Review Summary: Repetition is not necessarily a redundancy.
With a name as grand as
Empire, the band certainly has a lot to live up to. Unfortunate for both the band and the listener, Empire is unable to reach such heights. However, it seems that the band is aware of the boundaries surrounding the genre, and does not fear exploring depths of it. Starting off with soft, acoustic strumming as well as ending the EP with such a sound represents the circle in
Empire’s music; the end is the beginning.
Empire follows your standard fare of metalcore; utilizing harsh vocals with soloing riffs is about as common as it can get. But it’s their use of such commonality that makes it interesting. With vocals that range from highs to lows, conplimenting each other at every turn, the listener is never left bored; it’s almost like a game guessing the vocalist’s next move. Clean vocals make an appearance every now and then, sealing the melody the band aims for, as is apparent in songs like
Becoming the Wolf and
The Aging Process. The guitars and drums deviate from the generic breakdown structure, instead opting for a more purposed sound. However, that’s not to deny the appearance of breakdowns in the songs; they do not add much to the music, nor do they take anything away. At worse, they could be considered filler. Something worth noting is that the band rids themselves of any song structure. No actual verse, chorus, or bridge may be found; the songs flow from one idea to another, without the need of relying on predetermined structures.
Empire is not reinventing the circle of metalcore; it’s all been done before. Yet, there seems to be a certain attraction to the band; one can clearly see the potential that the band themselves have to realize. The melodies are strong, the aggression is passionate, and the lyrics are honest; all that is left is for band to abandon the anchors holding them down, and build a sound worthy of their name.
