Blind Witness

{{Short description|Canadian Metalcore band}} {{Use Canadian English|date=March 2022}} {{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}} {{For|the made-for-TV movie starring Victoria Principal|Blind Witness (film)}} {{refimprove|date=May 2015}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Blind Witness | image = Blindwitnesslive.jpg | caption = Blind Witness performing live in 2009 | origin = Granby, Quebec, Canada | genre = Deathcore, metalcore | years_active = 2005–2012, 2014–present | label = Torque, Mediaskare | website = | current_members = * Jonathan Cabana * Maxime Lacroix * Olivier Roy * David Duhamel * Sébastien Lalonde-Ricordi | past_members = * Samuel Langlois * Maxime Desroches * Kevin Desroches * Sonny Tremblay * Tim Burak * Pier-Luc Desroches * Mathieu Paquette * Miguel Lepage * Jon Campbell * Nicolas Doiron * Eric Morotti * Tommy Henderson * Patrick Woods * Francis Beaupre * Nicolas Cazzaro }}

'''Blind Witness''' is a Canadian deathcore band from Granby, Quebec. Formed in 2005, the group was signed to Mediaskare Records and released two full-length studio albums. The band broke up in 2012, but reformed in 2014.

== History ==

Blind Witness was founded in 2005, by vocalist Jonathan Cabana in Granby, Quebec along with friends guitarist Pier-Luc Desroches and drummer Kevin Desroches. They later added guitarist/vocalist Maxime Lacroix and bassist Miguel Lepage to the roster. In 2005, the band began performing in Montreal.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blind Witness biography |url=https://www.quebecpunkscene.net/blindwitness/ |website=Quebec Punk Scene |access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Blind Witness |url=https://www.metalkingdom.net/band/blind-witness-12915 |website=Metal Kingdom |access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref> In 2005, the band began performing in Montreal.<ref name="QPS">{{cite web |title=Blind Witness biography |url=https://www.quebecpunkscene.net/blindwitness/ |website=Quebec Punk Scene |access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref>

In 2007, the band was signed by Victory/Torque Records.<ref>{{cite web |title=Torque Recording Company discography |url=https://www.discogs.com/label/903366-Torque-Recording-Company |website=Discogs |access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Blind Witness biography |url=https://www.dirtyskunks.org/bandinfo/blindwitness.html |website=Dirty Skunks |access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref> Then in 2008, the band released their first full-length album: ''Silences Are Words''.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.metal-archives.com/albums/Blind_Witness/Silences_Are_Words/902517 | title=Blind Witness - Silences Are Words - Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives }}</ref>

While writing their follow up album, the group signed to Mediaskare Records and entered the studio to record ''Nightmare on Providence Street''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Blind Witness signs to Mediaskare Records |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/12229/blind-witness-signs-to-mediaskare-records/ |work=Lambgoat |date=March 26, 2009 |access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref> Released in 2010, the album was met with positive reviews, with Absolute Punk scoring it 84 percent and the reviewer stating that "metal core is one of the most hated genre's of metal. I believe that Blind Witness can prove that wrong to a lot of different metal fans."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1577341|title=Absolute Punk Cd Review|date=March 1, 2010|work=Runningfree1|publisher=Absolutepunk|accessdate=September 13, 2010}}</ref>

In September 2011 it was announced that John Campbell, Maxime Lacroix, Miguel Lepage and Eric Morotti left the band.<ref name="Lambgoat2011">{{cite news |title=Blind Witness loses majority of line-up |url=https://lambgoat.com/news/15134/blind-witness-loses-majority-of-line-up/ |work=Lambgoat |date=September 27, 2011 |access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref> A few days later Campbell posted, "The band is not broken up. Myself, Miguel, Max and Eric have quit. The band could very well continue with a new line-up. I'm sure something will be posted soon in regards to the continuation of the band, but for now, 4 of the 5 members have quit, and that's that."<ref name="Lambgoat2011" /> Cabana wrote, "I'll keep everyone posted soon! We toured a lot and need some time home! I started this band in my basement. I changed a LOT of members through the time! Me and Max are they only original members; Max doesn't want to tour anymore but he still wants to write the new record! Only the people who play live will change, not the music!"<ref name="Lambgoat2011" /> A few months later Eric Morotti rejoined the band, along with new guitarist, Olivier Roy, and bassist Francis Beaupré.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blind Witness – Line-up |url=https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Blind_Witness/3540477582 |access-date=October 4, 2025 |website=Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives}}</ref> Lacroix played his last show with the band in October but continued to write and record the band's next record.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blind Witness profile |url=https://www.spirit-of-metal.com/en/band/Blind_Witness |website=Spirit of Metal |access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref> Nicolas Doiron took the place as the second guitar player for the band.<ref name="MetallumLineup">{{cite web |title=Blind Witness – Line-up |url=https://www.metal-archives.com/bands/Blind_Witness/3540477582 |access-date=October 4, 2025 |website=Encyclopaedia Metallum: The Metal Archives}}</ref>

