July 2024: Break Like Waves
Break Like Waves is the seventh new single from The Conscience Pilate. Written by Edward Pond, the track explores modern paranoia and Cold War–era tension, inspired by Pond’s childhood on Canadian Air Force bases near nuclear missiles. Originally built around guitars and rhythm section, the song evolved into a cinematic slow-burn layered with synths and texture. With echoes of The Pretenders and Duran Duran, Break Like Waves blends images of surveillance with the spirited defiance of youth. Produced by Edward Pond. Engineered and mixed by John Dinsmore at Lincoln County Social Club. Vocals Neil Leyton. Guitars Michael “Mick” McKenzie and Stacy Stray. Bass, Keyboards and Vox Edward Pond. Drums and Rototoms Justin “Juice” Kadis.
March 2024: Little Things
Little Things is the sixth new single from The Conscience Pilate. Written by Edward Pond with Mick McKenzie. This is the first track we’ve included a number of demos leading up to the final version. Originally the song was taking a more traditional rock approach, but Edward took a left turn and added a tonne of keyboard and a 16th-note bassline to make this version. Produced by Edward Pond and Michael "Mick” McKenzie. Engineered and Mixed by Mick McKenzie at Red House Neil’s vocal captured at Canoa Studio Lisbon. Vocals Neil Leyton Guitars Michael “Mick” McKenzie and Stacy Stray Bass, Keyboards and Vox Edward Pond Drums Justin “Juice” Kadis
LIVE MUSIC ALERT: See TCP live at the Dakota Tavern March 21, 2023. Get your tickets at the link above. It’s our first show since 2016. Neil Leyton is back on vox. Juice Kadis is on drums. Stacy Stray and Mick McKenzie are on guitars. Pondy is on bass and we’re going to have a blast. Our pals Night Finger are playing too and you gotta see them. See you March 21st!
December 2023: Convincing kicks off this 7-song EP: a Kinks-inspired pop song about a starting a kitchen fire. And Blue Shadows returns with an alternative version produced by Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness — played in 4-4 time rather than the original 6-8, so you can pick your favourite.
Produced by Michael "Mick” McKenzie and Edward Pond. Engineered and Mixed by Mick McKenzie at Red House, except Track 3 Produced by Moe Berg and Engineered by Darren McGill at Union Sound Toronto and Track 7 captured at Canoa Studio Lisbon. Guitars Michael “Mick” McKenzie and Stacy Stray Drums Justin “Juice” Kadis Vocals Neil Leyton Bass and Vox Edward Pond. Written by Leyton/Pond except Track 5 by William Reid/Jim Reid.
October 2023: Hope with April Skies
Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Michael "Mick” McKenzie at Red House Music Mastered by Ryan Dahle at Mayne Island Sound. Guitars Michael “Mick” McKenzie and Stacy Stray Drums Justin “Juice” Kadis Vocals Neil Leyton Bass and BG Vox Edward Pond. Hope Written by Leyton/Pond, April Skies by William Reid and Jim Reid
September 2023: After the breakup comes the makeup. Blue Shadows is a rocker about understanding exactly how you blew it and hoping to put the pieces back together.
Blue Shadows Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Michael "Mick” McKenzie at Red House Music Mastered by Ryan Dahle at Mayne Island Sound. Guitars Michael “Mick” McKenzie and Stacy Stray Drums Justin “Juice” Kadis Vocals Neil Leyton Bass and BG Vox Edward Pond. Written by Leyton/Pond
August 2023: We call this our John Hughes song. Like it belongs on an 80s John Hughes soundtrack. We had that Keith Forsey (Pretty in Pink) vibe in mind arranging it and turned it up a few notches.
TCP alumnus Stacy Stray returns on guitar to power this track.
Bloom Produced, Engineered and Mixed by Michael "Mick” McKenzie at Red House Music Mastered by Ryan Dahle at Mayne Island Sound. Neil’s vocals recorded at RF Studio, Lisbon Guitars Michael “Mick” McKenzie and Stacy Stray Drums Justin “Juice” Kadis Vocals Neil Leyton Bass and BG Vox Edward Pond. Written by Leyton/Pond
July 2023: "Army of Devils" marks the return of Toronto indie art rockers The Conscience Pilate to new music. After a 25 year hiatus, Edward Pond and Neil Leyton decided to reunite and immediately wrote "Army of Devils" over a bottle of Rioja. The song title is ripped from the cover of a violent pulp-fiction action novel Edward owned as a kid.
