As vital as they’ve ever been – if not more so, considering what a state the world is in – Hacktivist are back with the addition of new vocalist and brother-in-arms Jot Maxi, who will make his debut on the main stage at Download Festival in inimitable style.

Following the amicable departure of Ben Marvin for personal reasons, Jot was the natural choice for a band who pride themselves on being impossible to categorise. It was his bars that illuminated debut albumOutside The Box’s grimecore standout “Rotten” back in 2016, so it’s fitting that H come back with a heavy artillery rendering of that track.

“2 Rotten is a strong enough platform for Jot to show the world what he’s all about,” says guitarist / producer Timfy James. “Jot has brought many different new qualities to the mix – new and exciting flows, song concepts and general craziness. He fits in well, almost like he’s always been there. What does the future hold? Expect filth and fire coming your way.”

“I remember seeing J [Hurley, H co-frontman] on a night out and him telling me they’d just started a next-level new band,” says Jot.  “Once I’d met the rest of the guys there was talk about a collaboration and eventually I wrote the bars for the first version of Rotten. The rest is history really, it worked so well that when Ben announced he was leaving we all mutually felt it was only natural that I’d be the one to step in.”

“2 Rotten” follows Hacktivist’s Over-Throne EP, debut album Outside The Box (both 2016) and 2013’s self-titled EP. New music is coming. Be ready.

“2 Rotten” is out now on all digital services

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