EPK – Victoria Lies – Vendetta (2026) (Black Cat Records)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“We are trying to give the listener something new, not just screaming at them for 5 minutes a song for 10 songs; we want to take the listener on a journey with no shortage of twists and turns. The first single, I think, serves as an explosive introduction to the Victoria Lies universe. It’s hard-hitting right out of the gate and is laden with lore.” – Rory Fitzsimmons (Guitars)
“Each of the singles off this album is very different. While they are all very good on their own, each single opens the door to a certain side of the band’s sound.” – Jay Powell (Bass)
“We really wanted each song to hit a bit differently. We focused on really trying new things with each song, not as a necessity but instead to push ourselves outside our comfort zones and contribute to the unique sounds we wanted to achieve. Because it is a concept, I would really love for fans to speculate on what’s going to happen next!” – Brett Hetherington (vocals)
For fans of Bad Omens, Atreyu, AFI, Killswitch Engage, Dayseeker
Band: Victoria Lies
Album Name: Vendetta
Release Date: October 30, 2026
Label: Black Cat Records
Genre: Metalcore
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
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Band: Victoria Lies
Album Name: Vendetta
Release Date: October 30, 2026
Label: Black Cat Records
Genre: Metalcore
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Track Listing:
1. Victoria – 1:40
2. We Ignite – 3:25
3. Terra Critical – 4:00
4. Laced With Hate – 6:30
5. Red – 2:44
6. Weaving Webs – 4:18
7. Trial by Fire – 3:33
8. Absurd – 4:21
9. Red Lips, Loaded Gun – 5:52
10. Ravens – 3:41
11. Truth and Sugar – 4:15
Album Length: 44:23
Album Credits:
Produced by Victoria Lies and Scott Bennett
Mixed by Scott Bennett
Mastered by Cody Anstey
Recorded at Interim Studios (Calgary, AB)
All songs performed by Victoria Lies
Album Artwork by Larissa Pinto
Album and Live Band Line-up:
Jay Powell (Bass)
Brett Hetherington (Vocals)
James Cuncanon (Drums)
Chris Koehler (Guitars)
Rory Fitzsimmons (Guitars)
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About The Album Artwork
The album artwork depicts Victoria walking through the streets, leaving behind her decay
The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)
Musically, I wanted to challenge myself with this album; I didn’t want to repeat myself, and I wanted to incorporate ideas from every corner of music. I wanted to create something that, when you hear it, you know that you are in Victoria’s universe. (Rory)
This album is built around a mysterious concept that gradually reveals itself through the course of the tracks. Alongside the narrative are songs that go beyond the storyline, exploring genuine emotion, personal experiences, and themes that resonate on a more individual level. Musically, the album moves between heavier sounds and more reflective moments, helping to shape the overall journey while also giving each song its individuality. – Brett
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
Victoria -I wanted to set the scene, almost like you’re at a Broadway show. I feel like the track lets you know that we are in a dark world with a disturbing story – Rory
This song starts with a bang! What a great track to open this album with; it really sets a scene and gets your ears intrigued for what’s next. – Brett
We Ignite – It was the first riff I worked on for the album. My favourite part of this one has to be the bridge; we break it down, and you know something big is coming. – Rory
It’s funny that the second track on the album has literally nothing to do with Victoria, but at the same time, it is so important to Victoria Lies. This song really defines our sound, and kind of acts like a demo to give the listener an idea of what’s to come. I think it was the first song we wrote as Victoria Lies.
