New Empire – In A Breath
Review by Theresa Pham
Australian band New Empire’s latest album, In A Breath, is a mature take on some of their most loved older sounds as heard on Symmetry and Come With Me Tonight. The album opens up with “Tale of Jonah,” which sets the tone for the rest of the album. The song is inspiring, optimistic and shows the band’s passionate. The song had a much slower and more introspective start that I expected, but by the end it was soars dramatically with a beautiful and empowering drum line that lusciously rolled.
My favorite song would have to be the band’s first single “Say It Like You Mean It.” The song not only captures the band’s positive sound and lyrics, but has a hook that will have your hips moving in no time. It is playful and just the right amount of cheesy that I adore. You will definitely be singing the radio ready chorus at the top of your lungs by the end of the album. I also really enjoyed “A Little Braver.”The song is full of pure images and metaphors to convey senses of longing, regret, and love.
The band does experiment a bit electronically with songs like “Left Behind” and “Fallen Soldiers,” but all of the songs are extremely similar in tone, lyrical content and even composition. The album has a consistent, somewhat predictable and almost methodical pop-rock sound.
The most interesting and surprising aspect of the album is the band’s choice to close the album with an acoustic rendition of an earlier track. The third track on the album, “Relight the Fire,” is nostalgic and uplifting, but not as impactful as the acoustic version. The acoustic rendition adds an honest light that truly shows how emotional and hopeful their plea for forgiveness. The song acoustic version also has a humbling quality to it. I believe that the inclusion of both renditions shows the band’s versatility and maturity. The full band version may be catchy, but the acoustic version is the perfect way to end the album.
Overall, In A Breath is a solid album. It highlights band’s strength and ability to capture the emotional depth of a human heart, but in a unique, almost dreamy, thought provoking and lively manner. Honestly, the album is not particularly ground breaking album and the songs do have a tendency to blur at times. If you’re looking for a nice breezy extremely encouraging listen just in time for spring, make sure to check it out!
Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Recommended Tracks: “Say It Like You Mean It,” “A Little Braver,” and “Relight The Fire (Acoustic)”
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