Hacktivist (band)
British rap metal band fusing djent, grime, and nu metal.
Henry Laurisch · CC BY-SA 3.0
Hacktivist are a British rap metal band from Milton Keynes, England, formed in 2011. Their sound mixes rapped vocals with extremely low-tuned, distorted guitar and bass work (often using eight-string guitars and six-string basses tuned to Drop E), ambient sections, and a dense production style. Vocals are primarily rapped, with some singing and harsh vocals. The band writes lyrics collectively, focusing on political topics like anarchism, government corruption, censorship, anti-gun violence, and unity against oppression. Their music has been described as rap metal, grime, a fusion of djent and nu metal, and sometimes groove metal, with guitar work compared to Meshuggah, Limp Bizkit, and Korn.
The band started in 2011 when former Heart of a Coward guitarist Timfy James left that group. James called the formation a "fluke"—after local rapper J Hurley recorded vocals over James’s demos, the tracks became popular online. James then recruited a full lineup: drummer Richard Hawking, bassist Josh Gurner (ex-Sacred Mother Tongue), and second vocalist Ben Marvin (James’s former Heart of a Coward bandmate). In 2012, they released a self-titled EP independently; its single "Unlike Us" reached No. 2 on the Amazon UK metal chart within 48 hours. The EP gained coverage from Metal Hammer and airplay on BBC Radio 1.
After the EP, the band toured, supporting Enter Shikari and Korn, and playing festivals including Sonisphere, Download, and Rock am Ring/Rock im Park in summer 2013. In April 2013, they released the free-download single "Elevate" with a video, followed in August by a cover of Jay-Z and Kanye West’s "Niggas In Paris," filmed at Download Festival 2013. They also performed a live session for BBC Radio 1 at Maida Vale Studios. A UK headline tour with The Algorithm ran through winter 2013, and a re-release of their debut EP with four bonus tracks came out on 11 November 2013. The band has expressed support for the hacktivist collective Anonymous and referenced whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning in the song "Cold Shoulders."
On 4 August 2014, they released the single "False Idols" (with a video referencing Anonymous), which hit No. 1 on the iTunes Metal chart within hours. On 12 November, they released "Deceive and Defy" (featuring Charlie Holmes of Heart in Hand) and toured the UK with Dead Harts and the One Hundred.
Quick Facts
- Landscape
- yes
- Origin
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, England
- Years Active
- 2011–present
- Genre
- Rap metal / djent / nu metal / grime
- Label
- Wake to Reality / PIAS / UNFD / Rise
- Current Members
- Jermaine "J" Hurley / JJ Olifent / Alex Hek / Ste Cole
- Past Members
- Ben Marvin / Tim "Timfy James" Beazley / Jot Maxi / Josh Gurner / Richard Hawking / James Hewitt
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Hacktivist began in 2011 when former guitarist Timfy James left Heart of a Coward. The formation was described as a 'fluke' after local rapper J Hurley recorded vocals over James's demos, which became popular online. James then recruited a full lineup including drummer Richard Hawking, bassist Josh Gurner, and vocalist Ben Marvin. Their 2012 self-titled EP reached No. 2 on the Amazon UK metal chart within 48 hours and gained significant coverage from Metal Hammer and airplay on BBC Radio 1. The band toured extensively, supporting acts such as Enter Shikari and Korn, and performed at festivals including Download Festival and Sonisphere Festival. Their music blends rap, grime, djent, and nu metal, using eight-string guitars and six-string basses tuned to Drop E for an extremely low, dark sound. Lyrically, they focus on political subjects such as anarchism, government corruption, censorship, and unity against oppression, and have shown support for hacktivist collective Anonymous and whistleblowers Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning.
Reader's Guide
Hacktivist are significant as a British rap metal act that helped popularize the fusion of djent with rapped vocals, a style often associated with nu metal. Their early success on the Amazon UK metal chart and support from Metal Hammer and BBC Radio 1 brought them attention in the metal scene. The band's lineup has undergone several changes, with co-lead vocalists Ben Marvin, Jot Maxi, and later JJ Olifent, and guitarists Timfy James and James Hewitt departing over time. Despite these changes, the band continued to release studio albums—Outside the Box in 2016 and Hyperdialect in 2021—and maintained a consistent political and activist-oriented lyrical theme. Their use of extremely low-tuned instruments and a 'wall of sound' production style, combined with rapped and sung vocals, has been described as reminiscent of Meshuggah and nu metal bands like Limp Bizkit and Korn. The band's legacy includes influencing the British nu metal and djent scenes, and their ongoing lineup changes reflect the evolving nature of the group.
Did You Know?
- The band's formation was described by guitarist Timfy James as a 'fluke' after local rapper J Hurley recorded vocals over his demos.
- Hacktivist use eight-string guitars and six-string basses both tuned down to Drop E for an extremely low sound.
Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hacktivist (band)?
Hacktivist is a four-piece rap metal outfit hailing from Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, England. The group came together in 2011 and has since built a reputation for pairing aggressive, ultra-low-tuned guitar work with rapped and sung vocal delivery.
What genre does Hacktivist (band) play?
Their sound sits at the intersection of rap metal, grime, and djent, with nu metal elements woven throughout. Tracks typically feature eight-string guitars, heavily distorted Drop E bass lines, and occasional ambient passages layered under a dense production style.
What do Hacktivist (band) write about?
The band composes lyrics collectively, centering on political subjects such as anarchism, state corruption, censorship, and gun violence. They also use their material to call for solidarity and unity against various forms of oppression.
What albums has Hacktivist (band) released?
Their discography began with a self-titled EP in 2012, followed by the debut full-length *Outside the Box* in 2016. Their second studio record, *Hyperdialect*, arrived in 2021.
Who are the current members of Hacktivist (band)?
The lineup consists of Jermaine 'J' Hurley, JJ Olifent, Alex Hek, and Ste Cole. Together they handle the rapped and harsh vocal duties, the low-tuned guitar and bass parts, and the band's dense production.
More in British Nu Metal Musical Groups 1-20
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