EPK – DOLL – Bear Claw (2026)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“We had such an amazing response to our first “Animal Crackers” concept with our earlier release this year for “Shark Bait”. We had always envisioned releasing three animal-themed songs as part of our original plan, but the positive feedback really propelled us to finalize the product with our next song in the trilogy, Bear Claw. We think it’s safe to say this is our best effort yet, when it comes to bringing back some of that legacy Doll riffing, mixed with the hardcore element that we toyed with in Shark Bait, and really getting creative with the vocals and lyrics. We hope that this one is just as well received as Shark Bait, if not better. I guess it depends if you’re more of a land or sea animal lover.” – DOLL
For fans of SoftCult, Amyl and the Sniffers, Scowl, Nobro, The Pretty Reckless
Doll.bandcamp.com | Facebook.com/dollband | Spotify | Youtube.com/@insidethedollhouse
What the press has said about DOLL:
!earshot – August 2025 – Top 20 Loud – #5 – DOLL – Canadian Campus Radio Charts (2025 – Better Days, Better Times)
!earshot – August 2025 – Top 200 – #55 – DOLL – Canadian Campus Radio Charts (2025 – Better Days, Better Times)
“#1 Doll – Zach’s Picks of the Week – July 7 – 12, 2025 – Canadian Beats (2025 – Better Days, Better Times)
“In one of the best comeback stories in music in 2025, Canadian Alt-Rock duo DOLL will release their first new collection of material since 2011’s The Ragdoll Diaries… In addition to five slamming originals, DOLL chips in an inspired take on the Deep Purple classic rock anthem – “Smoke On the Water!” “- Ghost Cult Magazine (2025 – Better Days, Better Times)
“Doll sharpens their grit with new muscle and melody. Their return after more than a decade is not a nostalgia trip but a rebirth. The Ottawa band’s forthcoming EP Better Days, Different Times (July 18th) expands their core formula of raw energy and no-frills honesty by inviting new players and broader sonic choices into the mix. But even with cello flourishes and genre jumps, their identity remains firmly intact.” – Amplify The Noise (2025 – Better Days, Better Times)
“The new track ‘Shark Bait’ from Doll is a blast! The world has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of “JAWS” and now we have a brand new punk-fueled bite in the pants to go along with all of the bloody hoopla. ‘Shark Bait’ is basically straight ahead hardcore riffage with razor sharp teeth, fun lyrics and a precursor to their new EP, ‘Better Days, Different Times’ set for a July 18th release. Catch it on your Home for the Best New Rock… W-J-O-EEEE” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll (2025 – Better Days, Better Times)
“DOLL has returned as potent and as impressive as they were before but with greater impact we suggest, Better Days, Better Times quite simply a must exploration for punk and feral rock hearts.” – The Ring Master Review (2025 – Better Days, Better Times)
“Christina Kasper’s changeable voice is impressive.” – Keep On Rocking (2025 – Better Days, Better Times)
“‘Bleeding’ is a colourful mixture of Hard and Alternative Rock, paired with influences from Punk and Gothic, in a very melancholic sounding melody. The powerful voice of singer Christina Kasper dominates like a siren. ” – Metal Heads Forever Magazine (2025 – Better Days, Better Times)
“The Rag Doll Diaries” is the story of a road weary/world weary band with so much to say and share. Its the combination on heartache and despair offered with a hand meant for holding. In other words here is real music for the real world.” – Heavy Metal Time Machine (2013 – The Ragdoll Diaries)
“Doll was conceived as a bridge between punk and rock, a bridge that was fulfilled in the early ’90s by bands like Nirvana and the mid-’90s by Foo Fighters… A good punk band doesn’t write about the joys of picking daisies and Doll is no exception.” – The Whig Standard (Kingston, ON) (2013)
“Doll provides a missing link between punk and rock.” – The Intelligencer (Belleville, ON) (2013)
“The four-piece are definitely reminiscent of the grunge era and have provided a concise four-word biography of the band: “Rock N’ Fucking Roll.” – Exclaim! (2011 – The Ragdoll Diaries)
“One of the most striking aspects of Inside The Dollhouse, after Christina’s whiskey-and-hell voice, is a fictional character by the name of Sally created to carry the songs. A concept completely unexpected given the band’s twentysomething youth, immediately reminiscent of Alice Cooper’s infamous character Steven, introduced on Welcome To My Nightmare in 1975.” – Bravewords (2010 – Inside the Dollhouse)
