HACKTIVIST are a five piece from Buckinghamshire, UK. Fusing the groove, attitude and brutality of metal, grime, hardcore and hip-hop to create their sound, the band have excited and divided audiences across the UK in equal measure.
Hacktivist was born from a studio jam between guitarist / producer Timfy James and MC J Hurley in late 2011, with vocalist Ben Marvin added to the mix soon after. The resulting 'duel-vocal barrage over low-tuned heavy riffs' was the genesis of the band's sound, and its line-up was complete when bassist Josh Gurner and drummer Rich Hawking joined the band in early 2012.
By January 2012, Hacktivist had written & recorded - and filmed & edited their own video for - the track 'Cold Shoulders'. Within one week of posting on Youtube, it had gained over 100k views. Over the following months, demand grew as word spread worldwide, so when the band dropped their second video 'Unlike Us' in July 2013, it was time for the whole rock world to take notice. As well as becoming a firm fan favourite, 'Unlike Us' received radio support from BBC Radio 1, XFM and Kerrang! Radio, receiving numerous plays on their respective rock shows, and with Scuzz TV and Kerrang! TV picking up the video for TV viewers.
Following a selection of one-off shows and small festivals throughout the summer and autumn, Hacktivist embarked on a short tour of the UK in November 2012 to coincide with the release of the band’s debut self-titled EP. The UK media highly praised the release, gaining the band support from Metal Hammer, Total Guitar, Rock Sound and Kerrang!, but also reaching beyond the “rock” world to hip-hop title Insomniac and broadsheet The Guardian. Early 2013 saw the band hole up in their home studio to bang their heads together for some new material. 'Elevate' was the first track to surface from the sessions. Once again self produced, and with a video filmed, directed and edited by the band, the track was put up for free download via their website at the start of April, co coincide with a month+ tour as main support for Enter Shikari across the UK and Ireland.'Elevate' quickly became highlight of the band's live set, and even had Shikari frontman Rou Reynolds take on guest vocal duties when the mood struck him.Summer 2013 sees the band abuse the European festival circuit for the first time, taking in trips to Spain, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium, including Main Stage slots at Sonisphere France and Rock Am Ring / Im Park in Germany, plus the band's first appearances at the UK's Download (Hacktivist also join Limp Bizkit for their Download warm-up show in Glasgow the night prior to both bands' festival slots) and T In The Park festivals.
The band recently released a video for their 'live-favourite' cover of Jay-Z & Kanye West's 'Ni**as In Paris' purely for the fun of it.Writing and demoing for Hacktivist's debut full length release will continue throughout the summer, and the band will undertake their first major headline UK tour in the autumn of 2013, and the band take their first trip to Russia at the end of October for headline shows in Moscow and St Petersburg.
Don’t expect Hacktivist to slow down anytime soon!
