EMPIRE Enters Nu-Metal Genre With Headwreck Signing

BRISBANE, Australia — Some bands drop new music to celebrate a label deal. Headweck does that and more, by embarking on a pan-European tour, their first after signing with EMPIRE.

Based in Brisbane, the nu-metal exponents are the first in their genre to join EMPIRE roster, the Bay Area independent label that launched the careers of Kendrick Lamar, Anderson .Paak, Shaboozey, and others.

“From the first chat, it was clear they get our vision and who we are,” frontman Connor Hickman exclusively tells Billboard while on the road in Europe. “They empower artists to stay authentic and stay true to their genuine selves, and that’s exactly the energy we want behind us. Can’t wait for what’s next.”

With the new deal, the release of “Raindrops,” the followup to their Attitude Adjustment collection which dropped in October last year.

“As we always want our songs to be,” says Hickman of the new single, “it’s fun, catchy, groovy and hard hitting. The song started off with a Jamo riff, that was a meant to be a bit of a joke, with ridiculous guitar scratches and squealies, but the groove and vibe captured everyone in the room when we all sat down to listen to it, and we just couldn’t resist but to turn it into a full song.”

Headweck last week kicked off a tour off the U.K. and Europe in support of Paledusk, a run that includes headline shows leading into their appearance at Download Festival 2026. The tour, their first of the region, is the realization of a lifelong dream for the band, comprised of Hickman (vocals), Jamo Benadie (guitar), Dayne Paix (bass), and Colby Horton (drums).

“This tour is truly a dream come true. And we’re so lucky to be on a big tour bus with all the other bands as well – livin the bunk life,” Hickman tells Billboard. “We’ve also been blown away by the response from the crowds over here so far. It’s insane to us that there are fans of ours on the other side of the world, we are so so grateful and it all feels a little surreal.”

The bandmates are staying mum on U.S. touring plans, offering a delicious hint that “it’s looking quite promising” for a jaunt later this year.

Headwreck has previously supported British metalcore specialists Bury Tomorrow across Australia, and opened for the likes of Northlane, Polaris, The Amity Affliction, Thornhill and more. Their debut headline tour of their homeland in April 2026 was a sell-out, and included five shows across the big three cities: Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Earlier this year, the rockers were anointed as triple j Unearthed Forecast Artist and March Feature Artist.

Headwreck’s signing follows the 2024 launch of EMPIRE’s Australian business, led by Cameron Walsh.

“There’s something undeniably compelling about Headwreck – the immediacy of their sound, the clarity of their identity, and the genuine connection they’re building with fans,” comments Walsh, the music company’s Australian territory manager. “What really stands out is how intentional everything is – from their fully in-house creative to the chaotic energy of their live shows and the way they channel early 2000s heaviness into something far more expansive, at the intersection of metalcore, alternative and electronic-driven sounds. For EMPIRE, it’s about aligning with artists who are shaping culture in real time, and Headwreck are doing that in a way that feels both raw and authentic.”

Adds Peter Kim, director of A&R at EMPIRE: “Headwreck is one of those instinctive decisions—you hear it and just know. There’s a rawness and intensity to what they’re doing that feels both fresh and necessary right now. They’ve got the songs, the identity, and the ambition to break on a global level. We’re fired up to help share their vision with the world.”