Metz (band)

Canadian punk rock band

For the city in eastern France, see Metz.

METZ

METZ performing at SXSW in 2013

Background information
Origin| Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Genres|

* Noise punk[1][2][3][4]
* hardcore punk[5][6][7]
* post-hardcore[8][9]
* post-punk[10]

Years active| 2007 (2007)–2024 (on hiatus) One-off reunion 2025
Labels| Sub Pop, Royal Mountain, Three One G, Swami Records
Members|

* Alex Edkins
* Hayden Menzies
* Chris Slorach

Past members|

* Chuck Saso

Website| www.metzztem.com
METZ performing at Loose Ends festival in Amsterdam in 2019

METZ (official capitalization) is a Canadian punk rock band formed in 2007 in Ottawa,[11] and currently based in Toronto.[12][13][14] The band consists of guitarist and vocalist Alex Edkins, bassist Chris Slorach and drummer Hayden Menzies.[10] In an interview with Austin, Texas zine The Cosmic Clash, Edkins has labeled METZ's style as punk rock, "at the core."[11]

## History

[edit]

METZ was formed in Ottawa, Ontario, in 2007 by guitarist/vocalist Alex Edkins and drummer Hayden Menzies, two longtime friends soon joined by Chuck Saso on bass. After a year of working on material, Edkins and Menzies decided to move Toronto, while Saso stayed in Ottawa. In Toronto they found their new bassist, Chris Slorach.[15]

METZ released their eponymous debut album on the Sub Pop label in 2012.[16] The album was named on the 2013 Polaris Music Prize long list.[17] The band performed a "homecoming show" at Lee's Palace in Toronto that year.[18]

On February 17, 2015, the band announced a new album, II, with the release of the album's first track, "Acetate", and an accompanying music video; the album was released May 5, 2015, in North America and the previous day elsewhere.[19] II was a long-listed nominee for the 2015 Polaris Music Prize.[20]

In May 2017, METZ announced their third studio album, Strange Peace, recorded by Steve Albini, which was released on September 22, 2017.[21][22]

Drummer Hayden Menzies has a degree in fine art from Concordia University and designs the artwork for the band.[22]

In July 2020, METZ announced that their fourth studio album, Atlas Vending, would arrive on October 9 via Sub Pop.[23]

On February 14, 2024, METZ announced their fifth album Up On Gravity Hill. The album was released on April 12 followed by a tour. On October 10, 2024 the band announced an indefinite hiatus to take time to focus on other endeavors and enjoy more time at home with family.[24]

On April 23, 2025, METZ made a surprise reunion appearance on Everybody's Live with John Mulaney.[25] They performed the song A Boat to Drown In.

## Band members

[edit]

### Current members

[edit]

* Alex Edkins – guitars, vocals (2007–2024)
* Hayden Menzies – drums (2007–2024)
* Chris Slorach – bass (2008–2024)

### Former members

[edit]

* Chuck Saso – bass (2007–2008)

## Discography

[edit]

### Studio albums

[edit]

* METZ (2012, Sub Pop)
* II (2015, Sub Pop)
* Strange Peace (2017, Sub Pop)
* Atlas Vending (2020, Sub Pop)
* Up on Gravity Hill (2024, Sub Pop / Dine Alone)[26]

### Compilation albums

[edit]

* Automat (July 12, 2019, Sub Pop)

### Live albums

[edit]

* Live At Ramsgate Music Hall (July 3, 2020, Bandcamp Download Only Release)
* Live at the Opera House (August 4, 2021, Sub Pop)

### Singles

[edit]

