On November 16th, post-hardcore group Diamond Weapon will be at the Erben to celebrate the release of their new album, All Heart, No Sleeve. Arthur spoke to guitarist and vocalist, Louis Tenstos, about the band’s tour throughout Ontario, their history, and this new project.

Diamond Weapon is a group self-described as “weird”, and unafraid of it. The band is made up of Louis Tenstos and Stephen Maclean, on vocals and guitar, Marco Vani on bass, and Jason Bradfield on drums. On the formation of this group, Tenstos explains that himself and Vani were in a previous band together prior to the formation of Diamond Weapon. When that band “fizzled out”, Tenstos and Vani formed Diamond Weapon, recruiting Bradfield, who himself recruited Maclean. 

Tenstos explains that “there’s an interesting dynamic, because Jason and Steven were in a band before Diamond Weapon, and Marco and I were in a band before Diamond Weapon.” Where he recognizes that one could expect this history to lead to a “two versus two thing”, he asserts that “we just mesh together so well musically …we're very much on the same page.” 

All Heart, No Sleeve was largely written during the COVID-19 lockdown, a time when Diamond Weapon’s members took to learning how to produce their own music “A-Z”. This album is not only performed, but also entirely written and produced by its members.

Diamond Weapon’s music covers a variety of themes, Tenstos explaining that he often “gets in character,” using a spoken-word style enhanced by his dramatic arts background to better portray the emotions heard in tracks such as “The Aegean Sea.” 

He explains that “assuming a character and making it personal is what evokes emotion in the listener.” The band’s music shares “overarching themes,” Tenstos identifying “loneliness and depression.” He explains that Diamond Weapon seeks to create “music to help us through rough times.”

Tenstos expresses his excitement at getting to play all over the province, he says “this feels different than Toronto …[genres like Post-Hardcore and Midwest Emo] were born out of basements and playing community centers.” In this sense, Diamond Weapons’ touring smaller cities allows for the group’s authentic and successful iteration of post-hardcore to continue the traditions of the genre.

Diamond Weapon will be at Erben on November 16th, playing All Heart, No Sleeve. Tickets are available through Eventbrite.ca, and All Heart, No Sleeve is available on all streaming platforms.