REVIEW: The Empire Shall Fall – Awaken
May 26, 2010The Empire Shall Fall
Awaken
Release Date: June 21st
It’s nice to see ex-Killswitch Engage vocalist Jesse Leach has been keeping himself busy, and he’s about to prove he’s ready to step back into the spotlight…
The Empire Shall Fall formed back in 2008, and they are now ready to showcase their debut album, ‘Awaken’. Those looking to compare with KSE, will be disappointed – as the band have been creating a sound more diverse, and dare I say more heavy, than that of Jesse’s previous outfit.
This much anticipated album certainly doesn’t disappoint, and this is apparent from the first note. The band doesn’t mess about with fancy intros, and the album kicks straight into the metalcore riff of the album’s title track. It’s immediately satisfying to hear the strength of Leach’s screamo vocals, proving he’s certainly still got it. This pounding track shows the band’s maturity compared to KSE – another low blow for those looking to criticize.
The album moves straight into ‘Lords of War’, a track worthy of anthemic status with it’s pounding drums, riffs and vocals pushed right to their limit. ‘Voices Forming Weapons’ is one of the albums standout tracks, full of bellowing screams and those chugging guitars that we all love to hear.
‘Choir of Angels’ is a thrashy belter of a tune, similar in comparison to metalcore greats Suicide Silence. This is seriously impressive – with screeching guitars and Leech pushing his vocals way further than you could ever have imagined before. It’s satisfying to see he’s found a group of accomplished musicians who can push him to these extreme levels – ‘cause it’s really bloody exciting.
‘Awaken’ provides us with hit after hit, each track giving us something different, something heavier. It has a distinct progressive feel about it, seen in abundance on ‘We The People’.
It’s nice to see the band haven’t taken the easy route, as they could have easily done an interpretation of ‘Rose of Sharon’ gaining themselves plenty of radio airplay. I’m glad they didn’t. The Empire Shall Fall have proven that taking chances work, and have provided us with a ballsy, pounding metal debut that I dare you not to fall in love with.
