Following the success of double A-side single, Holy Rivers / Incubation Song, which has racked up over 150,000 streams on Spotify since its October release and was praised by Clash Music for its “shimmering synths, glacial electronics, and heartrending vocals”, London Synthpop group Empathy Test returns with a second, tantalising taste of their upcoming third album, in the form of new single Empty-handed.

Empty-handed presents another sonic leap forward for a band that has never been one to tread water when it comes to their sound, presenting a harder, darker style whilst simultaneously tipping their proverbial hat to the Synthwave scene that helped launch their career back in 2014. An arpeggiated synthesiser provides a relentless momentum from the get-go, while the deceptively simple composition gradually builds to its epic conclusion.

Opening line, “My heart is an empty vessel / Drifting out to sea” sets the tone both lyrically and emotionally. It’s about being unable to give a partner the emotional support or commitment they need and the feeling of emptiness that comes with that. As always, Empathy Test delivers a perfect marriage of music and emotion, the sudden flourishes of strings and synthesisers rushing past like spirits in the night. 

There’s a sense of urgency here that has not been present previously, as well as an innate confidence that suggests the third album, which comes after the simultaneous release of two debut albums Losing Touch (Remastered) and Safe From Harm in November 2017 and is slated for release in early September, might just be the band’s most accomplished to date.

Empathy Test is childhood friends Isaac Howlett (vocals and songwriting) and Adam Relf (production and composition). They perform live with the help of Christina Lopez (live drums) and Samuel Winter-Quick (live keyboards). This June, they tour the UK with Canadian Post Punk band Actors and in September, North America, with Industrial Pop act Aesthetic Perfection. They will also be appearing at selected festivals in Europe. 

Empty-handed will be self-released in digital and CD formats on 20th June 2019, with b-side A River Loves a Stone and remixes by ex-Black City Lights producer TRAAPS and LA artist and producer Ari Mason, plus the band’s customary 7” vinyl picture disc format, all of which can be pre-ordered right now from Empathy Test’s Bandcamp.

For more information, please feel free to contact Empathy Test on email: info@empathytest.com

Empty Handed

The band Boy George called a musical orgasm. We don't answer messages on here. Email info[at]empathytest[.]com with any serious propositions.