Army Of Devils Produced by Moe Berg Engineered by Darren McGill at Union Sound Toronto ON Additional Engineering by Moe Berg and Michael "Mick” McKenzie Mixed by Robert Nation at EMAC Recorders Mastered by Robert Nation. Neil’s vocals recorded at RF Studio, Lisbon Guitars Michael “Mick” McKenzie Drums Justin “Juice” Kadis Vocals Neil Leyton Bass and BG Vox Edward Pond. Written by Leyton/Pond
TCP’s original 1996 record Living in a Movie Scene.
Produced by TCP Lead vocal and Guitar Neil Leyton Bass and Backing Vox Edward Pond Guitar Jeff Ogden Drums Joe Mohan Additional guitar Devin Stoneham Piano MJ Idzerda Recorded in Toronto at Studio 92 by Norm Barker. All songs (Leyton/Pond) except Lady Stardust (Bowie)
The Conscience Pilate Bio: 1995 to now
The Conscience Pilate play guitar-driven pop music that combines the energy of CBGB’s post-punk scene with the cinematic texture of ‘80s classic alternative.
The band began in Toronto in ’95 when songwriting duo Edward Pond and Neil Leyton finished university. Grunge dominated the moment, but they pushed back with a glam-forward, art-school band named after Bowie’s turn as Pontius Pilate — shuffled slightly and Syd-approved.
Between ’95–’96, TCP released a string of singles and the Living in a Movie Scene EP, helping to ignite the “Orange Alert” Toronto scene. The original lineup featured Jeff Ogden (guitar) and Joe Mohan (drums), both of whom departed in ’97, making way for Stacy Stray and Kevin Taylor.
Like many urgent rock projects, TCP flamed out after one album — but Pond and Leyton remained close. In 2022, they reconnected to finish what they started. That winter, two new songs were written in Montreal. Throughout 2023, they released a run of digital singles, beginning with Army of Devils and culminating in Break Like Waves. They returned to the stage with shows at the Dakota Tavern and the Horseshoe in Toronto, joined by Stacy Stray, Justin “Juice” Kadis on drums, and guitarist Mick McKenzie.
Now they’re working toward a new full-length album titled Visible Mending — a reflection of restoration, reconnection, and unfinished business. Leyton continues releasing solo work through Pond Inc. Music, while Pond records as Souvenirs, drawing on TCP’s extended creative family.
TCP 1997: Edward Pond, Stacy Stray, Neil Leyton, Kevin Taylor. Photo: Lisa Andaloro
Living In A Movie Scene CD rear cover, photo by Hans Lichtenberg. Jeff Ogden, Joe Mohan, Neil Leyton, Edward Pond.
TCP 1996 at Lee's Palace. Probably the Movie Scene CD release show: Jeff Ogden, Neil Leyton, Edward Pond. Photographer unknown (let us know if it's you!)
TCP c.1996: Jeff Ogden and Neil Leyton. Location and photographer unknown, but there's a TV behind with our album artwork on it
Edward and Neil in Paris after driving back from Popkomm in Koln
"Neil Looking Up" is "the first good photo I ever shot," says Edward who made the picture in photography school, outside Marshall Mcluhan's office near University of Toronto
Starving artists living off chocolate eclairs. Photo for the cover of RHIG magazine in 1996. Photo by Hans Lichtenberg
The reformed core of The Conscience Pilate: Edward Pond and Neil Leyton 2023
Neil Leyton and Edward Pond 2023
Neil Leyton and Edward Pond taking a break on a day of meetings and video shoots, 2023
Neil Leyton and Edward Pond, 2023
Neil Leyton and Edward Pond, 2023
Edward Pond at the TCP 2012 reunion gig
Edward Pond at a superchurch theatre in Vancouver
Edward Pond in the studio
Edward Pond and Neil Leyton in 2016
George Bettencourt tuning up for the TCP reunion gig in 2016
Neil Leyton at the TCP CD release party Feb 29, 1996. Photographer unknown. Let us know it's you
Edward visiting Lisbon in 2016
TCP v1: Jeff Ogden, Neil Leyton, Edward Pond, Joe Mohan
Arranging a TCP song prior to recording in 2023
