JON ELMALEH - CAMILO MARTINEZ - EITAN GARAZI

Based in Toronto, ON, alt-punk/post-hardcore four-piece Napoleon have been steadily carving out their place in the Canadian heavy music scene since forming in 2018. Praised by Alternative Press as one of “23 Canadian bands Shane Told knows will keep the scene alive,” and described as “heavy in an original fashion,” the band has earned a reputation for pairing raw aggression with emotional weight — both on record and, especially, on stage.

Following the groundwork laid by Dear God, Napoleon’s latest EP “Napoleon: Vol. 1” finds the band fully leaning into the metalcore and hardcore influences they had only begun to embrace before. Drawing inspiration from acts like Underoath, Counterparts, Misery Signals, Poison The Well, and The Bled, the new material pushes faster tempos, lower tunings, and more intense vocal performances, capturing a band very clearly leveling up. Recorded and produced by Scott Middleton (Cancer Bats) at his home studio, the project balances precision with urgency, preserving the chaos and immediacy that define Napoleon’s sound.

Lyrically, the project is grounded in lived experience and unfiltered observation. Songs like “No Victory” retell the band’s unsettling experience touring through Northern Ontario, while “Safehouse On Fire” confronts the disillusionment of discovering abuse by someone once trusted, ultimately centering accountability and the importance of safety and respect. “Feed With The Rats” turns its focus outward, taking aim at capitalism and the hollow promises of those in power — “while they feast like kings, we feed with rats.”

Known for their loud, sweaty, and overwhelming live shows, Napoleon have shared stages with acts such as Crown The Empire, Dead By April, Like Pacific, Capstan, Escape The Fate, Single Mothers, Fame On Fire, and more, and have appeared at festivals including NXNE, Canadian Music Week, and No Passage Fest. While their recordings capture the intensity, the band maintains that their music is best served live — where crowd connection, chaos, and catharsis collide.

With renewed momentum, sharpened songwriting, and a clear sense of purpose, Napoleon enter this next era louder, heavier, and more focused than ever.