ROADRUNNER
We always knew Simon Neil had a penchant for awkward noise, but no one was prepared for the sheer extreme metal viciousness of Empire State Bastard. The project was birthed through late-night chats on the Biffy Clyro tour bus between Simon and live guitarist Mike Vennart. Add Slayer legend Dave Lombardo on drums and the result was a suitably towering skyscraper of a debut album, falling somewhere between Converge and Fantômas but with its own unique flavours.