### Dark Empire: Humanity dethroned

#### 27/06/08 || Euthanatos

If you’ve ever listened to Blind Guardian and especially Savage Circus, you’ll have listened to Dark Empire. While not a blatant clone of Blind Guardian like Savage Circus was, Dark Empire has the same vocalist Jens Carlsson, who sounds absurdly like Hansi Kursch. Dark Empire is also a bit darker than Savage Circus, and with a heavier production, it’s certainly more charming as well, even if it doesn’t have a lot of catchy hooks. Another good innovation is extreme metal growls, courtesy of Matt Moliti, the mastermind behind the group. The exchange between the two vocals give the music a lot more depth.

Everything is played decently, although I couldn’t hear a bass here if my life depended on it. The drums are also very reminiscent of Thomen’s work in both Guardian and Circus, and I don’t know if that’s a good thing or not. It’s probably good because he’s a good drummer (as is this guy who recorded the album) and it’s bad because it’s another basis for comparison. A positive aspect, like I mentioned before, is that Dark Empire does try to take its own path. There aren’t as many bombastic, operatic backing vocals, very few keyboard elements and most guitar parts are heavier than the aforementioned bands.

Of course, the album does miss quite a bit in the creativity department, the songs don’t really stick to your head and nothing memorable apart from a riff or two and Carlsson’s vocals really stands out, so you’re left with that feeling that you just had sex, but there was nothing special about it, you wouldn’t tell your friends of your exploits of that night, and in a month you probably won’t even remember her name. There is a pretty cool cover for the Genesis song “The Knife”, though. Maybe with some more experience these guys can actually give us something solid, albeit I have the feeling this is only a side-project for most involved. Time will tell.

The cover: It’s a face. I’m suddenly reminded of that Billy Idol song “Eyes Without a Face”. Now that was a great song. Billy Idol was really cool, when you think about it. He was more metal than a lot of things out there today. Eyes without a faaace. I liked that song.

5 eyes without a faaaaace out of 10.

- Information
- Released: 2008
- Label: Killzone
- Website: www.darkempire.nu
- Band
- Jens Carlsson: vocals
- Matt Moliti: lead guitar, death vocals
- Andrew Atwood: rhythm and lead guitar, death vocals
- Samus: drums

- Tracklist
- 01. Eyes Of Defiance
- 02. No Sign of Life
- 03. Humanity Dethroned
- 04. The Forgotten Sin
- 05. Faded Dreams
- 06. Salvation Denied
- 07. Prelude
- 08. Haunted
- 09. Possessed ( We are one)
- 10. Closure
- 11. The Knife