Recently coming off a crushing performance at Loud As Hell Open Air Festival in Drumheller, AB, where they tore through the stage alongside Fallujah, Crimson Shadows, Divinity, and more, Toronto's Dawn Vally has dropped a ferocious new lyric video for “Kneecapper”, in support of the band’s brand‑new and third EP "Near Death Experience," released July 31st, 2026, a milestone marking the rebirth of one of Canada’s most relentless metalcore acts.
Formed in 2007 by brothers Jeff and Joe Bartolo, Dawn Vally has spent nearly two decades forging a sound that’s raw, ferocious, intense, heavy, and brutal. What began as a DIY project burning CDs in their early days has evolved into a fully realized force, now rounded out by guitarist Antonio and new vocalist Zac Emmons, formerly of Pound Of Flesh.
“Kneecapper” is a blistering statement of betrayal, an explosive track aimed at a once‑trusted friend whose indecision and backstabbing cost everything. Musically, it’s one of Dawn Vally’s most punishing offerings to date, with high‑octane riffs, savage breakdowns, and Zac’s emotionally charged vocal delivery.
The lyric video amplifies the intensity, pairing the band’s signature brutality with stark, confrontational visuals that mirror the song’s themes of anger, loss, and retaliation.
Watch the lyric video below!
The EP’s title reflects the band’s turbulent years from 2022–2024, an era of internal turmoil that nearly ended Dawn Vally entirely. Instead, the band emerged stronger, channeling the chaos into a record that blends every era of their sound, from the early "Just Please Her" EP's hard‑rock roots to the ferocious metalcore/hardcore hybrid they’re known for today.
Lyrically, "Near Death Experience" is drenched in betrayal, emotional pain, and the psychological fallout of broken trust. Musically, it’s a full‑throttle assault, high‑octane intensity from start to finish.
"This EP is to signify that it was only a near-death experience and not a full-on death of the band," adds vocalist Zac Emmons.
The band has already begun writing the follow‑up to "Near Death Experience". Fans can expect even more music, more intensity, and more emotional depth as Dawn Vally continues to evolve.
Recommended for fans of Parkway Drive, Lamb Of God, Cancer Bats, and Suicide Silence, "Near Death Experience" is available at the following links:
Bandcamp -
https://dawnvallyto.bandcamp.com/album/near-death-experience
Spotify -
https://open.spotify.com/album/7r4Y6txMc7q2IFCFouMKWR?si=FeCswmfrQNeO5epkVQPwAQ
Track Listing:
1. Orange – (2:30)
2. Pray For Me (2:39)
3. Kneecapper (2:50)
4. Second Hand Smoke (2:41)
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