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The artists who can call the acclaimed record label Kscope home are impressive. Canadian/American four-piece Envy Of None boasts a certain Mr. Alex Lifeson amongst their ranks. Then take a deep breath and dive headlong into a roster that also includes: TesseracT, Steven Wilson, The Pineapple Thief, Porcupine Tree, Katatonia, Marillion, Tim Bowness, and the much-missed Anathema, amongst many others. Nestled amongst all those household names in progressive music, you will find Northampton-based Empyre, who signed to Kscope for the release of their second studio album ‘Relentless’. And if ever there was a fledgling UK band that was going to sign with Kscope, then it was always going to be Empyre.
Empyre were last in this venue in 2019 as part of a triple bill of revolving headliners that also featured 13 Stars and Ryders Creed, now though, they are the headliners, and judging by the packed house tonight, as well as a room upgrade in Sheffield, and sold-out shows in Bristol and Nottingham, it’s been a wise decision to build a national following first before making that jump to headliner status.
Kscope and Empyre are a great fit. As are Empyre and tour special guests Ethyrfield. 2 bands offering up something a bit more expressive and cinematic that makes them stick out from the rest of the pack.
Ethyrfield first appeared on the DGM radar when one of our team caught them on a multi-band bill curated by the fine folks at Livewire Youth Music charity in Saltash, south Cornwall, way back in November 2018. A year later, their set at Cornwall Rocks Weekender proved that the Saltash gig was not a one-off. Consisting of Zach Cornish (lead vocals/bass), Ben Cornish (guitar/backing vocals), and Dan Aston (drums), what is remarkable about Ethyrfield and the music that they create is how young the band members are, especially since they have been around in one guise or another for 10+ years.
Earlier material, such as ‘Sunstroke’ and ‘Overgrown’, highlighted an Alice In Chains influence on the Ethyrfield sound, and over the years that followed the 2021 debut album ‘In Delirium’, this sound has gradually morphed into more of a progressive nature in line with acts such as Dream Theater, Haken, and Opeth. Playing to a crowd where many are hearing them for the first time means that the young trio can road-test new songs, and the 40-minute set is chock-full of yet-to-be-released material, of which ‘Follower’ and the slow-burning soaring ‘Long Drive Home’ are particularly impressive. Calling on the debut album only twice – ‘Remembering’ and ‘Overgrown’ – highlights the confidence that Ethyrfield have in what they are cooking up, and rightly so, as it showcases incredible growth in their songwriting and song composition skills. Album number 2 is shaping up to be very interesting indeed.
Using Garbage’s James Bond theme song, ‘The World Is Not Enough,’ as an intro is a wry tip of the hat to the self-deprecating sense of humour that runs throughout everything that Empyre does. The music that the quartet conjures up is wonderfully dark, atmospheric, and melancholic and they offset this by poking fun at themselves. Punters are sarcastically encouraged to be thoroughly underwhelmed by the music, and the band won’t take it personally if they are booed. Empyre are, after all, a band who have a t-shirt printed up with the rules emblazoned across the back: “No Singing. No clapping. No looking as if you are having a good time.” But they are deadly serious about their music. And are highly ambitious; hence the choice of intro music. They just have a sense of humour that is often lacking amongst artists who play similar music.
Once Ms. Manson fades out, Empyre frontman Henrik Steenholdt unleashes his howling vocals that are quite hard to fully describe, but low, anguish-filled, and capable of stopping a charging rhino, immediately spring to mind. What is all the more impressive is how effortless Steenholdt makes it look, and you always get the impression that he has more in the tank if needed. ‘Relentless’ is a fantastic set-opener that perfectly sets the scene for any casual fan who has wandered in to check what all the fuss is about. I’m getting the word: brooding.
Sticking with the ‘Relentless’ album, the band delves straight into ‘Road to Nowhere’ without slowing down. And it’s here where Empyre’s secret weapon is unveiled. In a band full of impeccable players – the line-up is completed by Grant Hockley (bass) and Elliot Bale (drums) – guitarist Did Coles is something special. Opting for a range of Fender guitars rather than the trademark Gibson Les Paul that is normally required by etiquette, the tones and warmth that Coles coaxes out of his weapons of choice throughout the set are stunning. Coles tends to say more with a few notes than most guitarists say with dozens. Steenholdt is no slouch in the six-string department either, and his partnership with Coles is at times otherworldly.
With 2 top-notch albums to call upon (the debut album ‘Self Aware’, and sophomore effort ‘Relentless’), Empyre are spoilt for choice when it comes to compiling a setlist. Alternating between each album, the band has a wealth of material to call upon. ‘Homegrown’ is an early contender for the standout moment of the night. Epic, guitar-heavy, and featuring some exceptional playing from the backbone of the band (Hockley and Bale), it is a memorable 8 minutes or so from the debut that leads perfectly into the towering, driving tempo of ‘Waking Light’ – one of the many highlights from ‘Relentless’ and one where Elliot Bale steals the show from behind his drum kit.
Like Ethyrfield before them, Empyre are also using this tour to try out some new material, and a few songs in development are aired tonight. The first one is introduced by Steenholdt as “Codenamed Fony, F-O-N-Y…but it won’t be called that, but that’s what it says on my setlist.” The gentle intro with some electronic loops gradually builds into a huuuuge powerhouse vocal performance from Steenholdt on a song which at times sparks a few comparisons with Kings of Leon. The second of the newbies is ‘Terrestrial’, which will probably still be called that whenever the all-important new album lands. Featuring a pulsing electronic touch throughout, it sees Empyre pushing that envelope even further and shows that they are not afraid to tinker with their trademark hashtag of #killingthevibe, as this one is kinda (whisper it…) upbeat. Another gorgeous guitar solo, and when Did Coles is busy expressing himself, Henrik decides he wants to get a punters-eye view and leaves the stage to take up position amongst the front row.
Ending on the simply massive ‘Only Way Out’, Empyre are the proverbial square peg in a round hole. All joking aside, Empyre are one of the shining lights on the UK rock music scene at the moment and can fit in seamlessly with a variety of mainstream big names out there today. #killingthevibe? Nah, mate, they are the vibe.
Remaining tour dates:
Friday 9th May – The Louisiana, Bristol
Saturday 10th May – The Bodega, Nottingham
More information, HERE.
Review – Dave S
All images – Dave Jamieson
