Cardinals Pride

Formed in Quebec City in 2010, Cardinals Pride came together as a Canadian metalcore outfit. The group drew its name from the Alexisonfire track "Young Cardinals," drawn to the song's evocation of youth, freedom, and a refusal to become "old crows." Fronted by vocalists Mathieu Guay and Alexis Paré, the lineup features Nicolas Sénéchal on drums, Antoine McNulty-LaSalle on bass, and guitarists Didier Archambault alongside Nicolas Doiron. After original bassist Gabriel Gagnon departed to focus on culinary pursuits, McNulty-LaSalle shifted to bass and Doiron joined in 2012 to complete the roster. Although the members communicate in Quebecois French, their performances unfold entirely in English.

Early efforts leaned toward punk-inflected textures before the band steered into denser, more aggressive territory. Its self-produced debut full-length, For the Fallen, For the Weak, arrived in 2011 and showcased raw metalcore intensity, with both singers trading guttural growls for piercing screams. Themes of despair, disillusion, frustration, and nonconformity reinforced the music's weight.

Steady Canadian touring, including Warped Tour appearances, helped cultivate a dedicated audience and paved the way for the Priorities EP, a four-song release issued in late 2012. Across the roughly two-year gap between projects, the sound shifted from direct metalcore force toward post-hardcore elements that blended melodic vocals, driving percussion, and interlocking riffs. Joey Turner of the dreamy folk band Go to the West lent guest vocals to the EP standout "Materials," delivering a striking screamo turn that matched the intensity of Cardinals Pride's own singers.

Alongside the late-2013 single "Parallel (Carte Blanche)," the band maintained a rigorous touring schedule through 2013 and 2014. Its 2015 EP, Those People Will Never Die, was tracked at Atrium Audio in Lancaster, Pennsylvania under producer Jordan Valeriote (Silverstein, Counterparts) and issued via New Damage Records. The five tracks extended the direction established on Priorities, retaining crushing riffs and visceral screams while sharpening harmonies with heightened emotional drive and refining the instrumental interplay. Outward aggression persisted in the music and vocals, yet an underlying emphasis on hope and camaraderie continued to shape the band's core identity.

In March 2016 the group announced an amicable exit for Guay, leaving Paré to handle all vocal duties.