With a name influenced by Bladerunner, Empathy Test are already streets ahead in my eyes, but their new single ‘Monsters’ provides indelible proof that this is a remarkable band. Initially a duo, Empathy Test were established in London back in 2013 and have been prolific ever since. While personally new to the band, ‘Monsters’ is a blistering introduction.
With a bone-crunching pounding beat greater than a world class surfing beach, arctic synth riffs and celestial choruses ‘Monsters’ is big in every way. Redolent of eighties synth greats like Depeche Mode, The Beloved, Placebo or Gary Numan, there is such a stadium filling vibe it would be criminal if this band – simply on the strength of this song – didn’t go on to fulfil this destiny:
Labelled by the band as ‘an ode to anxiety’ – fitting emotions for the times – there is a dark undercurrent beneath the pulsating beat – captured by the yearning in the vocals. This is utterly thrilling music.
The single is the title track off the band’s forthcoming album and there is a back catalogue of material that I will certainly be diving into.
Empathy Test are:
Isaac Howlett (Vocals)
Adam Relf (Production)
Christina Lopez (Drums)
Oliver Marson (Synthesisers)
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