The band is currently composed of lead vocalist Liam Cormier, drummer Mike Peters and bassist/guitarist Jaye R. Schwarzer.

[2][3] Cancer Bats was founded in May 2004 by singer Liam Cormier and guitarist Scott Middleton, a former member of Toronto heavy metal band At the Mercy of Inspiration.

[4] The two wanted to make music influenced by artists such as Entombed, Refused, Black Flag, Led Zeppelin and Down, among others.

The lineup was completed with the addition of Andrew McCracken on bass and Joel Bath on drums, with Cormier moving to vocals.

[5] Soon after, Mike Peters (cousin of Dann Peters) replaced Bath on the drums and the band began playing throughout Southern Ontario, playing live shows with bands like Billy Talent, Every Time I Die, Nora, Alexisonfire, Haste the Day, It Dies Today, Bane, Comeback Kid, Buried Inside, Attack in Black, Misery Signals, This Is Hell, Rise Against, The Bronx and Gallows.

The album features guest vocals by Wade MacNeil of Alexisonfire and Black Lungs, Tim McIlrath of Rise Against and Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent.

The release was held at the Mod Club in downtown Toronto with Liam Cormier not only singing for Cancer Bats, but also performing drums for Black Lungs.

In March 2009, they went on tour at the annual Taste of Chaos festival along with Thursday, Four Year Strong, Pierce the Veil and Bring Me the Horizon, keeping a daily blog on their website.

At about this time Cancer Bats were also featured in Bring Me the Horizon's video for "Chelsea Smile", in which they appear playing cards in a kitchen.

Also in March, Liam Cormier lent his vocals to fellow Canadian band Silverstein's fourth studio album A Shipwreck in the Sand, on the track "Vices".

Also in 2009, Cancer Bats appeared in an episode of the documentary series City Sonic, reflecting on their time at the Adrift Clubhouse.

[12] A music video was shot for their cover of the Beastie Boys song "Sabotage", a track recorded for the album.

Cancer Bats had stated that they desired to create a more "upbeat" follow-up to their previous album Bears, Mayors, Scraps & Bones.

[20] On March 7, 2012, Cancer Bats released a second music video in promotion of the album for the song "Road Sick".

They have aimed to play six shows at five different venues across London, United Kingdom, in the shape of a pentagram in promotion of their fourth album.

"[citation needed] The band released their sixth studio album titled The Spark That Moves on April 20, 2018.

[28] The name of the album derives from each of the band members personal nickname (Mike - Bear; Scott - Mayor; Liam - Scraps; Jaye - Bones).

The Cancer Bats side was recorded while on tour in Belgium in 2019 at House Rott Child by Scott Middleton who also mixed the songs.