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Holy Roman Empire
Posted by Rob Ortenzi on 29-Nov-07 @ 01:21 PM|
HQ: Chicago, IL NOW PLAYING: The Longue Durée (HE WHO CORRUPTS INC.) WHY YOU SHOULD KNOW 'EM: Post hardcore revivalism from pre-metalcore pioneers, which is a combination to be ignored at your own peril. YOU LIKE? YOU'LL LIKE? The Rocking Horse Winner / Failure / Sense Field STORY: Andrew Kelham PHOTO: Zach Clark Geoff Reu is jaded. "We have been around a bit, I suppose," admits the current bassist of Holy Roman Empire and former member of the Killing Tree and Chicago post-hardcore outfit .baxter. "We have been through so many of the punk-rock fads and trends. I mean, it's funny to see new bands being tagged 'screamo' and getting popular when I thought that's what the Swing Kids and Gravity Records were doing back in the early- to mid-'90s." Frustrated with the current musical landscape but desperate to start a new project, Reu-along with guitarists Neeraj Kane (ex-Hope Conspiracy) and Jay Jancetic (ex-Arma Angelus), drummer Tony Tintari (ex-Shai Hulud) and vocalist Emily Schambra-took to his back catalogue to find the necessary inspiration for the musical direction of a new project the group were gently incubating in the practice room. "We all had a frame of reference for this band-which was Texas Is The Reason," Reu explains. "They were part of a good time in music when a wave of guys who had been playing in hardcore bands were trying to do something a bit more melodic, more tuneful with an emphasis on songwriting. They were really working within the genre but adding so much nuance to it in the process." The warm guitar tone, discordant melody and shared history seemed appropriate inspiration for a group that found themselves scene-lagged yet craving music that was creative, explorative and challenging. It was this discontent that eventually birthed Holy Roman Empire's debut full length The Longue Durée, an album the band hope will finally move them out from underneath the sizable shadow created by their collective musical legacy. "Our first show was in a small venue packed with kids who dug Suicide File and Shai Hulud," remembers Schambra not too fondly. "When I first met the guys, I did not know who everyone in the band had played with before. I was more than a little impressed when I put it all together." More like the Police's Reggatta De Blanc than Shai Hulud's Hearts Once Nourished With Hope And Compassion, Schambra's vocal lilt and timbre was the answer to a yearlong search for a voice that could lead the battle-weary journeymen out into the public eye once more. "The guys are definitely jaded," confirms the vocalist with a smile, "but don't get me wrong; they still believe in the music they can make. We are all so proud of the record and we all know where we want it to go from here and the sacrifices we are prepared to make [so] things work this time 'round." ALT |
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