This song is actually based on a recurring nightmare I have of the world going into an apocalypse. Pretty metal. – Brett
Terra Critical – This one started life after I was messing around with some Tosin Abasi-type chords, and at the same time, Jay and Brett showed me a song that they were each digging. One was Silver Tongues by I the Mighty. It has a really cool verse that I just couldn’t shake outta my head, and that’s when the Abasi chords came in. The other was Nowhere To Go by Bad Omens, and that’s where the inspiration for the chorus and bridge came from. My favourite part of the song has to be just before the final chorus after the bridge. There is a 4-bar break that makes me think of being in the eye of a storm. Chaos all around you, but you are in the space of calm and tranquility for a brief moment. – Rory
The third song has GOT to be about Victoria, right? Wrong! Yet another earlier song in Victoria Lies’ history. This song has one of my favorite beginnings on the album. The Earth is fed up with our shit, and it’s too late to say sorry. – Brett
Laced With Hate – I don’t know what I was thinking here. I love to play somewhat unconventionally. I don’t like to use the same tired techniques that only serve the guitarist’s ego. (Sweep picking is a prime example of a technique that sounds awful, but it’s difficult and showcases the guitarist’s skill). So two-handed tapping it is! (which I know also sounds douchy) It just sounds so nice with a crystal clear guitar tone. -Rory
This is the first track on the album that dives into the world of Victoria Lies. This song has been around longer than Victoria Lies, but it has evolved so much from what it was. This song shows a glimpse of Victoria’s situation before her change and what might have led to her future decisions. While telling a story about Victoria, it can also paint a picture of what real spousal abuse can look like. – Brett
Red – This song drove me nuts. Brett, Jay, and I were in the studio trying to write, and they both had a clear idea of what they wanted to do…. I, however, did not. They wanted a really simple, hard-hitting song (which I agreed with), but I always like to throw a lot of variation into what I write, so it was really difficult to rein that in. Every 5 minutes, I had Jay slapping my knuckles, telling me to do less. When we got to the chorus, I was allowed to let loose somewhat.
Red in my eyes is the defining moment when Victoria becomes Victoria. The specific moment that triggers every event that follows in the story. It comes in heavy, disorienting, and with urgency. I wanted this song to convey the chaos in Victoria’s mind at the moment when her life turns over on itself, and a new purpose arises. I love the contrast between the verses and the chorus. – Brett
Weaving Webs – Even though not a part of the Victoria universe directly, this one lyrically talks about how we all can see and communicate across the world. We can all see the terrible things that are happening. The same lies that have been told for decades no longer hold any ground, and we can now see who the real villains are. We will not forget. – Brett
Weaving Webs – Was inspired initially by an Attack, Attack! Song, as I said earlier, I like to utilize ideas from all different styles of music. So the intro to the track was a really fun side quest to go see if a crazy idea I had would work. – Rory
Trial by Fire – This was one that Jay and I worked on. We were in the studio just staring at a blank canvas and had no idea what we wanted to do, then Jay busted out an old riff he came up with in high school, and BOOM, we had the main riff! Once we had that, it was pretty easy to get the rest of the song in the bag. – Rory
This song steps back from the concept and instead explores our feelings surrounding gun violence. I had read a story about a shooting that happened in Canada at a wedding over someone being jealous or whatever stupid reason. I think about the children in the States. Being a father, it terrifies me to hear of the violence that happens there on a day-to-day basis involving children. I just wanted to essentially yell about it. Thus, the lyrics to Trail by Fire. – Brett
Absurd – Ahhhh, everyone’s darling! I love this song; I think it means more to me than people think. In my mind, two clear parts define this song: the verse and the first chorus. The verse/intro was written with my brother in mind. He passed away from cancer at 19. But this part of the song just reminds me of how we would go out on the town together in Edinburgh and get ourselves into trouble. And then the chorus was written with my mother in mind, who I lost during COVID. It came out when I was just feeling the feels one day, thinking about her. – Rory
