirety. With Anciients, The Teeth, and Chastity filling out the lineup, Cancer Bats took to Toronto’s Opera House for a triumphant homecoming show that capitalized on the very energy that has made them punk mainstays for two decades.

Hailing from Durham region, Chastity opened the show with a brief set of songs rooted in a post-hardcore sound. As they filled the room with waves of distorted and dissonant riffs, there was a slight air of atmosphere to their songs that placed their modern approach somewhere between Deftones and post-rock. Despite frequent moments where the band would increase or decrease in tempo, often when switching from half-time to double-time, the band remained fully together. Just as a song would begin to feel as though it was about to fall off the rails, Chastity would lock in together and stick the landing, creating a level of tension and excitement to their performance.

The Teeth followed with a blistering, and absolutely relentless set. Based out of Hamilton, the band was led by a behemoth of a frontman as the metalcore collective navigated a series of songs that comprised largely of guttural vocals and filthy fucking breakdowns. Underneath this was a band driven by precision as they manipulated and displaced rhythms without ever losing focus amid the brutal soundscapes.

All the way from Vancouver, BC, Anciients followed with a set that was much closer to stoner metal, as the show’s lineup continued to unfold in an eclectic manner. Blistering riffs clashed with soaring and highly melodic vocals as the band blasted through a set of lengthy and intricate songs. Guitar licks weaved in and out of the riffs and massive drums propelled the band forward. The band drew excitement from their use of dynamics in both their performance and songwriting as songs would swell to points of sudden escalation, erupting in breakdowns and aggressive screams. Through this, Anciients managed to harness the anticipation of the audience for a thrilling set.

Finally, Cancer Bats took the stage to a sold-out audience. Performing Birthing the Giant in full, the band wasted no time kicking off into “Golden Tanks,” “French Immersion,” and “Grenades,” all within quick succession. Liam Cormier remains a figure of pure, uninhibited and unbridled energy jumping across the stage, belting and screaming with the tenacity and endurance that remains signature to the band’s performance. Cancer Bats continued to progress through their debut record with fan favourites like “Shillelagh,” “Butterscotch,” “100 Grand Canyon,” and “Pneumonia Hawk.” Their set also included “Ghost Bust That”, a track that was only performed for the very first time just last week at the start of the tour. To conclude their performance, Cancer Bats closed the night out with five essentials, “Hail Destroyer,” “Bricks & Mortar,” “Hammering On,” featuring Brooklyn Doran, “Lucifer’s Rocking Chair,” The Beastie Boys’ “Sabotage,” and “Winterpeg.” Aside from a few moments taken to express gratitude to the lifelong fans who made this anniversary possible and bands like Alexisonfire and Billy Talent for their early support, Cancer Bats put on a full throttle performance without any respite, demonstrating the vitality and power to their performance, something that ultimately has made them a must see punk band for over two decades.

As Cancer Bats took the stage, there was a momentum that could not be stopped. Through lineup changes, industry challenges, and a global pandemic, Cancer Bats have remained in constant motion. Birthing the Giant remains a seminal album that continues to serve as the framework for bridging punk rock with hardcore. A 20-year celebration of this nature seems impossible for a punk band from Southern Ontario, but as they took the stage, supported by a strong Canadian lineup, Cancer Bats defied all expectations with a celebratory, triumphant, and momentous homecoming performance that is bound to become a legendary moment among their legacy.

SPILL FEATURE: TWENTY YEARS OF BIRTHING THE GIANT – A CONVERSATION WITH CANCER BATS’ LIAM CORMIER

Artist Links

Anciients Links

The Teeth Links

Chastity Links

Photo Credit: Derek Bremner | Background Illustration Credit: Alexandra Snelgrove