After spending the past several months working with Ross Robinson (Korn, Slipknot), Evil Island — the new art-hardcore group from members of the Blood Brothers, OFF! and more — have unveiled the A-side from their forthcoming sold out 7-inch debut, “Tiger Baby.”
The song arrives following multiple teases on socials that Evil Island were starting a “death cult,” and the music video, directed by Patrick Lascu, follows a reality TV-type presentation where the members of Evil Island are hazing prospective members of the flock by dumping water on them and trying to get them to drink Kool Aid — this including the young members of another Robinson-backed act, teen punks XCOMM.
Sonically, the track does harken back to the Blood Brothers’ chaotically spikey, yet quixotically poppy twist on punk and hardcore, vocalist Johnny Whitney seething and sassing his way through lines about burying foes in rats. The song also features guest vocals from Upchuck vocalist Kaila “KT” Thompson, while the video also features cameos from Cursive leader Tim Kasher and more.
“We chose ‘Tiger Baby’ for the first single from our new record because it’s kind of like the everything bagel of songs from the session,” Whitney said in a statement. “It’s heavy and crazy and chaotic but also very catchy and hooky which is very much what the entire record sounds like all baked into one song.”
Evil Island unites three-fifths of the Blood Brothers — Whitney, guitarist Cody Votolato and drummer Mark Gajadhar — with former And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead and OFF! bassist Autry Fulbright. The band had been recording with Robinson for a five-month stretch before completing the upcoming 7-inch and an as-yet undetailed full-length debut. This likewise marks a reunion, seeing as Robinson had previously worked with the Bros. on their 2003 release, …Burn, Piano Island, Burn.
“This is a record I’ve wanted to make for way too long, ever since signing and producing the Blood Brothers’ …Burn, Piano Island, Burn,” Robinson said. “I feel Evil Island is the coolest fucking band on earth and dare anyone to step up to the unleashing fire these guys throw down — they’re the king of kings…I can’t believe we got to make this thing, it’s an artistic/emotionally violent dream come true for me!”
Evil Island’s upcoming, limited edition “Tiger Baby” 7-inch quickly sold out, but was pressed through Blowed Out Records, the label venture from Robinson, Ghostemane, and Bill Armstrong. Info on the LP is forthcoming.