Empire Drowns – Nothing
Empire Drowns – Nothing
Uprising Records
Release Date: 21/11/2022
Running Time: 28:39
Review by Chris Galea
8.5/10
Sometimes darkness can be a source of warmth and solace… This is the territory where you’d find bands such as Empire Drowns. “Nothing” is only the Danes’ second release in almost 12 years of existence so I might be forgiven for being hitherto unaware of the band. Recriminations aside, let’s shed some light on this album…
I use the word ‘album’ indecisively because since it clocks less than 30 minutes I’m almost tempted to call it an EP. Anyhoo, the album (let’s stick with that epithet, shall we?) kicks off with an instrumental intro and it strikes me that there’s no logical reason as to why the intro to ‘Purity’ (the second track) is featured separately. All these trivialities fall by the wayside, however, as soon as the Doom Death sonorities of ‘Purity’ drags you into the world of Empire Drowns.
If you’ve ever taken pleasure in immersing yourself in the woes of the British Doom Death triumvirate of My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost and (early) Anathema and if you are also partial to Gothic Rock, then “Nothing” will send shivers down your spine. The Death Metal vocals of Michael Hvolgaard Andersen sound fierce and expressive and sometimes veer precariously close to Black Metal temperaments. And Thomas Birk provides the album with welcome embellishments through his guitar sweeps.
But for me one of the strongest selling points of “Nothing” is the multi-faceted and intense songwriting. Nothing I’d call ‘groundbreaking’ mind you, but Empire Drowns deliver the material with palpable passion.
This was most definitely a welcome surprise.
‘Purity’ Lyric Video
TRACKLISTING:
01. I Am
02. Purity
03. Anesthesia
04. Nothing
05. Gone
06. Loved
LINE-UP:
Thomas Birk – Guitars
Kim Jørgensen – Drums
Anders Ro Nielsen – Keys
Marco Angioni – Bass
Michael Hvolgaard Andersen – Vocals
LINKS:
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