Daggermouth

Daggermouth is a Canadian pop punk band that originated in Vancouver in 2004. Known for their fusion of melodic vocals with a hardcore edge, Daggermouth built a strong reputation in the punk scene by sharing stages with bands like Moneen and SNFU. The band’s name is a reference to a robotic fish in the Family Guy episode “A Fish Out of Water.”

History

The original lineup of Daggermouth included Nick Leadlay on vocals, Kenny Lush on guitar, Stuart McKillop on guitar and vocals, Erik Nielsen on bass, and Dan Donald on drums. Past members included J.J. Heath and Dana W.R. Edwards, who later played in the Vancouver-based band Carpenter. Jarod Moschenross and Tom Hillifer also filled in on bass at different points in the band’s career.

Known for blending pop-punk guitar riffs with hardcore sensibilities, Daggermouth quickly gained traction. They signed to Feeding Frenzy Records in July 2005 and released their debut album later that year. In February 2007, the band signed to Smallman Records, which helped distribute their second album, Turf Wars, that was released in March 2007.

Throughout 2007, Daggermouth toured Canada and the US with various bands like Set Your Goals, No Trigger, and I Am the Avalanche. However, in 2008, due to personal and financial challenges, the band entered a hiatus. Nick Leadlay stepped back because of mental health reasons, and the band’s touring commitments were canceled. By November 2008, the band had officially announced an indefinite hiatus through their MySpace page.

Despite the hiatus, the band remained relevant in the pop-punk scene. Their 2007 album Turf Wars was pressed on vinyl in 2009 by Animal Style Records. Some members moved on to other projects, including Rust Belt Lights and Downtime. Kenny Lush pursued a career in professional wrestling, while Dan Donald played drums in the band Elder Abuse. McKillop focused on recording bands and joined new projects like In Bear Country.

In 2016, rumors of a reunion began to circulate when footage of former members playing “Lassies Last Dance” surfaced online. In 2017, the band officially confirmed their reunion for Pouzza Fest in Montreal. In 2018, Daggermouth returned to the scene with the release of their single “Ramen Noodle Doodle.”