Pike Vs. The Automaton is the new project headed up by guitarist and vocalist Matt Pike (High On Fire, Sleep). The project features drummer Jon Reid (ex-Lord Dying, ex-Megaton Leviathan) and is now streaming its debut single "Alien Slut Mum."
"I was just going bonkers during the pandemic. It was like really, truly miserable. And then all the riots here in Portland and all the political shit. I was trapped in my garage, which was the only place I could go and jam and do anything," said Pike of how the project started. "I was trapped in there 'cause I couldn't go jam with High On Fire, I couldn't do this, I couldn't do that, no one could fly. I was going crazy.
"My friend Jon Reid, who was the original drummer for Lord Dying, had moved to Portland and was babysitting my dog, Crom, and he was drumming for my wife's band, so he had his drums already set up at my place. I finally said, 'Dude, do you want to come over and just start jamming?' So, I just started this thing with my friend Jon. I was like, 'Dude, fuck it. Let's start a side band and we'll just demo this and act like we're starting it as teenagers, you know?'"
Pike Vs. The Automaton will release its self-titled debut album on February 18. The album features guest appearances from Alyssa Maucere-Pike (Lord Dying, Grigax), Chad "Chief" Hartgrave, Brent Hinds (Mastodon), Steve McPeeks (West End Motel), Josh Greene (El Cerdo), Todd Burdette (Tragedy), and Jeff Matz (High On Fire, Mutoid Man).
