Cancel The Transmission: Keeping Rock Dangerous, Loud, and Alive

Cancel The Transmission are on a mission. With a sound that channels the swagger of classic rock greats while injecting it with modern urgency, the band are building a reputation for big riffs, bigger choruses, and live shows that leave venues shaking. Since their debut in 2019—hailed as one of the top New Wave of Classic Rock albums—they’ve shared stages with heavyweights like Razorlight, Reef, and Phil Campbell, and are now setting their sights firmly on 2025 with new singles and even bigger ambitions.

I caught up with the band to talk balancing nostalgia with innovation, arena-ready anthems, lessons learned on the road, and their vision for the future of rock.

Cancel The Transmission aim to “reignite the fire of classic rock while pushing it into the modern age.” How do you strike that balance between old-school swagger and a fresh, contemporary edge?

 For us, it’s all about respecting where rock came from without being stuck in the past. We love the big riffs, the anthemic choruses, and the raw energy that defined bands like Aerosmith, AC/DC, and Guns N’ Roses—but we’re not trying to be a carbon copy. We bring in modern production, contemporary songwriting structures, and themes that hit home today. The swagger is timeless, but the edge comes from keeping it relevant and unapologetically our own.

Your singles “Light the Fire” and “Gotta Get Away” feel tailor-made for arenas—what was the creative process behind these tracks, and what do they reveal about where the band is headed in 2025?

 Both songs came from a place of wanting to capture that “arms in the air, sing it back to us” kind of moment. Light the Fire was about tapping into raw passion and urgency! A high energy song that had more taps into more of the Emo Rock vibe. Gotta Get Away is a song that builds and gains momentum. Has that anthemic chorus that you can scream at the top of your lungs! The message of needing to break free, which a lot of people relate to. In the studio, we focused on big hooks and grooves that would translate live. These tracks are a statement of intent: in 2025, we’re doubling down on being a band built for the stage, with music that fills a room and unites a crowd.

You’ve been praised for electrifying live shows and have shared stages with Razorlight, Reef, and Phil Campbell. What’s the most memorable moment from touring so far, and how has playing alongside those acts influenced your performances?

Honestly, stepping out to a packed crowd and seeing people singing our songs back at us will never get old—that’s the ultimate high. One standout was playing our first ever headline show! The energy in the room was unreal, and it pushed us to raise our game. Watching seasoned acts like Razorlight and Reef taught us a lot about pacing a set and controlling an audience. We’ve taken those lessons and combined them with our own fire, so every show feels like a proper event.

The band’s journey from your 2019 debut ranking #3 in the New Wave of Classic Rock albums to now has been impressive. What lessons or turning points have shaped your growth as a band over the past few years?

 The biggest lesson has been patience and persistence. When our debut landed so well, it gave us momentum and we were so proud of what we created! Typically lockdown happened not long after that which didn't allow us to tour or showcase our music live. It put the whole world on hold, but it also set a bar we had to live up to on our return. It taught us that "shit happens" and you've got to push through the setbacks. Sadly a lot of bands didn't stick together after this! A turning point was realizing that our strength lies in staying authentic and we really do love what we do. We’re not chasing trends; we’re building something that lasts. That mindset has shaped how we write, record, and perform.

With your mission to bring rock back “front and center,” what do you think today’s rock scene needs most, and how do Cancel The Transmission plan to deliver that energy to fans and the wider music world?

Rock needs a sense of danger and excitement again. Too much of it has become safe or niche. People want that larger-than-life feeling—the riffs that hit you in the chest, the lyrics that stick, and the shows that leave you buzzing. Our mission is to bring that back. It’s great to see artists like Yungblud flying the flag for rock and roll in his own way, proving the spirit is still alive! Maybe one day we'll share the stage with him. We want to be the band that gets kids picking up guitars again, that makes people feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves. And the way we’ll deliver it is simple: by writing killer songs and leaving absolutely everything on stage, every single night.