Cunter

Cunter is a hardcore punk band from Brampton, Ontario that formed in 2009. The band is made up of musicians from well-known Canadian acts including Moneen, Alexisonfire, BWC Studios, and The Abandoned Hearts Club. Known for their motto “All intensity, all the time,” they built a reputation for short, ferocious songs that packed more punch than many full-length records. Though their run was brief, Cunter left behind several recordings that showed how quickly they could move from idea to release.

How The Band Got Started

The idea for the band began as a side project between Kenny Bridges and Erik Hughes of Moneen. Hughes had a powerful scream, and along with BWC Studios producer Greg Dawson, they tossed around the thought of creating a punk band for fun. On November 1, 2009, Bridges called Dawson to make it official, only to discover Dawson had already written nine songs. Bridges added one more, and Hughes wrote all the lyrics in a single evening. To complete the lineup, they brought in Alexisonfire drummer Jordan Hastings and The Abandoned Hearts Club guitarist Billy Curtiss.

At first, they called themselves Hunter, a name taken from Hughes’ son. But after a Polish band threatened legal action, they switched the name to Cunter in May 2011. Despite the change, the spirit of the project stayed the same: raw, relentless, and fast-paced hardcore punk.

Key Releases and Career Growth

Cunter’s releases followed a simple numbering system based on how many songs they had written. Their first EPs, 4 and 8, were put out on 7-inch vinyl by Dine Alone Records in 2009. In 2010, they released their first full-length CD, 10, which was also pressed in limited numbers for Record Store Day. By 2011 they had recorded enough material for 20, humorously subtitled “Some Really Nice Guy Threatened To Sue Us And Made Us Change Our Name,” a reference to the legal fight over the original band name. Their final album, 27, came out in 2013 on New Damage Records.

Most of their shows took place around Toronto, with occasional larger opportunities such as appearing on the 2011 Warped Tour. These performances cemented their reputation as a group focused on intensity and speed rather than longevity.

By 2013, the band went quiet. In a 2020 interview, Jordan Hastings explained that everyone’s schedules had gotten too busy to keep the project going, though he also said he’d like to see another Cunter album in the future.

Members

Kenny Bridges – bass (Moneen)
Billy Curtiss – guitar (The Abandoned Hearts Club)
Greg Dawson – guitar (Haitian Knife Fight / BWC Studios)
Jordan Hastings – drums (Alexisonfire)
Erik Hughes – vocals (Moneen)

Live Members:

George Pettit – vocals (Alexisonfire)
Aaron Wolff – vocals (The End)
Chris “Hippy” Hughes – guitar (Moneen)

Discography

4 (EP, Dine Alone Records, June 16, 2009)
8 (EP, Dine Alone Records, September 8, 2009)
10 (Album, Dine Alone Records, April 17, 2010 – limited Record Store Day release)
20 (Album, Dine Alone Records, June 13, 2011)
27 (Album, New Damage Records, June 25, 2013)