CKXU at Sled Island 2026: Day 2

Day 2 of Sled Island is in the books! We saw a bunch of great bands including but not limited to, ENTWINE, Radioactive Vampire Teeth, Witch Victim, and the night’s headliner Flooding. Saskatoon’s best heavy act Yarbo played at the Loophole on a bill with Lethbridge’s only band that features Ewi, NON ULTRAS; that gig was headlined by experimental rock outfit, cute. The CKXU team headed for a quick bite of pizza then boogied on down to the BLOX to catch an all-time Sled Island attraction: Radioactive Vampire Teeth.

ENTWINE: MUSIC FOR BIONICLE FANS. 

Composed of members from various heavy-projects, Entwine describes themselves as a love letter “a love letter to ‘90s mathcore/metalcore and Y2K-era media.” Opening up on a mixed bill at Sloth Records managed to bring scary riffs through a Fender Hot Rod. Seeing bands like Entwine at Sled is always interesting to see how the crowd will react. As someone who actively goes to HC shows in Calgary and Lethbridge this isn’t new territory but for people sticking around to watch Sick Puppy it might be? People were moving, riffs were heavy, bionicles mentioned, good times had by all.

Radioactive Vampire Teeth (RVT) – noise rock and performance art 

Twas the second day at Sled Island and all through the day was calm until we went to see our first show of the day, Radioactive Vampire Teeth. Before heading over to the BLOX Art Center I only had two pieces of knowledge on this duo. First, their post show interview energy is off the charts in the best way possible. Secondly, their incorporation of food in their show at last year’s Sled was something I’m sure no one would believe without seeing it themselves. On stage sits Matthew, drummer and vocals, using a toy voice changer mega phone that was hooked up to the board. PJ was set up on the side with too many instruments and gadgets, the most id ever seen for a two person band, let alone one person playing it. I’m talking minilab keyboards, synthesizers, a toy electric guitar and chicken feet? To top it all off, these guys were giving away free tattoos during the duration of their show. This entire show off the get go was a sight to behold and the music hadn’t even started yet. Off rip they break the news that they are breaking up and this is the last show ever! How devastating yet so candid; it was great. The feel of their music was so chaotic and intense in the best way possible. I had the biggest smile, I mean it truly gave me the energy to start moving around. Within the set we’d get “appreciation songs” for an old Sled sponsor, ConnectFirst and it was one of the best things within the set. I mean the unseriousness of at all yet the dedication and focus on both musicians faces really was the cherry on top. After the show I had the best time speaking with Radioactive Vampire Teeth and I want to share my favourite part of it all. Simply put, these guys are basically noise rock. When I asked them how they would describe their own genre without using traditional genre terms they said, and I quote, “squelchy radioactive bubbling sludge sounds with volcanic rocks falling into it, divided by 13 plus 42 with a side of orange juice and eggs.”. This was easily the craziest Sled show and I HIGHLY recommend you see them play if you ever get a chance. 

Witch Victim – the night i became a victim to the witch 

After the unique experience that was RVT it was time to fall back into comfort and lullabies with the beauty that is Witch Victim at the Palomino. This was my third time seeing this lovely group perform and it was just as magical as the last. If you enjoy any kind of slower indie shoegazey music you will fall in love with these guys the way I did. Hann and Dan, both on vocals and guitar for the band, were such joys to interview, I felt like such a fan girl. The enthusiasm and love for what they do was radiating off of them. This show was deemed the tear jerker of the night because of how intimate the vocals and guitar blend together. The intense drums give the music an adrenaline rush while you listen to some of the smoothest and softest whispering voices touch your soul. Please please please listen to “Horizon” and “I’m alright, I’m just a little tired”. It is the most soul shifting music that could bless your ears today, tomorrow and yesterday.

FLOODING: SLOWCORE, MELANCHOLIC, NIGHTMARE-GAZE TYPE ISH

Mazzy Star-esque siren-like vocals with brooding distorted guitars creating a dissonant wall of sound that craves resolve. Throughout this set the Flooding kept us intrigued with a post-rock sensibility hovering between loud and quiet with epic cresendos and melancholic quiet slow parts. What Slint achieved via composition and structure, Flooding pursues with intense dynamic range substituting odd-time for feedback.