The Cancer Conspiracy
By Chris Brook
Photo By C. Taylor Crothers

“I’m glad we ended on a high note as opposed to reuniting and pretending nothing ever happened.”
- Daryl Rabidoux

Metaphorically speaking, The Cancer Conspiracy has been dead for a few years. The Burlington, Vt. trio parted ways in 2004, leaving behind a trail of unreleased but highly sought-after demos. While the band may no longer exist, it’s certainly not forgotten. If 2004 marked the death of The Cancer Conspiracy, then 2008 marks the band’s proverbial eulogy, as these recordings will finally surface. The Cancer Conspiracy’s ethereal bridges and off-kilter time signatures have always anchored the band’s sprawling and diverse instrumental post rock that towed the line between prog and metal. It hasn’t changed for this final trip.

Simply titled Ω, the Greek symbol for “Omega,” the record was jointly released in January through Allston’s Radar Recordings and Wisconsin’s Gilead Media. In many ways, the LP serves as the band’s last breath, a collection of songs that almost went unheard. With eight tracks, each titled a Roman numeral, the record picks up where the sound of 2002’s The Audio Medium ended. The band has consistently shown a refined sense of musicianship as each song is as meticulously composed and orchestrated as the next. Though considering the band’s storied label, it’s remarkable the tracks are even seeing the light of day at all. “It was kind of weird,” says guitarist Daryl Rabidoux, “We didn’t even know who had song ownership.”

Rabidoux refers to the confusion that stemmed from the band’s label, Massachusetts’ Big Wheel Recreation when it merged with Lumberjack Distribution. BWR ultimately folded, leaving the owners of the sessions ensnarled in legal paperwork. By the time the bulk of the record was ready to be recorded, the band was already falling apart. Bassist Brent Frattini left to join Providence band Daughters while Rabidoux and drummer Greg Beadle carried on, fleshing out new material.

Flash forward to 2007 when Rabidoux got some pressure from friends in Radar bands Constants and Junius to secure the songs’ rights and release a new record. “I did the band for so long and then I walked away from it,” says Rabidoux, “I needed a new group of guys to help motivate me.” After receiving countless emails from devoted Cancer Conspiracy fans, Rabidoux would no longer have to burn rough, unmastered mixes to CD-Rs to send out and Ω would, for the first time, become available.

The reformed Cancer Conspiracy recorded their final songs after recruiting Johnny Northrup from Stephen Brodsky’s Octave Museum to fill in on bass and renowned producer Matt Squire (Panic! at the Disco, Thrice) to man the boards. “Matt’s got the head to get the best out of you, he won’t let you settle for any less than perfect,” says Rabidoux, “I like to think we gave him the opportunity to spread his wings.” Delays aside, there’s certainly a sense of accomplishment to be felt after putting out a record that’s been in the works for years. Better yet, according to Rabidoux, a record that documents the band at their most cohesive, performance-wise. “There was no push to release it, no records to have rushed to a release show,” says Rabidoux about the process of putting out the record, “It’s probably the easiest way to put out a record. I think it’s a good way to go out.”

It’s still hard to say if the general public even knows of the band’s 2004 dissolution. With a MySpace page covered in messages with fans trying to get the band to play countries like Brazil, Malaysia and Germany, it’s clear that the breakup hasn‘t been fully recognized. “I definitely wish that more people had been paying attention back in the day,” says Rabidoux of the band’s post-breakup success.

These days, Rabidoux can be found hunkered down in Providence’s Strangeways Recording studio alongside Hot Rod Circuit guru Mike Poorman, fiddling behind the boards for bands like Therefore I Am and The Appreciation Post. Meanwhile, Beadle can be found behind the drum kit for Boston’s classic rock devotees Township, still riding high off their WBCN Rock n’ Roll Rumble win last year. Frattini still lives in Providence and hasn’t stopped playing music, taking time whenever he can to toss ideas around with Rabidoux.

Old fans shouldn’t expect a reunion anytime soon, though. Rabidoux hints the band has officially run its course. “I’m glad we ended on a high note as opposed to reuniting and pretending nothing ever happened. I mean, if you broke up the band, why are you putting it back together?”

www.myspace.com/thecancerconspiracy