Course of Empire (Zoo Entertainment)


Course of Empire has a highly internal quality, something most American bands lack.
This is absolutely the most physically and mentally stimulating album I've ever
heard... mixing driving inward guitar riffs with primitive drums, that are both
haunting and mystical, thus creating strong visual images of a spiritual connection
and conflict between man and earth -- science and nature.

Every track on Course of Empire has its own identity - whether it's the tribal
stomp "Thrust," the industrial blast "Copious," or "Dawn of the Great Eastern Sun,"
a tranquil instrumental.

Course of Empire is an intellectual and powerful band and they reflect that in 
their music -- no songs about women with red lips in micro minis here.  Influenced
by Eastern philosophers, lyrics speak of everyone as human and our need to connect
with our selves as well as every person around us -- and how what we do affects the
world.

"It's our desire to let go and not try to predict, control, and analyze," says
guitarist Mike Graff.  "These ideas are all clicking in people's heads at the same
time for a reason.  Stuff like this just means we're all hurting in the same way."

Don't let their intellect turn you off, because you'll miss out on the incredible
power of their music, which is described as "a style that incorporates slabs of 
industrial musique concrete, thunderous metal and pastoral symphonics."  This
album is an absolute assault to your senses and is packed with 11 tracks that will
leave you exhausted by the end of the album.