Matt Cory Wins Rock Band of the Year at the 2025 Manitoba Loud Music Awards

We’re beyond excited to share that Matt Cory took home Rock Band of the Year at the 2025 Manitoba Loud Music Awards, held at The Met in Winnipeg!

This night was unforgettable — the energy, the people, the celebration of loud, unapologetic music in Manitoba. To be recognized among so many incredible bands means the world to us.

A huge thank-you goes out to our fans, friends, and everyone who voted and came out to the shows this year. Your support is what keeps this dream alive.

We also want to give love to our brother Dane Neufeld and his partner Kendra Martinussen, who made the trip from Calgary to be there with us. Dane recorded the album and played a ton of shows with us this summer, so it was amazing to have him there for this win.

We couldn’t be prouder of what this band has built, and this award feels like a massive step forward.

Here’s to more music, more shows, and keeping the volume up.

– Matt Cory

Show Announcement:

Matt Cory & Leddwyn: One Night Only

Get ready for a night of raw, heavy-hitting rock at The 40 in Brandon, MB. Matt Cory brings the fire with an electric set packed full of hard rock anthems from Hollow Sun and beyond — songs built on grit, massive riffs, and that signature MC energy.

Joining the bill is Leddwyn, delivering their unique brand of grunge-inspired rock straight from Manitoba’s Interlakes. Together, this lineup bridges the best of modern hard rock with the spirit of the 90s.

Matt Cory Plants His Flag with Defiant New Single “Die on This Hill”

Canadian rocker Matt Cory is charging forward with a fierce statement of identity and grit in his upcoming single “Die on This Hill,” dropping July 18 on all streaming platforms. Raw, unflinching, and fueled by the weight of lived experience, this track isn’t just another addition to Cory’s catalog—it’s a battle cry.

Built on thick riffs, pounding drums, and a gripping vocal delivery, “Die on This Hill” showcases Cory’s full-band energy in peak form. With every verse, you can feel the tension and the release: a soul standing against the storm, unafraid to bleed for what matters.

Lyrically, the song hits like a declaration of war against conformity, doubt, and external pressure. The opening lines—“Smoke rolls in, settles in my lungs / Weight of the world sittin’ on my tongue”—set the stage for a personal and universal anthem about conviction and self-possession. Whether it’s judgmental voices in the crowd or inner demons clawing at the edges, Cory makes one thing clear: he won’t be moved.

“I wanted this song to sound like what it feels like to stand your ground when everything’s trying to shake you,” says Cory. “It’s about knowing exactly who you are and refusing to apologize for it.”

The chorus drives it home with lines that will no doubt become a fan chant at live shows:

“This is my ground, my blood, my will… I’ll die on this hill.”

It’s not just catchy—it’s defiant. Anthemic. A statement of purpose.

The bridge strips the mask off false personas with sharp, concise venom:

“Wear a new face / Talk a big game / All that you are / Nothing but shame.”

No filler, just fire.

Sonically, “Die on This Hill” blends 90s grunge grit with modern rock muscle. There’s a clear nod to the raw intensity of bands like Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, while maintaining the melodic sensibility and storytelling that has become a signature of Cory’s songwriting.

Perhaps most exciting for long-time fans is that “Die on This Hill” is a full-band effort—each member bringing their unique touch to the arrangement. The result is a unified sound that amplifies the song’s theme: standing together, unshaken.

In a world of curated identities and constant noise, Matt Cory’s latest single cuts through like a scream in the silence. “Die on This Hill” isn’t about being right—it’s about being real.

Out July 18 on all streaming platforms.