Empire State Bastard Unveil Their Debut Album Rivers of Heresy, Due Out Sept. 1

It’s been roughly a month since we last heard from Empire State Bastard, the extreme metal brainchild of Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil and Mike Vennart, but they’re back and they’ve returned with details on their debut release, Rivers of Heresy.

Having only recently signed to Roadrunner Records after recruiting ex-Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo to get behind the kit and Bitch Falcon’s Naomi Macleod to handle bass duties, Empire State Bastard will put out their first record on September 1.

According to both Vennart and Neil, the band originally came to be while touring with Biffy Clyro roughly a decade ago. While hanging out on the tour bus, the duo would share weird and avant-garde music with each other, eventually deciding to make some of their own.

Vennart said the entire point of Empire State Bastard and their opening salvo of new music was to be as loud and offensive to the senses as possible while still finding a niche audience.

“I set about making the most fucking poisonous vile music I possibly could, just unabridged hatred in musical form.”

Likewise, Simon said the band and its music was “as misanthropic and nihilistic” as he could possibly make it.

According to the band, the concept behind the 10 completed tracks was to draw on influences by “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” into one single package.

You can check out the first single below, as well as the track list and album cover of Rivers of Heresy, which is available to pre-save or pre-order today.

Empire State Bastard, Rivers of Heresy tracklist:
1. Harvest
2. Blusher
3. Moi?
4. Tired, Aye?
5. Sons and Daughters
6. Stutter
7. Palms of Hands
8. Dusty
9. Sold!
10. The Looming