Photo Credit: Jonathan Weiner
Multi-million streaming, United Kingdom-based collective PRESIDENT continues to make way, existing at the intersection of heavy music, electronic experimentation, and cinematic atmosphere.
They will release BLOOD OF YOUR EMPIRE, their debut full-length album, on September 4 via Atlantic Records. Pre-order it here.
Ahead of the album release, the band shared the visualizer for “dark heaven.” Watch it here.
“dark heaven” is a reflection on the contradictions of faith and how something intended to unite humanity has so often been used to justify division, violence, and power. PRESIDENT describes it as, “It isn’t an attack on belief itself; it’s about searching for something real beneath the noise, and asking what remains when certainty begins to crumble.”
“dark heaven” can certainly be seen as a personal state of the union address from PRESIDENT. The track’s seasick distortion drains into a buoyant 808-laden beat during the verses. The song goes for broke with a command on the pre-chorus: “Gather ’round children, sing Hallelujah.” This is then accompanied by a glitchy, detuned riff which takes over, giving way to a powerful confession: “I used to stare at the cross and cry out for God, but I’m not the person I was.“
Alongside the record, the visual helps to document the actual first reactions of various fans hearing “dark heaven” for the first time in a church. Immediately, you can see their excitement as they enter the empty church, the only thing standing in front of them being a glass case holding the figure of PRESIDENT inside. As the song begins, the fans begin to head-bang; some even start to word along to the back vocals that chant “honor.” As you watch the visualizer, in between the reactions of the fans to the new song are recorded stills where the fans are placed in different spots of the church as they almost turn into PRESIDENT himself. These shots further connect the fans to the artist himself.
President explains, “Blood Of Your Empire was born out of my own struggle with existential crisis and trying to make sense of belief, mortality, and humanity’s relationship with faith.” Additionally, PRESIDENT says, “Religion has inspired incredible compassion, purpose, and beauty in the world — but it has also been responsible for unimaginable suffering and bloodshed throughout history. This album lives in the tension between those two truths. Writing it became a way for me to confront the fear, confusion, and questions I’ve carried for years, and turn them into something I’m truly proud of.”
The album cover (above) features an Eugène Delacroix painting, “The Battle of Poitiers,” which, consequently, hangs in the Louvre. The painting itself refers to two major historical and cultural moments in French history.
PRESIDENT prioritize intent over image, launching in 2025 operating under the aspect of minimalism and anonymity. From the moment PRESIDENT arrives on stage, they make sure to captivate the audience’s attention, leaving them speechless with each jaw-dropping performance. At the moment, PRESIDENT is fresh off their first-ever full United States run supporting Bad Omens alongside BEARTOOTH.
PRESIDENT will return this fall to headline venues across the continent with support from Cenobia and Showing Teeth on select dates. The tour is set to kick off September 4 at Brooklyn Bowl in Nashville, making stops across the U.S. in Chicago, New York, Toronto, Boston, Atlanta, Denver, Seattle, Los Angeles, and more before wrapping up in Dallas at House of Blues on October 14. The entire tour is already sold out completely.
THE BLOOD OF YOUR EMPIRE TRACK LISTING:
“Angel Wings“
“DOOM LOOP“
“dark heaven”
“Pink Noise”
“Mercy“
“Sleepwalker”
“Dionysus”
“This Will Divide Us”
“Hate Figure” (Feat. Ando San)
“White Devil”
PRESIDENT 2026 TOUR DATES:
9/4 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl
9/5 — St. Louis, MO — Delmar Hall
9/8 — Chicago, IL — Riviera Theatre
9/10 — Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Paramount
9/11 — Toronto, ON — Danforth Music Hall
9/12 — Montreal, QC — MTELUS
9/13 — Boston, MA — Big Night Live
9/15 — Philadelphia, PA — Theatre of Living Arts
9/16 — Silver Spring, MD — The Fillmore Silver Spring
9/19 — Huntsville, AL — Mars Music Hall
9/20 — Charlotte, NC — The Underground*
9/22 — Lake Buena Vista, FL — House of Blues
9/23 — Atlanta, GA — Buckhead Theatre
9/25 — Kansas City, MO — Warehouse On Broadway
9/26 — Denver, CO — Summit Music Hall
9/28 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Depot
9/29 — Las Vegas, NV — Brooklyn Bowl
10/1 — Garden City, ID — Revolution Concert House and Event Center
10/2 — Seattle, WA — Neptune Theatre
10/6 — Berkeley, CA — The UC Theatre
10/7 — Los Angeles, CA — The Wiltern
10/9 — San Diego, CA — House of Blues
10/10 — Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren
10/12 — San Antonio, TX — The Aztec Theatre
10/13 — Houston, TX — House of Blues
10/14 — Dallas, TX — House of Blues
*Only Cenobia
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