On February 10, 2012, the band confirmed that they were going into the studio to record their next album in May.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}} On May 25, 2012, they announced their break up.<ref>{{cite web |title=Blind Witness break up and last show announcement |url=https://www.nataliezworld.com/2012/07/blind-witness-break-up-and-last-show.html |website=NataliezWorld |date=July 4, 2012 |access-date=October 4, 2025}}</ref> They played their last show in Montreal, Quebec, Canada on August 12 at the Heavy Montréal 2012 festival.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heavy MTL 2012 Setlists |url=https://www.setlist.fm/festival/2012/heavy-mtl-2012-13d6a985.html |access-date=2025-10-04 |website=setlist.fm |language=en}}</ref>

In 2014, the band reformed and confirmed that they would be recording and releasing their next album ''I Am Hell''. In June 2015, the band released a five-song EP of that name.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lacroix |first1=Maxime |title=Blind Witness " I Am Hell " Official Video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqvUX3YNQL8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/eqvUX3YNQL8 |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|website=youtube.com |publisher=YouTube |access-date=August 31, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Band members == '''Current''' * Jonathan Cabana – lead vocals (2005–2012, 2014–present) * Maxime Lacroix – lead guitar, backing vocals (2005–2011, 2014–present), studio songwriting (2010-2012) * Olivier Roy – rhythm guitar (2014–present), lead guitar (2011–2012) * David Duhamel – bass (2024–present) * Sébastien Lalonde-Ricordi – drums (2024–present)

'''Former''' {{div col|colwidth=30em}} * Samuel Langlois – guitar (2005) * Maxime Desroches – bass (2005) * Kevin Desroches – drums (2005–2008) * Nicolas Cazzaro – bass (2006–2007) * Sonny Tremblay – drums (2008) * Tim Burak – drums (2008) * Pier-Luc Desroches – guitar (2005–2009) * Mathieu Paquette – guitar (2009, died in 2011) * Miguel Lepage – bass (2007–2011) * John Campbell – guitar (2009–2011) * Nicolas Doiron – guitar (2011-2012) * Eric Morotti – drums (2009–2012, 2014–2019) * Tommy Henderson – drums (2019–2020) * Patrick Woods – drums (2020) * Francis Beaupré – bass (2011–2020)

'''Timeline''' {{#tag:timeline| ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:18 PlotArea = left:110 bottom:80 top:0 right:5 Alignbars = justify DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy Period = from:01/01/2005 till:12/02/2021 # it is best not to use auto-updating timelines as it can cause problems when the graphic updates on a daily basis TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:2005 ScaleMajor = increment:2 start:2005 Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4

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== Discography == '''Studio albums''' * ''Silences Are Words'' (Torque Records, 2008) * ''Nightmare on Providence Street'' (Mediaskare, 2010)

'''EPs''' * ''Means/Blind Witness - Split EP'' (Torque Records, 2007) * ''I Am Hell'' (independent, 2015)

'''Videography''' * ''Confessions'' (2006)<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkQpWW9QE84 |title=Blind Witness " Confessions " |date=2006-10-29 |last=OfficialBlindWitness |access-date=2026-01-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref> * ''Bleeding Blades'' (2007)<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://youtube.com/JsKx1Ky0ED4?si=tj3L2ok6WWkbK7EU |title=BLEEDING BLADES - Blind Witness |date=2007-12-20 |last=kgaleshxc |access-date=2026-01-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref> * ''Baby One More Notch'' (2009)<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://youtube.com/uIwCfMUrEcE?si=Mi7W1BcbEWj3-J46 |title=Blind Witness - "Baby One More Notch" BW Music |date=2012-02-08 |last=BlankTV |access-date=2026-01-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref> * ''I Am Hell'' (2015)<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://youtube.com/eqvUX3YNQL8?si=HBHoMjZE4N4v0mAS |title=Blind Witness " Official Video " Official Video |date=2016-02-09 |last=Maxime Lacroix |access-date=2026-01-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref> * ''Force Fed'' (2020)<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://youtube.com/CvJAthPG0vI?si=1mRR3yDYak-P75Tn |title=Blind Witness - Force Fed ( OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO ) |date=2020-02-21 |last=Slam Disques / Hell for Breakfast |access-date=2026-01-22 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Allmusic |id=mn0000947645 |label=Blind Witness}} * {{Facebook |blindwitness101|Blind Witness}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Blind Witness}} Category:Canadian metalcore musical groups Category:Mediaskare Records artists Category:Musical groups established in 2005 Category:English-language musical groups from Quebec Category:Granby, Quebec Category:Canadian musical quintets Category:Canadian deathcore musical groups