Empire State Bastard, who recently announced their signing to Roadrunner Records, have shared their debut track “Harvest” which is available now on all streaming platforms and accompanied by a visualizer streaming on the band’s YouTube channel.
https://roadrunnerrecords.lnk.to/ESBHarvest
Photo Credit: Connor Cockbain
Led by Simon Neil (Biffy Clyro) and Mike Vennart (Biffy Clyro live guitarist and solo artist, ex-Oceansize), Empire State Bastard features the legendary Dave Lombardo (Slayer, Testament, Mr. Bungle) on drums, with Naomi Macleod (Bitch Falcon) rounding out the live line-up on bass.
Bursting with aggression, “Harvest” sees Vennart’s inventive, barbed riffs complementing Neil’s feral vocal attack, with Lombardo’s battering ram rhythms anchoring it all.
Commenting on the release, the band exclaimed, “Empires fall, States rise, Bastards sing…it’s Harvest time motherfuckers!”
“Harvest” features artwork from Radio 1 Rock Show host Daniel P. Carter [see below], who described the track as “a blistering noise / metal assault.”
The concept for Empire State Bastard emerged when Neil and Vennart would spend downtime on tour sitting at the back of their bus sharing the heaviest, most avant-garde and confrontational music they could find. Now, a decade on from its conception, the project is finally coming to fruition with Vennart writing the songs and recording all the guitars, and Neil focusing on vocals and lyrics.
The two have emerged with a collection of songs which adventurously probes slamming hardcore in the vein of Siege; the frenetic, visceral thrash of Slayer; the claustrophobic sludge of Melvins; the freeform vocal dexterity of Mike Patton; and the gargantuan stoner riffs of Sleep. It’s a band that’s rooted in the tradition of metal’s forefathers but informed by more recent waves of leftfield aggression.
Up next, Empire State Bastard are slated for a run of sold-out U.K. shows later this month with international festival sets confirmed for this Summer at Download Festival (June 9th), HellFest (June 18th), 2000trees (July 7th), ArcTanGent (July 17th), and Malakoff (July 21st). For tickets and more information on Empire State Bastard’s upcoming live dates, visit www.empirestatebastard.com.