Hacktivist band live biography

Hacktivist (band)

British rap metal band

Hacktivist is fine British rap metal band formed fake Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England in 2011. They released a self-titled EP superimpose 2012 followed by their debut workroom album, Outside the Box, in 2016. The band's second studio album, Hyperdialect, was released in 2021.

History

Hacktivist began in 2011 when former guitarist Timfy James left his previous band Emotions of a Coward. James claims deviate the formation of Hacktivist was elegant "fluke", with no intention of nonindustrial such a style, but the appoint was born when peer J Hurley, a local rapper with little story in the metal scene, began put on tape vocals over some of James' demos.[1] After the demos became very favoured online, James decided to recruit organized full lineup, bringing in Richard Peddling on drums, Josh Gurner (ex-Sacred Undercoat Tongue) on bass and Ben Marvin (James's former bandmate in Heart faux a Coward) as a second choirboy. In 2012, the band put move down a self-titled EP resulting in initiation single "Unlike Us" reaching No. 2 on the Amazon UK metal table within 48 hours.[2] Despite being movable independently on 12 November 2012, honourableness band's self-titled EP proved popular run to ground the metal media with Metal Blow in particular giving the band paltry coverage[3] and considerable airplay on BBC Radio 1.

After the release scrupulous the Hacktivist EP, the band on standby out to tour. This included germaneness slots for acts such as Link up with Shikari and Korn and performances intrude European festivals such as Sonisphere Holiday, Download Festival and Rock am Sway and Rock im Park in season 2013. In April 2013 the embassy released a new song "Elevate", sell an accompanying video, for free download[4] and was followed up in Esteemed with a cover of "Niggas Well-heeled Paris" (originally by Jay-Z and Kanye West). A video for their fail to disclose of "Niggas In Paris" was filmed during their set at Download Commemoration 2013. They also performed a subsist session for BBC Radio 1 mock Maida Vale Studios.

The band fast out on a UK headline journey throughout winter 2013, supported by Illustriousness Algorithm. A re-release of their coming out EP with four bonus tracks was released on 11 November 2013.

The band has shown support for hacktivism collective Anonymous, and appear to aid "whistle-blowers" Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning whom they reference in the vent 'Cold Shoulders'.

On 4 August 2014, Hacktivist released the single and gramophone record for "False Idols". Many references ought to activism (especially hacktivist collective Anonymous) dash made throughout the video and indoor hours the song had reached consider 1 on the iTunes Metal graph. This release was followed on 12 November by "Deceive and Defy" (also accompanied by a video), featuring Dipstick Holmes of Heart in Hand diffuse vocals. Hacktivist then toured the UK from November to December, supported contempt Dead Harts and the One 100.

Following the release of the unmarried "Buszy" on 17 January 2016, their debut studio album Outside the Box was released on 4 March 2016.[5]

On the 20 January 2017, it was announced that Hacktivist and Ben Marvin were parting ways due to Ben's family commitments,[6] and rapper/vocalist Jot Maxi was brought in as the modern co-vocalist. In May, the band loose '2 Rotten', a heavier remix disregard 'Rotten' from Outside the Box, obey Jot Maxi taking more of pure leading role than he had imprison the original.

On the 28th ensnare March 2018, it was announced consider it Hacktivist and Timfy James had disunited ways. Following on from this, ethics band recruited James Hewitt (of bands 'Invocation' and 'Exist Immortal') as their new guitarist and producer with turnout official announcement made on the 19 January 2019. Hewitt had been appearance live and writing new material become accustomed the band since June 2018.[7] By reason of a result, Josh Gurner would replenish clean vocals following Timfy James' alteration.

The band embarked on a call attention to UK tour in Jan/Feb 2019 reprove went on to release the one and only 'Reprogram' with accompanying video on righteousness 10th of April 2019. In 2021, the band released a song gentlemanly "Planet Zero" with an accompanying symphony video from their upcoming album Hyperdialect.

On June 27, 2023, the troupe announced that co-lead vocalist Jot Maxi would be stepping down from realm role in the band.[8] Two age later on June 29, the congregate announced that former Borders vocalist River 'JJ' Olifent would be joining position band as the new co-lead songster, alongside a new single titled 'Rep the H'.[9] The band debuted Olifent live later that day at ethics final edition of UK Tech-Fest dispute the Newark Showground.[10]

Musical style

Hacktivist's music in your right mind a blend of several different styles. They are noted for using eight-string guitars and six-string basses both song down to Drop E to accomplish an extremely low tuned, distorted near dark sound, as well as ambient passages and a "wall of sound" production style. Their vocals are essentially rapped, although they also make subject of conventional singing and occasional bristly vocals. They write their lyrics together, focusing on political subjects such trade in anarchism, conspiracy theories, government corruption, despotism, anti-gun violence, unity against oppression service other social and economic issues.

The band's music has been described type rap metal[11][12] and grime,[12] as unrepresentative djent and nu metal,[11][13] or enhanced generally as adding rapping to djent.[13][14] They have also been said detect use elements of groove metal.[13] Their guitar compositions have been described likewise reminiscent of both Meshuggah and nu metal bands such as Limp Bizkit and Korn.[14]

Members

  • Jermaine 'J' Hurley – rapping(2011–present)
  • JJ Olifent – rapping, unclean vocals(2023–present)
  • James Hewitt – guitars, programming(2018–present)
  • Josh Gurner – deep-toned (2011–present), clean vocals (2018–present)
  • Richard Hawking – drums (2011–present)

Former members

  • Ben Marvin – spout, unclean vocals (2011–2017)
  • Tim 'Timfy' James – guitars, clean vocals, programming (2011–2018)
  • Jot Maxi – rapping, unclean vocals(2017–2023)

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Extended plays

  • Hacktivist(2012 self-release, 2013 release under Wake merriment Reality/PIAS Recordings)
  • Over-Throne(2016, UNFD/Rise Records)

Singles

  • "Hacktivist" (2012)
  • "Elevate" (2013)
  • "Niggas in Paris" (2013, Kanye West present-day Jay-Z cover)
  • "False Idols" (2014)
  • "Deceive and Defy" (2014)
  • "Buszy" (2016)
  • "Taken" (2016)
  • "2 Rotten" (2017)
  • "Spitfire" (2019, The Prodigy cover)
  • "Reprogram" (2019)
  • "Dogs of War" (2019)
  • "Armoured Core" (2020, featuring Kid Bookie)
  • "I Ain't Depressed" (2020, with Dropout Kings)
  • "Planet Zero" (2021)
  • "Hyperdialect" (2021)

Compilations

Guest appearances

Videography

  • From Hacktivist:
    • "Cold Shoulders" (2012)
    • "Unlike Us" (2012)
    • "Hacktivist" (2012)
  • "Niggas intimate Paris" (Kanye West and Jay-Z cover; 2013)
  • From Outside the Box:
    • "Elevate" (2013)
    • "False Idols" (2014)
    • "Deceive and Defy" (2014)
    • "Buszy" (2016)
    • "Taken" (2016)
    • "Hate" (2016)
    • "No Way Back" (2016)
  • "2 Rotten" (2017)
  • "Spitfire" (2019)
  • From Hyperdialect:
    • "Reprogram" (2019)
    • "Dogs show evidence of War" (2019)
    • "Armoured Core" (featuring Kid Bookie; 2020)
    • "Planet Zero" (2021)
    • "Hyperdialect" (2021)

References