Toronto’s pop-punk powerhouse The Mendozaz have unleashed their most ambitious and hilarious work to date, the eight-song concept EP The Completely Fictional History of This Great Nation of Canada, out November 3 on Cartridge Heart. Fronted by guitarist-vocalist Jonny alongside Michael on vocals and bass and Dic on drums, The Mendozaz have carved their name into Toronto’s punk scene with relentless touring, wild live shows, and anthems built for gang shouts, beer spills, and grinning through the chaos. They’ve long been known for wrapping sharp hooks in self-aware humor, but on this record they go bigger, faster, and louder, with a clear mission to turn every basement, bar, and festival stage into a frenzy.
The EP is bookended by a pair of songs so preposterously profane that reinforcements were needed. Members of Joan Smith and the Jane Does and The Meringues were brought in to provide extra fuel for the f-bombs. All songs were written by The Mendozaz and recorded between This Place Needs A Name and Arc Recording Studio by Matt Gauthier (Handheld, Wasting Time), who also handled mixing and mastering. The result captures the reckless charm of their live show while pushing their storytelling and arrangements into sharper, stranger, and funnier territory.
The single “A Piercing Shriek of Death” sets the tone perfectly. “This was the first song written for this record,” says Jonny. “It’s based on a very-true Canadian legend that we made up about an expedition of ice fishers being eaten alive by a school of great white sharks near Hudson Bay. I had an old recording of an instrumental jam we did six or seven years ago that I really liked. I channeled my inner Serj and came up with something unlike anything we’ve ever done. When recording the demo our engineer almost fell out of his chair laughing during the blood curdling scream. He’s okay (I think). I needed to be authentic while channeling the plight of the victims of this totally-legit horrible tragedy. Thoughts and prayers.” It’s a mix of heavy riffs, absurd humor, and unflinching commitment that defines the EP as a whole.
Across its eight tracks, The Completely Fictional History of This Great Nation of Canada careens through tall tales, late-night disasters, and satirical spins on national folklore, all anchored by relentless drums, feral guitar energy, and choruses that land somewhere between beer-fueled camaraderie and cultural send-up. It’s the perfect fit for fans of Green Day, Descendents, Motorhead, Less Than Jake, Mad Caddies, and Ten Foot Pole, bands who understand that punk is supposed to be loud, fast, and fun.
The Mendozaz may not be actually rewriting history, but they’re certainly making their own mark on it. This record is a celebration of chaos, humor, and the uniquely Canadian way of laughing at yourself while playing louder than anyone else in the room. On November 3, they’ll prove once again why they’ve earned their reputation as one of Toronto’s most fearless and fun punk outfits.