Canadian mixed-race mixed-gender duo Mares of Thrace deal in a brand of heaviness that draws as much from noise rock and hardcore as it does from the doom metal they’re commonly grouped with. The band came roaring back to life in 2022 after a considerable hiatus; while 2012’s The Pilgrimage catapulted them onto the world stage, garnering a premier on Pitchfork and praise in Decibel, Terrorizer, Metal Hammer, and countless other outlets, their current era is fast eclipsing it. Their relentless schedule in support of 2022’s The Exile saw them tour the USA, Canada, and Europe (including a tour with UK doom legends Conan, and stints with Bell Witch, Dopethrone, and KEN mode) and headline a showcase at new “North American Roadburn” festival Prepare the Ground.
The band’s new incarnation sees vocalist and guitarist Trez (hailed as “absolutely riveting, an unrivalled monster of a frontperson” by Exclaim! Magazine) joined by Casey on drums, a multi-instrumentalist and audio engineer whose bona fides include a stint drumming in the reunited Kylesa, and being tapped to replace Gene Hoglan in Zimmer’s Hole.
2025 looks to be their most ambitious year yet, as they prepare to release their fourth full-length album–The Loss– on illustrious label Artoffact Records (home of Kaelan Mikla and GGGOLDDD). Produced by Scott Evans (Sumac, Sleep, Thrice, Covet, Yautja), it is a personal journey through mortality, grief, and losses of various kinds, and a reflection on the universality thereof; its song titles are a nod to the famed stages of grieving coined by psychologist Elisabeth Kubler-Ross.