This might be everyone’s favorite; I know it’s mine. The night of the murder… This song really sets a scene and takes you through a harrowing night of deception and murder. The sounds on this track are very powerful, and they successfully lend to the moments where Victoria is in her head, speaking how she truly feels. We got to explore some new sounds with this track as well, which I think turned out very well. – Brett
Red Lips, Loaded Gun – This is definitely one of the more lore-heavy tracks on the album. It follows Victoria as she goes away to get her revenge on the person who wronged her. We try not to be heavy-handed with how we want to guide listeners because we really want to know how people interpret Victoria and her actions, but on this track we did a bit more guiding. We let listeners learn that Victoria is a moniker, not a real name, and they get to hear the more human side of her as she makes a phone call to a loved one. Musically and lyrically, this is one of the more different tracks on the album where we experimented more with a more groovy rhythm and poetic, symbolic lyrics. – Jay
Ravens – Outside the concept, for the last time. “ The ravens in my mind,” these ravens represent the voices in everyone’s head that tell you to do this, do that. The bad decisions you know you probably shouldn’t follow through with, but some people do. The urges that get you into trouble sometimes are how you just can’t control yourself. This song is another heavy hitter, but also surprisingly really easy to dance to. – Brett
Truth and Sugar – I really enjoyed writing the lyrics to this song; it was a new challenge for me as I had never written a song that had two lead singers before. I wanted it to be a duet but feature the guest vocals more heavily than my own. This allowed me to really play with vocal layer ideas. This song follows our current-day Victoria now that she has some experience and confidence. She is far from finished. This was all just a memory. – Brett
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Fun Facts – Story Angles:
1. During one of the Vendetta sessions, when we were recording Red, it was the final of the Euro football competition, with Rory’s childhood team, England, competing. So our dear producer Scott took it upon himself to “borrow” his mother’s TV and set it up in the studio for us to watch. Rory then proceeded to yell at the TV for 90+ minutes, which caused the people tracking to make mistakes. Which he then yelled at them for fucking up. All this yelling really helped Brett get in the mindset for laying down his screams on one of our angriest songs.
2. Another dangerous situation that is funny now, but at the time was pretty scary, was when our other guitarist, Chris, nearly sliced his fretting fingers off. When he showed up with his hand wrapped in bandages to track “Truth and Sugar”, we assumed that he, being altruism personified, had sacrificed his appendages to save a puppy from a ravenous black bear. But no, it was because he was cutting a bagel.
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L-R – Jay Powell (Bass), Brett Hetherington (vocals), James Cuncanon (Drums), Chris Koehler (Guitars), Rory Fitzsimmons (Guitars)
Photo Credit – Heather Kim
Victoria Lies is a Canadian metalcore band pushing the boundaries of its genre with intense, narrative-driven lyrics, heavy grooves, and graceful technicality. By integrating theatrical elements (such as props and a dancer who plays the role of Victoria) with dynamic melodies that cross genre lines, the band aims to deliver a fresh and compelling sound. Originally formed in 2023, the current lineup consists of vocalist Brett Hetherington, drummer James Cuncannon, guitarists Chris Koehler and Rory Fitzsimmons, and bassist Jay Powell. Their singles “Trial By Fire” (May 2024), “…Ready for it?” (December 2024), and “Zerotonin” (May 2025) have garnered thousands of plays across streaming services and serve as a bombastic introduction to the Victora Lies universe. Having played in locations across Alberta, including their hometown of Calgary, Drumheller, Lethbridge, and Edmonton, the quintet is set on connecting with their audience through their electrifying live performances. They have played Gatorfest II in Calgary, AB, and also Decimate Metalfest in Millet, AB. Victoria Lies’ first full-length album is set for release in October 2026.
Album and Live Band Line-up:
Jay Powell (Bass)
Brett Hetherington (Vocals)
James Cuncanon (Drums)
Chris Koehler (Guitars)
Rory Fitzsimmons (Guitars)
Discography:
October 2026 – Vendetta – LP
May 2024 – Trial by Fire (single)
Dec 2024 – Ready for it (single)
May 2025 – Zerotonin (single)
Dec 2025 – Just Keep Breathing (single)
Shared Stage with:
Into Eternity, Famous Strangers, The Path Less Traveled, Eye of Horus, Our Last Crusade, Ignite, Citizen Rage, Godfall, Black Friday, Balrogath, Astral Prophets
Tours and Festivals:
2026 – Ampfest – Canmore, AB
2026 – Alt Waves – Medicine Hat, AB
2025 – Decimate Metalfest – Millet, AB
2025 – Serenade Metalfest – Edmonton, AB
2025 – Gatorfest – Calgary, AB
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