Over the past decade, Kenyan vocalist, songwriter and producer Martin Kanja, AKA Lord Spikeheart, has become a figurehead of the African metal scene cultivating a distinctive blend of guttural growls, screeching screams and gravelly rap verses that seep menacingly through head-banging instrumentals.

His debut solo album ‘The Adept’, recently released on his own label HAEKALU Records, Africa’s premiere label dedicated to darkest and heaviest music from the Continent, has acclaimed widespread recognition from prestigious media outlets such as The Guardian, BBC Radio, Pitchfork, Arte, Dazed, The Fader, NTS, Crack, Resident Advisor and The Quietus, — captivating audiences globally from East Africa to the rest of the world as a new frontier in extreme music.

The list of collaborators is an inspired one — Cardopusher/Safety Trance, Fatboi Sharif, Brodinski, and Backxwash are some of Kanja’s guests — but The Adept never feels like anything less than something only Lord Spikeheart could have made. It’s the sound of an atom of the soul being split, unleashing an eldritch new energy. – The Fader

Political themes run through the album, which comes as a tribute to his great grandmother the legendary MAU MAU freedom Fighter, Muthoni wa Kirima, the only woman to ever hold the rank of Field Marshal for her contribution to the uprising against the British colonialists. Using heavily distorted lyrics and sounds, Kanja expresses anger over the everyday oppression he sees across the continent, such as inequalities and all forms of exploitations originating from the colonial era.

Lord Spikeheart is also known for his captivating stage presence and high- energy live performances breaking out into fun-filled mosh pits at some of the most prestigious festivals such as Primavera Sound, Roskilde, Sónar, Le Guess Who? Roadburn Festival. Attending a Lord Spikeheart show is a definite must see. An electrifying experience evoking a strong sense of belonging and spreading fireballed enthusiasm over the club.