It takes a special kind of band to fill a venue in Toronto on the same night that a band like Cancer Bats is playing at The Opera House. Yet, that’s exactly what Sweet Fiend did. Joined on the bill by Deafened, Nervcast, and Lubbock Lights, the upstairs of Sneaky Dee’s was full for Sweet Fiends’ album release show.
The 4-piece metalcore outfit played songs off their debut EP Transfection, a 5-track EP, released April 10th, 2026. Their set included standout tracks like the death metal inspired Rattlesnake and blast-beat onslaught of Holy Demons. Both of which are certainly moshpit worthy and put the structural integrity of Sneaky Dee’s floor to the test.
This EP was a long time coming, with first single, Holy Demons, released back in 2023. Since then, it’s been clear that the band has been putting in the work to hone their live show. The set was tight, well-rehearsed, and even given some comic relief with a human banana dancing on stage for a song. Even with emotionally charged lyrics, it’s great to see bands that can still have a laugh on stage.
It was also cool to see Sweet Fiend use their platform to bring visibility to causes that they believe in. Without getting too political, ending a set with BYOB by System of a Down was a great choice. It truly highlighted the song’s relevance for today’s current events, some 20 years after it was initially released. Hearing an entire room sing along felt like something you’d expect at a Rage Against The Machine or SOAD show. Art is a form of expression, and the opportunity was not lost on the guys in Sweet Fiend last night.
Based in Toronto, Sweet Fiend is made up of Joseph Jargstorf (Vocals), Keenan Swain (Drums), Lui4 Antonio (Guitar), and Stefan Blazanovic (Bass). Expect to see more shows in the pipeline for 2026.
You can listen to Sweet Fiend and bands like them on our Heavy Canada Spotify playlist.
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