EMPIRE STATE BASTARD
Rivers Of Heresy (Roadrunner)
With a name as visceral as Empire State Bastard, it’s no surprise that the band’s debut album is like a sledgehammer to the aural senses. Comprising Biffy Clyro’s Simon Neil, former Oceansize man (and Biffy touring guitarist) Mike Vennart, the ever-brilliant Dave Lombardo – best known as a Slayer member – on drums and bassist Naomi Macleod of Bitch Falcon, from the first note of Harvest it’s clear Rivers Of Heresy is very much not the radio-friendly rock anthems Neil has become known for writing. And that is a very good thing indeed.
The album is very much a passion project for both Neil and Vennart, with some filthy and vile riffs punching straight to break some noses out of nowhere – Blusher an especially disgusting example of this – while the almost hypnotic Sons And Daughters is one of the record’s finest moments. Rivers Of Heresy maybe niche for those more used to Biffy, but bloody hell it’s good.
words JOSHUA WILLIAMS