Eora/Sydney-based punk rock quintet FANGZ have just revealed their frenetic single Wasting Time and its accompanying B-side Nothing To Lose. The tracks which were produced by Tim Maxwell (LOSER) and mixed by Jonathan Gardner (Front End Loader, Grinspoon) arrive as the band hits the road with one of their biggest inspirations, Canadian hardcore legends, Cancer Bats.
Raucous guitars wrap a resolute rhythmic section, as Wasting Time defies its title brazenly with haste. Recalling the vibe of post-hardcore luminaries Refused and Thrice, the track maintains its unapologetically fast-paced tempo, while effortlessly melding pop sensibilities through its infectious choruses.
Frontman Joshua Cottreau describes the motivation behind the track: 'Wasting Time' is about people who you spent years of your life partying with only to realise that you have created zero real connection together. Once the party is over, who is truly your friend? I once lived by the ethos 'time is never wasted, when you're wasted all the time' - as more responsibility has come into my life it seems my friendship circle and support network got smaller. Quality over quantity. 'Wasting Time' is an ode to people I thought had my back but really just needed a party pal."
The release and the Cancer Bats tour slot are notable moments for a band that has been on a steady ascent since their formation in 2019. The band have released three EPs For Nothing (2019), But No Thanks (2020) and Falling Is Pretty Normal (2022), and have toured regularly notching up support slots with FIDLAR (USA), Pennywise (USA), RedHook, Comeback Kid (CAN), He Is Legend (USA) and Gyroscope. It's an impressive list of accomplishments for a band that very nearly didn't exist. As the band explains in this Maniacs exclusive feature, FANGZ was born out of a make-or-break moment for its founding members and required them to defy not only the notion of being 'too old' to 'make it' but overcome the bleak reality of being stranded at Heathrow Airport with their musical hopes and dreams in tatters.
FANGZ – On Breaking Up and New Beginnings
Firstly, we’re not breaking up; we just live in a clickbait-driven world, so sorry about that. Here’s a couple of new songs out today to make up for it:
However, to be fair - we haven’t been misleading on the title here, as this is a story that dives into the end of our previous project, which led to the start of FANGZ… and it largely involves a rad Canadian band we’re just about to hit the road with.
FANGZ formed after Sam, Woodie and my (Jameel) previous band imploded halfway through a European tour in mid-2018. There we were sitting on the edge of our rented tour van at Heathrow Airport, disillusioned, dejected and wondering how the hell we were going to get our bond back (we didn't get it back), when out of the blue a (little bit nicer) tour van pulled up next to us.
That van happened to be the workhorse of one of our favourite bands, Cancer Bats. Their singer, Liam Cormier, urged us not to give up. “F**k it, why don't you go home, start a punk rock band and write a song about airports”. Turns out it was just the jolt we needed, fast forward three months and we had a stack of demos we'd recorded in a share-house and we were on the hunt for a new singer. Just so happens we didn't need to look for long - we fell in love with the first guy who hit us up on Facebook, Joshua Cottreau, a hyperactive Canadian and a mutual acquaintance of Liam's. Small world, huh?
Then in 2019, we found ourselves lucky enough to be opening up as a local support for Cancer Bats at Crowbar in Sydney. He said we didn’t suck, so that’s always nice.
Now in 2024, we guess he really meant that, as we’re the main support for their Australian tour that’s kicking off today! It’s crazy how things come full circle like this. It just goes to show if you persevere and have your manager keep sending annoying emails to promoters, they’ll eventually put you on shows and tours.
So, in the spirit of Cancer Bats giving us so much love, we decided to take a maple leaf out of their book, and shout out some of the awesome supports on this tour. We’ve also added them all to a banging playlist, so you can familiarise yourself with everyone before the shows!
Bare Bones
Having seen Bare Bones so many times over the last decade it was an absolute honour when they asked us to join them on their ‘Rival Minds’ album tour. This was one of our first ever tours and it was a blast watching the boys shred every night. Early Bare Bones started in a more Every Time I Die meets The Bronx vibe and then they progressed into an almost Pantera-style heavy groove band. The band’s latest singles are some of my favourites and it sounds like Bare Bones with a wedge of Slipknot and a squeeze of Limp Bizkit for taste served over hot coals. I guess what I’m saying is; that if you like it heavy, Bare Bones has you covered.
Emergency Rule
It's about time we get a chance to jump on a bill with ol’ mate Travis (drummer) and his band of legends. Emergency Rule are like a stoner rock band with a Southern groove. Think Black Sabbath, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster, Clutch and Witchcraft. Heavy grooves, riffs for days and a distinct smell of herbs in the air… Smells kind of like the jacket your high school art teacher with the bloodshot eyes always wore.
Dreamboat
Dreamboat are a relatively new post-hardcore band hailing the East Coast of NSW. We had the pleasure of playing with them at The Stag and Hunter recently. Their fusion of post-hardcore sensibilities with super hooky choruses is a really cleverly packaged product, which gives massive Alexisonfire vibes… Which is something I’m very fine with. Furthermore, they’re a bloody lovely bunch of blokes, and both guitarists use Vox Ac30’s. What more could you want?
Threat
Threat are a hardcore band hailing from the jewel of Victoria, Frankston. We fucking love Frankston. If they’re anything like the fish and chips at Frankston, they’re going to be heavy and rough. We’ve never had the pleasure of playing with Threat, but we’re bloody keen. They also look like they’re good at drinking beers, another massive plus in our eyes.
CANCER BATS
FANGZ
AUSTRALIAN TOUR AND BAT SABBATH DATES
Tickets available from destroyalllines
THU 13 JUN | THE BRIGHTSIDE OUTDOORS, MEANJIN/BRISBANE QLD
w/ Piston Fist and Strange Fiction
FRI 14 JUN | THE NEWCASTLE HOTEL, MULUBINBA/NEWCASTLE NSW
w/ Stupid Baby and Dreamboat
SAT 15 JUN | CROWBAR, EORA/SYDNEY NSW **
w/ Potion and Mountain Wizard Death Cult
SUN 16 JUN | CROWBAR, EORA/SYDNEY NSW
w/ Bare Bones and Irken Armada
MON 17 JUN | THE BASEMENT, NGAMBRI/CANBERRA ACT
w/ Bare Bones
WED 19 JUN | STAY GOLD, NAARM/MELBOURNE VIC
Threat and Sidesplitter
THU 20 JUN | STAY GOLD, NAARM/MELBOURNE VIC **
Potion and Fly!
FRI 21 JUN | JIVE, TARNTAYNA/ADELAIDE SA
w/ Swordfishtrombone and Emergency Rule
** Bat Sabbath shows - FANGZ not appearing
