Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Fiery Canadian all-female hard rock outfit Hunter Valentine was formed in 2004 by guitarist/vocalist Kiyomi McCloskey, bassist Adrienne Lloyd, and drummer Laura Petracca. Drawing on influences like the Pretenders, Janis Joplin, Loverboy, and Muse, the band turned heads in Southern Ontario with its 2005 self-financed debut EP, which led to a record deal with True North, who delivered the group's first full-length outing, 2007's The Impatient Romantic. Produced by Ian Blurton (Weakerthans, Cursed, Skydiggers), 2010's Lessons from the Late Night dutifully captured the group's propulsive live sound, and was followed by the like-minded yet more streamlined Collide & Conquer in 2012. ~ James Christopher Monger