Matt Pike announces debut solo album ‘Pike Vs The Automaton’
MATT PIKE has announced his debut solo album!
Titled Pike Vs The Automaton, the upcoming album from the SLEEP guitarist and HIGH ON FIRE frontman is his debut solo album and is scheduled to be released in February next year, via MNRK Heavy.
The record was written by Pike with drummer Jon Reid and was recorded with longtime conspirator Billy Anderson, the producer who brought the best out of Pike previously on touchstone titles such as Surrounded by Thieves and SLEEP’s Holy Mountain. The upcoming solo album also features a host of special guests, including include Alyssa Maucere-Pike [LORD DYING/GRIGAX], Chad ‘Chief’ Hartgrave, Brent Hinds [MASTODON], Steve McPeeks [WEST END MOTEL], Josh Greene [EL CERDO], Todd Burdette [TRAGEDY], and HIGH ON FIRE‘s Jeff Matz.
Speaking about the upcoming solo record, MATT PIKE says, “I was just going bonkers during the pandemic. It was like really, truly miserable. And then all the riots here in Portland and all the political shit. I was trapped in my garage, which was the only place I could go and jam and do anything. I was trapped in there ‘cause I couldn’t go jam with HIGH ON FIRE, I couldn’t do this, I couldn’t do that, no one could fly. I was going crazy. My friend Jon Reid, who was the original drummer for LORD DYING, had moved to Portland and was babysitting my dog, Crom, and he was drumming for my wife’s band, so he had his drums already set up at my place. I finally said, ‘Dude, do you want to come over and just start jamming?’ So, I just started this thing with my friend Jon. I was like, ‘Dude, fuck it. Let’s start a side band and we’ll just demo this and act like we’re starting it as teenagers, you know?’.
I made a psychedelic rock record that SLEEP and HIGH ON FIRE fans would like. And maybe if you’re not a SLEEP or HIGH ON FIRE fan, you might like it too. I definitely think it’s interesting; it has D-Beat punk, two-step. It’s got everything and it still works together, it doesn’t sound odd. It’s just an off-the-wall psychedelic rock record.”
Alongside the announcement of the debut solo album, Pike has released a new music video for the first song lifted from the upcoming album; Alien Slut Mum. Speaking about the new song’s accompanying music video, he adds, “four friends enter the woods, for a getaway, little did they know they would never return! Dogmen, Sasquach, Reptilians, or alien slut mum?!?! Where have they gone??”
Watch the official music video for Alien Slut Mum here:
Also, you can view both the track list and artwork for the upcoming solo album below:
Track List:
1. Abusive
2. Throat Cobra
3. Trapped In A Midcave
4. Epoxia
5. Land
6. Alien Slut Mum
7. Apollyon
8. Acid Test Zone
9. Latin American Geological Formation
10. Leaving The Wars Of Woe
Pike Vs The Automaton is set for release on February 18th via MNRK Heavy. Pre-orders are available now and can be purchased here.
For more information on MATT PIKE follow his official page on Instagram.
