The Bastard was myself and Blake's (Loud Mouth) first Album together.

I guess you could say it was a nihilist or existential phase I was going through. The dark night of the soul if you will.

I had begun to spot all the bull shit in society and I was pissed off. My first ever relationship had ended and I was angry and depressed about that too. The pictures in my mind didn't match up with reality.

Every thing was pointless, meaningless and the whole planet was fucked as far as I was concerned. And I thought to my self "Good"

The Bastard gave me an outlet for these self indulgent emotions. I could pretend to be something else and exaggerate and dramatize my feelings to the point where the only thing left to do was let them go.

Lyrically it gave me the opportunity to tell the same story from multiple perspectives. Finding a different emotion for each experience. Choosing the perfect movie samples to fill in the narrative gaps was something I truly enjoyed. I also got to cover a Tom waits song which was pretty cool for me.

It was a really cathartic experience and I can see now looking back that it was the ego shell beginning to crack. Stage one of my metamorphosis.
"The night is darkest just before the dawn"

The Bastard still lives and I summon him from time to time when I need to, but now I merely act as a detached observer while he rains havoc on all that obstruct his path.

Check out the music video for the track 'The Bastard' here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA_Wbk8D3aU

Directed, Filmed and Edited by CFMeister.
vimeo.com/user5243837

Check out a live performance and interview of The Bastard on Cock & Bull TV - www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tzx_3wb3Pb4

"Consider me super-impressed"
-Nialler 9 22/02/11

"The Bastard is raising the bar for Irish hip hop"
-MTV IGGY 25/02/11

A resounding rejoinder to the argument that dubs should avoid hip-hop at all costs, The Bastard is pockmarked with lyrical excellence"
-Totally Dublin

"brothers Blake and Leigh, a.k.a The Gruesome Twosome (The Bastard), are inventive in fashioning their own technique"
-State Magazine

"This is where Irish hip-hop artists should be at in order to be appreciated without requiring the listener to listen ‘ironically"
-And ever onwards to Prudery 22/05/11

"Blake and Leigh of exxon Valdez make amazing music"
-Cock & Bull TV

"The Bastard represent the future of Irish Hip-Hop and I can’t wait to see where it goes”
-Drop D 28/03/11