* "Soft Whiteout" / "Lump Sums" (January 13, 2009, We Are Busy Bodies)
* "Ripped On The Fence" / "Dry Up" (June 9, 2009, We Are Busy Bodies)
* "Negative Space" / "Automat" (August 10, 2010, We Are Busy Bodies)
* Metz / Fresh Snow \- "Pig" / "BMX Based Tactics" (April 21, 2012, The Sonic Boom Recording Co. / Sub Pop) - "Pig" is a Sparklehorse cover
* "Pig" (April 21, 2012, The Sonic Boom Recording Co. / Sub Pop)
* "Dirty Shirt" (October 8, 2012, Sub Pop)
* Polaris Prize 2013 (2013, Scion Sessions / Sub Pop)
* "Wait In Line" Promo (November 13, 2015, Sub Pop)
* "Can't Understand" (December 4, 2015, Adult Swim / Sub Pop)
* "Eraser" (January 22, 2016, Sub Pop)
* Metz / Swami John Reis - "Let It Rust" / "Caught Up" (April 16, 2016, Swami Records / Sub Pop)
* Metz / Mission Of Burma - "Good, Not Great" / "Get Off" (April 16, 2016, Sub Pop)
* "Acid" / "Slow Decay" (March 12, 2021, Sub Pop)
* Metz / Adulkt Life (March 4, 2022, Sup Pop)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Moores, JR (May 25, 2015). "Belgian noise-rock: the shape of punk to come". The Guardian. Retrieved October 3, 2017.
2. ^ Sauers, Camille. "Metz Gears Up to Bring Their Noise Punk Vibes to Paper Tiger This Fall". San Antonio Current. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
3. ^ Bell, Mike. "Canuck noise-punk act METZ raise the bar by finding a Strange Peace in uncertainty". The YYScene. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
4. ^ Pencz, Vivian (6 May 2013). "METZ brings its noise-punk brutality to the Biltmore". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
5. ^ Olivares, Rick (June 3, 2018). "Canadian hardcore band Metz pummels Manila". ABS-CBN News. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
6. ^ Bakare, Lanre (April 29, 2015). "Metz: 'If you can smother a melody in noise and grit, that's perfect'". The Guardian. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
7. ^ Keane, Brian. "Metz review: Hardcore made even harder by Steve Albini". The Irish Times. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
8. ^ Cober-Lake, Justin (October 14, 2020). "METZ: Atlas Vending". Spectrum Culture. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
9. ^ Reis, Robbie. "Metz". Pitchfork. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
10. ^ a b Music: Sub Pop post-punks Metz care little for your sensitive eardrums". Denver Post, 05/03/2013.
11. ^ a b Ackerman, Greg. "Interview: Alex Edkins of Metz talks pandemic, Austin scene". The Cosmic Clash. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
12. ^ Hughes, Josiah (15 June 2012). "METZ Sign to Sub Pop, Plot Debut Album for October Release". Exclaim!. Retrieved 31 December 2015.
13. ^ Minsker, Evan (9 October 2012). "Rising: Metz". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
14. ^ "New band of the day: METZ. The Guardian, September 27, 2012.
15. ^ "METZ at Ottawa Citizen". Retrieved 22 May 2024.
16. ^ "Meet METZ, Toronto’s newest rock trio". The Globe and Mail, October 5, 2012.
17. ^ "Polaris Short List Anncounced" Archived 2013-06-18 at the Wayback Machine. NXEW, July 16, 2013.
18. ^ "Concert Review: Metz homecoming a next-level affair". National Post. Noah Love, May 21, 2013
19. ^ Coughlan, Jamie (17 February 2015). "METZ Stream 'Acetate', Announce Album, Tour". Overblown. Retrieved 18 February 2015.
20. ^ "Polaris Music Prize Announces 2015 Long List". Exclaim!, 16 June 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
21. ^ "METZ - Strange Peace • Sub Pop Mega Mart". Sub Pop. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
22. ^ a b Hunt, El (September 22, 2017). "Back to the drawing board: Metz". DIY. Retrieved 2017-09-24.
23. ^ Strauss, Matthew (21 July 2020). "METZ Announce New Album Atlas Vending, Share Video for New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-07-22.
24. ^ Fu, Eddie (10 October 2024). "METZ Announce Indefinite Hiatus". Consequence. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
25. ^ Breihan, Tom (24 April 2025). "METZ Just Broke Up Last Year, But They Reunited On John Mulaney's Everybody's Live Christmas Episode Last Night". Stereogum.
26. ^ Treble Staff (February 14, 2024). "Metz announce new album, Up On Gravity Hill". Treble. Retrieved March 8, 2024.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to METZ (band).

* Official website

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Metz

Albums|

* Metz
* II
* Strange Peace
* Atlas Vending
* Up on Gravity Hill

Compilations|

* Automat

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI

National|

* Germany

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

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