Based out of Toronto, Canadian noise punk trio METZ formed in 2008, taking equal inspiration from the battered rock trappings of '90s grunge and the noisier side of shoegaze's textural guitars. The band was formed by guitarist/vocalist Alex Edkins, bassist Chris Slorach, and drummer Hayden Menzies. They slowly developed their sound, one that drew on wiry rhythms akin to the Jesus Lizard and fuzz-laden, high-volume production, eventually inking a deal with Sub Pop for the release of their self-titled 2012 debut. The album was met with enormous critical praise, earning them spots on worldwide tours of their own, as well as in support of legendary punk acts like Mission of Burma and Mudhoney. The band kept a relatively low profile in the months leading up to the release of their second album. Simply titled II, the sophomore effort was released by Sub Pop in May 2015, and was followed by extensive touring, including a stop at the Levitation Festival (aka the Austin Psych Fest). The record also earned them a spot on the Polaris Music Prize longlist. In 2017, METZ announced they would be releasing their third studio album. For Strange Peace, METZ turned to legendary producer Steve Albini and his Electrical Audio studio in Chicago, where they recorded the album straight to tape. Preceded by the fierce lead single "Cellophane," Strange Peace arrived in September 2017, and the group supported the release with an international concert tour. ~ Fred Thomas