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Empire State Bastard, the recently formed extreme-metal group featuring members of Biffy Clyro and veteran drummer Dave Lombardo, have announced their debut album Rivers of Heresy.

The LP unveil follows the release of the trio’s fiery debut single “Harvest” and a freshly inked deal with Roadrunner Records. The group includes Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil and Mike Vennart, alongside Lombardo and live bassist Naomi Macleod (Bitch Falcon).

As heard on “Harvest,” the band is far removed from Biffy Clyro and makes proper use of Lombardo’s virtuosity to create absurdly brutal music, inevitably reaching heavy metal’s furthest extreme: grindcore.

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

Added Neil, “Lyrically, it’s as misanthropic and nihilistic as I’ve ever written.”

The idea for Empire State Bastard was conceived over a...

Tom Dark has launched Darkside Media, a multifaceted media company which specialises in TV promotion and podcast production. Darkside Media represents a new chapter in the career of the award-winning music TV and podcast expert who rose through the ranks during a 19-year career at Warner Records to become the label’s Head of TV Promotions and Podcasting.

Tom Dark says, “I’m incredibly excited to announce the launch of Darkside Media. After nearly 2 decades in the Warner Music family, creating first-class TV and podcast campaigns, I’m looking forward to bringing my expertise to a whole new roster of artists and podcasters. Our mission is to deliver must-see and must-hear moments that elevate artists and engage audiences. From the instant impact of a TV performance to the intimacy of a long-form podcast chat, we are dedicated to telling stories and showcasing talent. Utilising unrivalled media relationships built over 19 years,...

After teasing a snippet of their debut single “Harvest” last week, Empire State Bastard have now unleashed the full track. The outfit features singer Simon Neil and touring guitarist Mike Vennart of the Scottish band Biffy Clyro, along with legendary thrash-metal drummer Dave Lombardo.

“Harvest” is a wonderfully chaotic track that ranges from extreme grindcore screams to Pixies-inspired spoken-word verses. It’s a helluva debut single, hopefully giving us a taste of what’s to come on a potential full-length album, with the band having inked a deal with Roadrunner Records.

With Biffy Clyro one of the most popular rock bands in the UK, Empire State Bastard have already sold out a run of upcoming shows in Glasgow (March 26th), Manchester (March 27th), and London (March 28th). They’re also set to play France’s massive Hellfest in June. Their touring lineup is rounded out by bassist Naomi Macleod (Bitch...

The newly formed outfit Empire State Bastard, featuring legendary metal drummer Dave Lombardo and members of the Scottish band Biffy Clyro, has signed to Roadrunner Records. Their debut single “Harvest” is set to drop on March 24th, and the group has shared teaser of the new track.

Empire State Bastard were founded by Biffy Clyro members Simon Neil and Mike Vennart and is self-described as a “grindcore extreme metal band.” Lombardo and bassist Naomi Macleod (Bitch Falcon) make up the rhythm section.

The snippet of “Harvest” is enough get the gist of what Empire State Bastard are about — namely, excessively harsh hardcore. Grinding riffs repeat in a circular spiral along with the blast-beat drumming, as Neil’s raspy unintelligible howls cut through the mix. On first impression, it sounds like music that requires serious chops — hence Lombardo’s involvement.

The idea for Empire State Bastard was conceived over a decade ago by Neil and Vennart,...

Metallica has released another trio of tracks from their upcoming The Metallica Blacklist, a tribute album celebrating the 30th anniversary of the band’s classic LP The Black Album. Biffy Clyro and Off! each take on “Holier Than Thou,” while the band has also released a version of that song recorded during pre-production rehearsals at Bayview Studios in Richmond, California, in 1990.

Scottish rock vets Biffy Clyro open their cover with indie-pop-channeling, shimmering synths before slicing guitars turn their version near-dystopic. Frontman Simon Neil replaces James Hetfield’s grunting snarls with layered,...

To mark the release of Balance, Not Symmetry, out now, we’ve been given 3 copies to give away on DVD.

