Rivers of Heresy
| Rivers of Heresy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Studio album by | |
| Released | 1 September 2023 |
| Studio |
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| Genre | Alternative metal, Extreme metal, Metalcore, Hardcore Punk[1] |
| Length | 35:22 |
| Label | Roadrunner |
| Producer |
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| Singles from Rivers of Heresy | |
| |
Rivers of Heresy is the debut album by British duo Empire State Bastard, consisting of Simon Neil of Biffy Clyro and Mike Vennart of Oceansize, released on 1 September 2023 through Roadrunner Records. The album also includes Dave Lombardo on drums.[2]
Background[edit]
Vennart stated that his approach was to "mak[e] the most fucking poisonous vile music [he] possibly could, just unabridged hatred in musical form", while Simon Neil called it "lyrically [...] as misanthropic and nihilistic as [he's] ever written".[3] The project was initially stated to be a grindcore project, with a writer for Metal Injection finding the final result to be of varying styles of heavy metal instead.[4]
Critical reception[edit]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 69/100[2] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Kerrang! | 4/5[5] |
| The Line of Best Fit | 7/10[6] |
| Mojo |   [7] |
| NME | [8] |
| The Skinny | [9] |
Rivers of Heresy received a score of 69 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on five critics' reviews, indicating "generally favorable" reception.[2] Mojo wrote that "Empire State Bastard make you feel like you've been in a cage fight with Mike Tyson".[7] James Hickie of Kerrang! remarked that the album "manages to surprise by bringing out lesser seen sides of its creators", as Vennart "has long showcased a songwriter of craftsmanship and nuance, so it's startling to hear him being so unremittingly brash here. As it is to find Simon, no stranger to moments of righteous indignation in Biffy, letting rip in larger, scarier increments".[5]
Andrew Trendell of NME thought the album "too hard for most Biffy fans and not pure enough for many Slayer faithful, but it's its own wonderfully weird wee beast. These are the sharper edges that Neil let out on Biffy's earlier work, but elevated that the pure ultraviolence of Vennart's songwriting and madcap riffery".[8] The Line of Best Fit's Elliot Burr stated that "the mathy and shouty post-hardcore of Neil's early noughties output turns its intentionally ugly head once again on the aptly dubbed Rivers of Heresy", which "flourishes when it veers into heady atmospherics".[6] Joe Goggins of The Skinny described it as "punishingly loud, often furiously paced, and has Neil vocally channeling Chino Moreno as he flits between screaming and singing. When it works, it's thrilling, especially on the moody 'Moi' and the mercurial, atmospheric 'Sons and Daughters'".[9]
Track listing[edit]
Lyrics by Simon Neil, published by Concord Music Publishing. Riffs by Mike Vennart, published by Ornamental Songs.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Harvest" | 2:50 |
| 2. | "Blusher" | 2:44 |
| 3. | "Moi?" | 4:23 |
| 4. | "Tired, Aye?" | 2:43 |
| 5. | "Sons and Daughters" | 5:37 |
| 6. | "Stutter" | 2:20 |
| 7. | "Palms of Hands" | 2:24 |
| 8. | "Dusty" | 2:13 |
| 9. | "Sold!" | 3:29 |
| 10. | "The Looming" | 6:39 |
| Total length: | 35:22 | |
Personnel[edit]
Musicians
- Simon Neil – vocals, additional guitars, keyboards
- Mike Vennart – guitars, bass
- Dave Lombardo – drums
Technical
- Mike Vennart – production
- Simon Neil – production
- Adam Noble – production, engineering, mixing
- Dave Lombardo – drum production, engineering
- Tom Peters – engineering recording
- Paula Lombardo – assistant engineering on drums
- Steve Durose – additional drum edit
- Frank Arkwright – mastering
Locations
- Recorded at Infinity Land Studios, Scotland, Trap Door Studios, Liverpool & Ritmo Studio, California
- Mastered at Abbey Road Studios, London
Artwork
- Daniel P. Carter – cover artwork
- Andy Pritchard – art direction & design
- Jessica Wild – logo
Charts[edit]
| Chart (2023) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[10] | 69 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC)[11] | 3 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[12] | 46 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[13] | 3 |
References[edit]
- ^ "Simon Neil's ESB announce debut album Rivers of Heresy out September 1st on Roadrunner Records". Rock 'n' Load. June 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
Sprawling across the alt-metal landscape...
- ^ a b c "Rivers of Heresy by Empire State Bastard Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "Empire State Bastard (Biffy Clyro, Ex-Slayer, Etc.) To Release Debut Album Rivers of Heresy In September". ThePRP. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ Kennelly, Greg (25 July 2023). "Empire State Bastard (Biffy Clyro, Ex-Slayer) Streams Slower New Single 'The Looming'". Metal Injection. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ a b Hickie, James (31 August 2023). "Album review: Empire State Bastard – Rivers of Heresy". Kerrang!. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ a b Burr, Elliot (29 August 2023). "Empire State Bastard: Rivers of Heresy Review – evil never sounded so fun". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ a b "Empire State Bastard – Rivers of Heresy". Mojo. October 2023. p. 82.
- ^ a b Trendell, Andrew (31 August 2023). "Empire State Bastard – Rivers of Heresy review: wonderfully weird ultraviolence from Biffy spin-off". NME. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ a b Goggins, Joe (30 August 2023). "Empire State Bastard – Rivers of Heresy". The Skinny. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Empire State Bastard – Rivers of Heresy" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 September 2023.