There is more than one artist with this name:
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Heirs is an experimental post-rock band from Victoria, Australia, begun as a solo project by Damian Coward in late 2006.
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Heirs was an indie-rock band from Port Huron, Michigan (USA). They were born in 2004 and split up in 2008.
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Heirs is the marriage of dark and light. The pain and hopelessness of addiction vs the elation of freedom.
The name Heirs originates from an ideal of “hunting and gathering” musical ideas, and formulating these ideas into an improved version. To write music, without paying some sort of tribute to the artists you are influenced by, seems to feel like a dishonest practice. The name stands as a metaphor, to be the Heirs of a musical history and to expand on this, becoming a part of this history.
Heirs began as a solo project by Damian Coward in late 2006, founded by a importunity to create a personal sound and direction. Four tracks were recorded and mixed by Coward himself, and received praise from peers due to its dark, brooding nature and lengthy bouts of density. Heirs expanded it’s lineup during 2008 and currently consists of Brent Stegeman and Ian Jackson on guitars, Laura Bradfield on bass and Coward on drums.
Drawing influence from Michael Gira and his Swans legacy, the sledgehammer riffs and industrial pummel of Godflesh, and continuing Stegeman’s incense shrouded low-end incantations from his work with doom dealers Whitehorse, Heirs debut album strips bare the needless excesses of post-rock and heavy metal in favour of something much more concise and affecting. A lurching drugged-out specter - holding solace in one hand, and vengeance in the other.
“Vengeance is mine, … saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head.”
Heirs debut album ‘Alchera’ is released 18 May 2009 on Denovali Records (Europe/US - CD/LP) and Exotic Corpse Records (Australia - CD)
- Nothing can convey the amount of soul these four boys and the music they make can offer your ears. Nor is their any finger that can slide around and be put on the genre they portray. The music of Heirs has a very distinct but uncompromising sound.
Formerly known as With Rescue Breathing, Heirs has gone through some very serious changes. Not just in their music, but in their line-up as well. The people who have known With Rescue Breathing in the past will be pleasantly shocked to hear the music of Heirs. The core of the band is still survived by Robert Lenz on guitar, vocals, bells, and strings, and Chad Nicefield on lead vocals, guitar, and keys. But a new layer of the band gives way to an astounding rhythm section that steers the music in an entirely new direction. With the addition of bassist, Corey Reid, who has played with Chad and Robert since 2004 under the name With Rescue Breathing, the bass guitar has a whole new purpose. Corey takes his writing into swirling leads without compromising a sturdy foundation, giving the group a more complete sound. While these three members have found comfort in each other and the music they have been creating, they were forced to deal with changes in their line-up as the former drummer, Kyle Kremser, left the band for the Navy in the summer of 2005. With Kyle’s departure they knew it would be almost impossible to replace him, but the door opened and in walked long-time friend and previous band mate to Corey, Chris Herbert. Chris is the type of percussionist any musician would die to play with. His style and influences are so versatile that he could play drums in a thrash metal band or lay back and groove to melody driven bands such as Death Cab for Cutie or Pinback. With the addition of Chris, Heirs is a whole, and one hell of an unstoppable force.
Expect only the best and most honest music from Heirs. They write beautifully crafted songs with delicate lulls to driving distortion, and so much more in between. With comparisons to Jimmy Eat World, Lovedrug, Pinback, and Cursive, the band takes pride in the fact that they can never be properly placed on a bill. This leaves the door open for them to make huge impact in the way we view music today.
Heirs is an independent band and a fully functional business on their own. They produce, record, and even package their own music, while guitarist, Robert Lenz provides the artwork and new media design. Booking and distribution is also handled in the majority by Heirs, themselves. This band members pour their hearts and souls into every little thing that they do. They are a standing mega force, proving that you will need them before they need you.
Look for their self-produced, self-engineered, and self-packaged debut EP, “ Our Bodies and the Ocean” released on January 3rd, 2006. Keep your eyes and ears on Heirs right now, because if you blink or turn down your stereo you might miss what everyone will be talking about in the very near future.
