Pink Snot could’ve folded in early 2020 when their first gig—opening for Dave Smalley & The Bandoleros—vanished into the void. Instead, they doubled down, churning out raw anthems in defiance of the silence. The result? Dead Messenger, a debut album that’s equal parts Molotov cocktail and time capsule, dropping February 22, 2025, via River Monster Records.
And they’re kicking it off with a hometown bang, opening for Comeback Kid at the Burton Cummings Theatre during the 20th anniversary blowout of Wake The Dead—a gig Pink Snot calls “a dream carved out of Winnipeg’s frozen punk soul.”
The hometown release show takes place at the Burton Cummings Theatre in Winnipeg, with support from Cancer Bats, Orthodox, and Meantime. After that, the group aims to follow up with more events—one of them already set for March 13th with Death By Stereo & Ignite at Side Stage in Winnipeg.
Pink Snot began in early 2020 as a three-piece with intentions to open for Dave Smalley & The Bandoleros before the pandemic cut everything short.
Undeterred, new songs kept emerging, recorded first in rough form by friend and eventual bandmate Brandon Denby. Internal conflicts forced lineup changes, then guitar player Ryan Eccles—initially hesitant—joined after some convincing. Drummer Chris Granger came aboard to escape playing Metallica covers and pursue something he found more meaningful. “He said he was sick of playing Metallica covers and liked our material so he was in!” the band remarks.
Dead Messenger went through plenty of drafts and cuts. More than 30 songs were trimmed down, partly re-recorded, and then finalized for this release.
Brandon handled recording, mix, and mastering. The album will also hit Bandcamp and additional streaming platforms on February 22.
Meanwhile, Pink Snot has nearly completed work on a follow-up record, with one lead single already recorded by John Paul Peters at Private Ear Recording (where Propagandhi and Comeback Kid have also created their work). “I’m really happy with how far we have come and we don’t plan on slowing down only going faster and growing stronger than ever,” the band notes.
The group’s influences converge on key records such as Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, Propagandhi’s Potemkin City Limits, Comeback Kid’s Wake The Dead, Figure Four’s Suffering The Loss, I-Spy’s Revenge of the Little Shits, Severed Heads’ Rotund For Success, The Gits’ Frenching the Bully, and ALL’s Allroy Saves.
The album’s concept revolves around an unnamed protagonist who dies young, only to send warnings to a younger self about looming threats—frauds, tricksters, and the rise of idiocy and profit-driven mentalities.
Each track on Dead Messenger follows this storyline from a different angle, revealing conflicts with toxic figures and oppressive systems. The lyrics reflect the dead soul’s opinions and experiences, manifesting in dreams and nightmares for the protagonist.
A detailed track-by-track commentary can be found below.
Winnipeg’s scene energizes the band, and they’re quick to reference its deep history, from Propagandhi and Comeback Kid to I-Spy, Figure Four, Guy Smiley, 12 Eyes, and more. “River Monster Records has got this really cool new band called Lighterless they are rad!” the band points out. They also shout out Death Cassette as a standout local act. But the immediate excitement centers on the upcoming hometown event with Comeback Kid, celebrating Wake The Dead’s 20th anniversary—something Pink Snot calls “one of my dream shows.”
Dead Messenger’s physical copies drop on release day, with a vinyl edition following once pressing details are set. Pink Snot looks forward to possible festival slots and doesn’t plan on slowing their momentum. “Our follow up album is going to be very interesting to say the least but I’ll leave it at that for now,” they tease.
Dead Messenger track by track:
Welcome To The Race Of Doom
This track is welcoming of the newborn self into the human race”the race of doom”.
Let This Die
It’s about moving on after your world has falling apart, when you’re picking up the pieces. You feel dirty, broken, scared all of those things but you pack up what you have left inside and take another trip down the unknown road of life.
Spreading The Disease
We all hear it and see it with our own eyes and ears everyday. Idiocy running rampant through the streets, idiocracy becomes our government. Hatred hides behind closed doors but now the cowards are being egged on by the ones “in charge” of this dumpster fire. We see violence against each other at an alarming rate, hate against indifference becoming the norm as they spread the disease of their idiotic rhetoric. We are truly at the mercy of imbeciles.
Slip Away
This song is about the young man finally telling everyone he isn’t a man he is a woman. Trapped inside and held down by societies “norms” and hidden from ridicule. Letting others opinions slip away and not letting them ruin your life or your future. There is time left for this person in their authentic life and they are coming to terms with what life looks like.
Clown
This song is about several people the young woman once knew so called friends. People that in the truest form are evil clowns.
Losing Face
An ex partner that stops at nothing to destroy everything you have and your own family. So manipulating, a person devoid of human empathy/feelings for anyone but themselves. Someone to avoid at all costs. A story sad but true.
It Drains
It’s about being a wage slave in modern times. Giving your best time to a faceless company that will chew you up and spit you out. It drains your soul.
Dead Messenger
Even at times your own self can be your worst enemy. Giving into depression, despair and hopelessness. This song is about fighting against your own inner demons that want you to sink to the bottom, bleed & suffer.
Comatose State
“They are dismantling the sleeping middle class. More and more people are becoming poor. We are their cattle. We are being bred for slavery.” They Live (We sleep)
The Nightmare Awaits
Is about sleep paralysis and nightmare states that come to the young woman in her worst times. But yet sometimes we awake not knowing the real nightmare awaits us just around the corner.
Phantom
This song is about addiction and how it can ensnare us at our highest or lowest points. It is a disease and disease knows no prejudice. It only feeds on pain.
Exit Wounds
This song is about the end of life. What will we become of our last days, what’s to become of our future. Even more important what becomes of our children’s children. “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”~ George Santayana
