Loud, unapologetically in-your-face, and soaked in beer, American Bandit is the anti-hero of
Milwaukee’s metal scene.
Known for their high-energy live shows that have resulted in broken equipment and vocalist
Nick Heath pushing boundaries and climbing literally anything, the band truly walks-the-walk
when it comes to aggressive post-hardcore.
Formerly known as Audacity, American Bandit rebranded itself to fit a new distinct post-
hardcore sound driven by a pummeling rhythm section and Heath’s distinct, raspy howl. In the
same vein as outfits like Every Time I Die, the band’s southern-inspired guitar riffs accent the
band’s heaviness with a whiskey-influenced blues-like melancholy.
American Bandit’s debut release, Lost, is the reflection of a man no longer able to recognize
himself, ready to throw it all away. On the title track, Heath cries out, “I hurt myself today, try
to end my life, take it all away. Have you ever felt that way,” setting the tone for what becomes
a relentless sonic assault delivering a cry for help. Heath’s vocals keep the listener guessing as
he effortlessly turns an emotional whimper into a throat-wrenching series anxiety-ridden
thoughts.
Where American Band truly sets itself aside from many of its peers in the metal scene is its
ability to initiate and control a heavy pace without a reliance on breakdowns. Instead, American
Bandit’s screeching guitar solos courtesy of lead guitar player Alec Swartz and locomotive
rhythm section driven by rhythm guitar player Jared Gerbing and drummer Ryan Roberts,
provide the framework for the breaking points in Heath's harsh, high-end vocals.
If Lost was the debut album that invited fans into the party that is an American Bandit live
show, then Summer Sessions is the hangover. Released in the same year as their debut, the EP
showcases the band in a heavier and rawer DIY tone. American Bandit wastes no time in
coming out of the gates swinging, and refuses to let up throughout the duration of the four
tracks.
The band is currently working on a new collection of songs for 2018 and will be heading out on
tour with Monorail Central in the fall. As their new single “Up Against a Wall” has displayed,
we’ve only seen a miniscule portion of what American Bandit is capable of. Clocking in at
around the two minutes-and-forty-seconds mark, the single is a tease of what’s to come: more
dirty, southern riffs, but packaged tighter than what we’ve heard in the past. Heath’s vocals
have lost some of the rasp, but he sounds confident, fine-tuned, and in control. The siren-sound
of the lead guitar is omnipresent, and the rhythm section shows a level of complexity without
sacrificing any of those head-banging two-step parts that fans of the genre have come to
expect.
The party is just getting starting for American Bandit, so stay tuned and don’t be late.