Casper Skulls burst forth from the Toronto exurbs in 2015. Described by MTV as a collection of “confrontational art rock that bleeds with sincerity,” and drawing comparisons to luminaries like Television, The Fall (The Toronto Star), Pavement, and Sonic Youth (Noisey), their debut EP, Lips & Skulls (Buzz) attracted immediate attention from audiences in Toronto and up and down the Eastern seaboard. Riding the wave of rising excitement, the band hit the road, hard, touring extensively and sharing stages with acts like Land of Talk, Thurston Moore, Suuns, Weaves, The Julie Ruin, Speedy Ortiz and Hop Along.

Following the reverberating shout that was the band’s first EP, Casper Skulls debut full length, Mercy Works, (out now on Buzz) is a startlingly ambitious statement of intent. The album was recorded in early 2017 with co-producer/engineer Josh Korody (Fucked Up, Dilly Dally), and mixed by Alex Newport (At The Drive-In, Death Cab For Cutie). Despite how swiftly they seemed to have reached songwriting maturity, Casper Skulls still see themselves as being at the beginning of their journey - an enticing prospect given the self-assuredness that underpins their debut.

[Programming descriptions are generated by participants and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of SXSW.]