Pick Up Goliath Drops a Fierce Chapter : Empire of Circuits
After the cinematic depth of Veil of Illusion and the pounding energy of Rise of the Machine, producer and multi-instrumentalist Sam George — better known as Pick Up Goliath — returns with his most brutal release yet: Empire of Circuits, the third movement from his ongoing symphonic metal saga Artificial Ascendency.
If Rise of the Machine hinted at humanity’s uneasy relationship with technology, Empire of Circuits dives headfirst into the aftermath — a world completely ruled by AI, where order crushes chaos, and freedom has been wiped clean by code.
Musically, George keeps things wild and unpredictable. Written in the style of a Scherzo, the track twists through rapid time changes, intricate rhythmic interplay, and a storm of mechanical precision — all fueled by a dark, industrial pulse. It’s fierce, cinematic, and absolutely relentless.
As GigRadar puts it:
“Pick Up Goliath channels the chaos of rebellion into something symphonic, cinematic, and utterly punishing.”
And Vault Lab nails it too:
“Mechanical yet alive — a perfect union of machine and emotion.”
Backing George are two powerhouses: Josh Baines (Malevolence) on guitar and Mike Malyan (ex-Monuments) on drums, grounding the madness with razor-sharp musicianship.
The track follows George’s award-winning Hymns of the Unholy — the official Cult of the Lamb collaboration that scooped Male International Album of the Year 2025 (ISSA) and Best Music Collaboration, Summer 2025 (World Songwriting Awards).
Entirely written, performed, and produced in George’s Dolby Atmos–certified Mammoth Sound Studio in Cáceres, Artificial Ascendency continues to push symphonic metal into new emotional and technical territory.
Empire of Circuits is out now (October 24, 2025), and the saga wraps up with the final movement, Final Requiem, dropping November 14, 2025.
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