Biography
Empire State Bastard deliver an intense fusion of metal, screamo, and experimental rock that stands apart from the more accessible sounds of their main projects, Biffy Clyro and Oceansize. After a few early 2023 concerts and singles, the group released their first full-length effort, Rivers of Heresy, before the year ended.
Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil and Oceansize guitarist Mike Vennart first hatched the idea while on tour with Biffy, aiming to form a unit devoted to the most extreme grindcore imaginable. They settled on the name Empire State Bastard well before any songs existed. The COVID-19 pandemic later gave them unexpected downtime, prompting Vennart to begin composing and sending Neil tracks built around ferocious riffs and raw emotional turbulence. Neil supplied lyrics that confronted British politics and broader social conditions, delivered through harsh screams and growls. Once the bulk of the material was ready, they sought a drummer capable of matching the music’s ferocity and enlisted Slayer’s Dave Lombardo. Bitch Falcon’s Naomi Macleod joined on bass, and the quartet entered the studio to complete their debut album.
In early 2023 the band announced a series of small U.K. shows that sold out immediately, despite having released no music yet. The single “Harvest” surfaced in March, just days before their first performances. Three additional singles—“Stutter,” “The Looming,” and “Moi?”—preceded the September arrival of Rivers of Heresy. The four-piece then embarked on an extensive U.K. and European tour to support the record.
Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil and Oceansize guitarist Mike Vennart first hatched the idea while on tour with Biffy, aiming to form a unit devoted to the most extreme grindcore imaginable. They settled on the name Empire State Bastard well before any songs existed. The COVID-19 pandemic later gave them unexpected downtime, prompting Vennart to begin composing and sending Neil tracks built around ferocious riffs and raw emotional turbulence. Neil supplied lyrics that confronted British politics and broader social conditions, delivered through harsh screams and growls. Once the bulk of the material was ready, they sought a drummer capable of matching the music’s ferocity and enlisted Slayer’s Dave Lombardo. Bitch Falcon’s Naomi Macleod joined on bass, and the quartet entered the studio to complete their debut album.
In early 2023 the band announced a series of small U.K. shows that sold out immediately, despite having released no music yet. The single “Harvest” surfaced in March, just days before their first performances. Three additional singles—“Stutter,” “The Looming,” and “Moi?”—preceded the September arrival of Rivers of Heresy. The four-piece then embarked on an extensive U.K. and European tour to support the record.
Albums
Singles
Live
