EDITORIAL 
EDITORIAL 
INTERVIEWS 
INTERVIEWS 
IN TRIBUTE 
IN TRIBUTE 
REVIEWS 
REVIEWS 
 
IMAGES 
IMAGES 
MP3s 
MP3s 

		

																					

O N L I N E - E - Z I N E 	W W W . H A R D R O C K H A V E N . N E T 	August 25, 2004 	

Artist: Empire	CD Title: "Leeches"	Label: Perris	Release Date: Out Now	

Comments: Perris Records is known for their hair metal tendencies, and embrace it, with releases like Hollywood Hairspray I,II and III. So when you throw in the CD from Empire, Leeches, you think you know at least the genre soon to be spouting from your speakers. And you’d be wrong. Empire, while being rock and roll, has nothing to do with what is called “hard rock and metal” today. This music harkens back to influences like the Beatles, and you will also hear Gene Pitney nuances in the songwriting . This is not like anything Perris has put out before, but it’s great nonetheless. 
Empire hails from Baltimore, and if you had to try to describe their sound, they do it by saying their influences are Bon Jovi, Andy Taylor, 38 Special, etc. You will be able to make the comparison to another good rock and roll band, Train, as well. Empire sounds somewhat like Train, at times, but their songs are faster, funnier, and just all around better. 
The CD opens up with the statement, “This makes me crazy, I’m moving out, right now!” The song rips, with an opening guitar solo, keyboards, groovy bass playing and about one minute of rocking. The vocals begin, and the voice is bluesy, sort of a southern rock vibe going on here. Cool intro to the band, but not the best track on the CD. 
“American Wet Dream” follows, and the sense of humor is abundant here. This sounds much like the opening track, a straight-ahead rock song, but this time you’ll hear horns as well. These guys know how to write good songs, and it’s impressive hearing the quality of their musicianship. 
But the best song, by far, sounds like it’s out of the ‘50s or ‘60s, a slow, melodic track called “You’re Right Son (She’s Gone).” Wow. This song is why the prior Gene Pitney comparison was made. The song laments the loss of his lady, who he treated like a queen, and she just ditched him anyway. “I know I lost her for good my friend, I’m never ever going to see her again …” You have to check out this song if you are in the mood for just a different type of song, something you haven’t heard on the airwaves in over 30 years. (Unless it’s all over the radio right now, of course.) 
The only knock on the CD is its length, about 37 minutes. We need another 30 minutes or so. Some other good songs are the heavy “The Verdict’s Out,” that sounds a little like Clapton in some of the riffs; “Are You There For Love,” a moody, emotional track with some of the best vocals on the CD; and “Told Your Momma,” another fast-paced rocker. 
One bummer, you don’t know who plays what, even by going to their Web site. So, the guys are Tim, Johnny, Mark, and Doug who make up Empire. If you like your rock and roll with a little soul, and with influences from some of the best in rock history, these guys somehow throw it all together and make sense of it. They don’t sound like anyone else, and that’s not something you can say about new bands today. 
(One side note, the name “Empire” is also the band former Black Sabbath vocalist Tony Martin fronts. Both Empires have released their second CD, and the Martin version of Empire will be reviewed on Hard Rock Haven soon.)	

Track Listing: Leeches - American Wet Dream - Are You There For Love - Wicked Woman - Tiger Claws - You’re Right Son (She’s Gone) - The Verdict’s Out - The Pressure - Another Time - Told Your Momma	Rating: 8.5/10 
Reviewer: Derric Miller