Using a groundbreaking concept, Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil worked alongside director Jamie Adams to create Balance, Not Symmetry, a film and album of the same name, using both as inspiration for each other to create two wonderful works of art.

Laura Harrier plays Caitlin, an American student who must return to her studies at the Glasgow School of Art following the death her father. Leaving behind a grieving mother and supported by her fun-loving flatmate Hannah (Bria Vinaite), Caitlin struggles to navigate grief and inspiration.

With an end of year art project failing to come together, budding romance in the air, and a growing resentment towards her best friend, will Caitlin be able to find her voice through her art? The words of Scotland’s best loved rock band,...

Bria Vinaite again proves her star quality in this earnest coming-of-age film co-scripted by Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil

There are moments you may have to bite your lip very hard to stifle harrumphs of exasperation watching this drifty on-the-the-fly Glaswegian indie drama about a young woman grieving for her dad and struggling to finish her art-school graduation show. Written by director Jamie Adams in collaboration with Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil – whose band provides the soundtrack – the whole thing has the tentative, incomplete feel of an improv actors’ project.

BlacKkKlansman’s Laura Harrier gives a blank performance as Caitlin, an American-Scot who grew up in New York but is studying art in Glasgow. The film begins with her dad’s funeral, after which Caitlin hastily heads back to college where she shares a flat with her fun-loving best friend Hannah (luminous Bria Vinaite from The Florida Project). In the studio,...

New titles include ‘Balance, Not Symmetry’ and Emily Harris’ ‘Carmilla’.

The Edinburgh International Film Festival (Eiff) has launched its full programme with 18 world premieres, 12 international premieres, eight European premieres and 78 UK premieres for its 73rd edition of the festival (June 19-30).

Jamie Adams’ Balance, Not Symmetry, a drama about a Glasgow art student, which has a soundtrack written by Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro, will have its world premiere as the People’s Gala screening at the event. It stars Laura Harrier, Bria Vinaite and Lily Newmark. Biffy Cyro lead singer Simon Neil co-wrote the screenplay with Welsh writer-director Adams.

Freya Mavor, Tamsin Egerton, Kate Dickie also in cast.

Laura Harrier (BlacKkKlansman), Bria Vinaite (The Florida Project), and Lily Newmark (Pin Cushion) have all joined the cast of Jamie Adams’ Balance Not Symmetry, which the director is making with Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro.

As Screen revealed in Cannes, director Adams is working with Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil on the project, with the singer collaborating on the screenplay and writing original songs for the film. The soundtrack of original material, also titled Balance, Not Symmetry, will be released as a standalone Biffy Clyro ablum.

Also in the film’s...

Lead singer Simon Neil writes screenplay with director Jamie Adams; band to record new album for film.

Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro are teaming with Welsh writer-director Jamie Adams on Balance, Not Symmetry which is set to shoot in Glasgow in July.

The band have written and recorded a 12-track album of original material, also called Balance, Not Symmetry, which will be released towards the end of 2018. The band will also tour the album at the same time of the release of the film, which is set for Q1, 2019.

Balance, Not Symmetry is about a Us student studying at Glasgow School of Art...

Zane Lowe has defended his forthcoming BBC Radio 1 Drive soundtrack project.

The DJ has curated a new soundtrack for Ryan Gosling and Nicolas Winding Refn's cult hit, bringing in Chvrches, The 1975, Baauer, Banks, Bastille, Bring Me the Horizon, Eric Prydz, Jon Hopkins, Laura Mvula, The Neighbourhood and Zcc (Simon Neil) to create new music.

The re-scored film will be shown on BBC Three on October 30 at 10pm.

Despite backing from director Refn and the makers of the 2011 film, fans have taken to social media to voice their objection to replacing the likes of Kavinsky, College, Electric Youth and Chromatics from the original soundtrack.

"I've read some messages from people who are either confused or angry about #R1Drive. Its important to say no-one is trying to improve here," Lowe wrote on his Twitter page, adding that "the experiment comes from a place of respect".

"It is a parallel experience...