Review Summary: If you’re having to choose between Kings and Anchors, pick up Anchors. If you’re looking for a decent alternative rock record with a slight hard rock kick, look no further than Anchors.
I Am Empire- Anchors
On Tooth and Nail’s I Am Empire’s first release, the band did a decent job of mixing classic metal, southern/hard rock, and pop/punk. While Kings wasn't perfect and was very inconsistent, it was an enjoyable record for sure, and a positive in Tooth and Nail’s repertoire. However, the band couldn't seem to pick a style. One minute, they were rocking hard, the next crooning softly, the next somewhere in between. This hindered the effect of the album, making the band seem a tad bit sloppy. So does the second release improve on these flaws, or is it just more of the same? Before I get started, here’s the lineup
I Am Empire (as of 2013):
Austin Lions: Vocals
Andrew Stanton: Guitar
Dan Otis: Guitar
Eric Martin: Drums
Josh Case: Bass, backup vocals
From opener “Gravity Bomb”, you can tell things will be a little different this time around. On Kings¸ the record opened with hard rocker “Brain Damage.” It’s possibly one of the band’s heaviest songs. “Gravity Bomb” is much more of an alternative rock track, with quieter verses, and a passionate chorus. The highlights are mainly Martin’s drumming and Austin’s passionate vocals. Though the riffs seem a tad bit generic and used, Andrew and Dan do a great job complimenting eachother. It’s a good opener. Tracks like “Gasoline” and “All Around Me Now” continue this trend. They rock, led by Stanton’s mini-solos and Dan’s crunchy riffing, but they don’t rock quite as hard as tracks from the previous album. However, this doesn’t diminish their talent. Both Stanton and Otis sound better than ever at times, but at times, it seems like they recycled riffs from their previous effort. Still, the guitar parts are definitely a huge highlight. Lions seems much more reserved this time around (listen to “Saints and Sinners” from Kings), but more comfortable at the same time. Rocker “The Mastermind Is Me” does hit a little harder than other rockers on the record, led again by heavy riffing and featuring a good breakdown.
Now for the mid-tempo tracks/ballads. Track “Labor” has some great vocals from Austin, and at times he sounds more like a country singer than a rock singer. There’s both a great solo and a great chorus in this midtempo track, sounding much better than any of the weaker mid-tempo tracks from the first album. “Sing” is also a very strong alternative rock number, opening with some great drums and guitars, and featuring another powerful chorus. “Remedy” is much more similar to the first album’s softer tracks, similar to “Hammers and Anvils” or “Dig You Out”, so those hoping for more of the sound from the first record, look no further. Closer “Blackout” is very high-energy without being a hard rocker, with Andrew and Dan leading the opening charge. Austin’s great vocals blend well with Case’s bass lines in the verses, and the chorus is one of the most powerful choruses that the band has written. It’s a great way to end the album, and all of the band members sound great.
One of the main positives is improved production. Everything sounds much cleaner without sounding overproduced. Another is Austin’s improvement. Gone are the annoying little vocal quirks from the first album, and his true talent really begins to shine. Both guitarists sound slightly improved, and occasionally throw in some newer ideas. The record is more consistent, resting on much more of an alternative rock sound with hard rock leanings. Negatives are few, but they are there. Austin did have a pretty good scream, but he’s thrown that out here. Also, at times it seems the raw energy from Kings is gone. However, this isn't a bad release by any means.
Empire has always been a little hard to figure out lyrically. They are a Christian band, and songs like “Sing” attest to God’s glory. “Gasoline” seems to be about letting go of regrets, while “The Mastermind Is Me” seems to describe taking your life back from something negative, possibly addiction. Overall, lyrics are greatly improved from the first release.
Overall, I Am Empire have crafted a much-improved sophomore release. Mostly, they don’t rock quite as hard, but they seem to have finally found their sound, and do it well. There’s some rumors that the group is now defunct, which would be highly unfortunate. If you’re having to choose between Kings and Anchors, pick up Anchors. If you’re looking for a decent alternative rock record with a slight hard rock kick, look no further than Anchors.