“The debut from Ottawa’s Doll caught me instantly like a fish on a hook. This is serious music. Dark, intense and magnetic, this is the kind of gritty ’90s grunge that doesn’t fuck around. Fronted by the vocally vicious Christina Kasper, Doll recall an angry and confused era of music devoid of pop but not catchiness. Kasper howls in the vein of Courtney Love and Brodi Dalle, and while the lyrics are simple and not exactly fresh, they are impacting. Songs like “Perfect” deal with trying to live up to society’s standards, while “Sally Lost Her Shoelaces” and “Daddy’s Little Girl” deal with hurt, confusion and heroin against a backdrop of chunky guitars, assaulting drums and badass attitude. Julie-Anne Madore’s backing vocals add a whispered, haunting feel to this record. If the dirty rock’n’roll alone doesn’t reel you in, nothing will.” – Exclaim (2009 – Inside the Dollhouse)
[Download Single Cover | Download Single Lyrics]
Band: DOLL
Single Title: Bear Claw – 2:44
Release Date: January 16, 2026
Label: Grunge Never Died, You Did Records
Distribution: DistroKid
Genre: Hard Rock, Punk, Grunge
Location of Band: Ottawa, Ontario
Single Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Doll
• All songs written by: Doll
• Produced by: Josh Hart
• Mixed by: Josh Hart
• Mastered by: Josh Hart
• Single Artwork by: Mark Kidd
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
Single Band Line Up: Pete Kasper, Christina Kasper, Josh Hart
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About The Single Artwork:
With Bear Claw, we really wanted to revive some of the artwork that we were used to seeing as kids, with the Smokey the Bear posters, so we definitely went heavy on that look and feel, but then bringing in our own comedic elements with having Doll on the hat, and rebranding Smokey as Grungey, and Grungey having a chip on his shoulder, giving him some attitude. Mark Kidd once again shines with the concept and brought the end result to life.
About the single (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
Musically, we aimed to revive some of the classic Doll sound, featuring leads, heavy wah-wah pedal usage, Christina’s signature bends, and pushing it to the max with some nifty quick strumming, all while bringing the heat with the hardcore-infused chorus from Pete, courtesy of the drop tuning.
We definitely wanted to create a sense of danger and suspense, with the breakdown in the middle or so, recording through a very low-fi head and amp combination, giving that spooky feel, and then coming in with the crunch from the PRS MT100, giving that symbiotic mix of old and new. Driving as much atmosphere and emotion without introducing keyboards.
Vocally, this song is definitely our most creative, and while true to form, Christina did a wicked job at changing up the delivery and bringing in some aspects that we haven’t done before. It was important for us to make the song fun, introducing some light-hearted lyrics in the process, but still keeping with that raw and rock vocal and lyric that Doll has always been about.
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Fun Facts:
1. Christina and Pete are married.
2. They have been supporting and pioneering the Ottawa local scene by organizing shows in the area for over 20 years.
3. On tour, we always had hot and sour soup in every city.
4. Our first out-of-town runs of shows, we didn’t even have a band van, which we ended up finding late night the day before, purchased off someone privately, and had insured and plated the next morning before driving off in our amazing two-tone brown GMC Safari (RIP), the best van ever created.
5. Everyone was a huge fan of Sonic Youth
After a long hiatus, Doll returned in 2025 with a brand‑new album—and they’re keeping the momentum going with a follow‑up 2026 single, “Bear Claw,” releasing January 16th.
Doll is a Canadian alternative rock band from Ottawa, Ontario.
In 2009, Doll released their first album, Inside The Dollhouse. A video was filmed for their debut single, “Daddy’s Little Girl,” which aired on MuchMusic and MusiquePlus. A second video was filmed for their next single, “Sally Lost Her Shoelaces.” Madore left the band a few years later, with Paquette returning to take her place.
In 2011, they released their second album, The Ragdoll Diaries. Two singles and videos emerged from this release: “FMO” and “Youth of Today, Hope for Tomorrow.” The album was issued on both CD and vinyl. Soon after, Alex Vance joined the lineup as the new bassist.
Over the years, Doll has shared the stage with an impressive roster of artists, opening for Three Days Grace, Lacuna Coil, Danko Jones, Spinnerette, Protest the Hero, Band of Skulls, Anvil, Halestorm, SNFU, Hanzel Und Gretyl, Civet, The Creepshow, Die Mannequin, and many more.
Discography:
2025 – Better Days, Different Times
2011 – The Ragdoll Diaries
2009 – Inside the Dollhouse
Tours and Festivals:
2011 – Ottawa Bluesfest
2011 – IndieWeek
2011 – NXNE
2011 – Montebello Rockfest
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