Silence is violence.

These three words, emblazoned on frontman Liam Horrigan’s guitar in red and white electrical tape, describe the essential principle underpinning Cruel Hope as a band. Straddling the line between modern rock and post-hardcore, the Toronto-based power trio swept onto the Canadian music scene in early 2022 with a clear mission: to make the kind of music that inspires people to fight for a better world. Instrumentals inspired by artists new and old, such as Rise Against, Billy Talent, Green Day, and Don Broco, complement their boldly unflinching lyrics on subjects including environmental sustainability, worker’s rights, mental health, and anti-colonialism.