KK’s Steelmill
Watching an Empyre show is a real treat. I’ve seen the band numerous times and despite their best efforts to ‘Kill The Vibe’, they always deliver a spectacular show.
Having reviewed the bands album ‘Relentless’ a few weeks ago and spoken to Henrik and Did prior to the release, I was excited to see them perform the album in it’s entirety at KK’s Steelmill and it would be an extra special treat to see them on the big stage, with full access to the Steelmill’s audio visual capabilities, which the band took full advantage of!
Support came from Black Orchid Empire (with an ‘I’ – which we were reminded of at numerous points throughout the evening) and they delivered a solid 45 minute set. ‘The Raven’, which was a newer song, but one of the set highlights, along with final song ‘Death From Above’ were personal favourites and this is a band I have to listen to more of!
Following a short break, Empyre enter the stage to an eruptious applause and straight away launch into their first song ‘Waking Light’, which was quickly followed by ‘Parasites’. The sound at the Steelmill feels huge, here is a stadium ready band who are well and truly delivering the goods.
Henrik welcomes the crowd, the whole band are overjoyed at playing the big room and in fact, their biggest gig to date. They continue with ‘My Bad’ and ‘Stone’, both songs from the bands debut record, ‘Self Aware’ and during ‘Stone’ there is even a fan singalong which a bemused Henrik insists ‘isn’t supposed to happen!’ The band are on fire!
The big screen behind the band added to the stadium quality of the gig. Projecting video footage from previous gigs as well as music videos this is the show that Empyre always deserved to put on and amazingly, especially given they only had a few days notice, everything was pretty much in sync.
Five songs in and a call from a guy in the crowd to play their cover of David Guetta’s ‘Titanium’ resulted in the song being played. This was one of the first songs that turned me onto Empyre and a great moment in the show. I’ve only ever seen it done acoustically in the past (the last time was when they played an acoustic session for me at Firestorm festival, a moment I will never forget) but to get the full electric band playing it was a great moment and one of the show highlights in fact.
This amazing show continues; ‘Cry Wolf’, ‘Your Whole Life Slows’, ‘Road to Nowhere’ and then the band play my favourite song from Relentless, ‘Silence Screaming’, I love the version on the album, but seeing it live was magical.
Another one of my favourites, ‘Homegrown’ followed, with Did’s electric having some extra grunt. Henrik’s vocals throughout bellow through the Steelmill and I have to mention the rhythm section too, Elliot and Grant are truly ‘powerhouse players’. The whole sound is huge.
There’s no encore, but an acoustic version of Empyre classic ’Only Way Out’ feels like one, with Grant and Elliot exiting the stage briefly and Did taking a seat at the piano. A fantastic rendition of this song and a rare treat to see Did on the piano, before Grant and Elliot return half way through to power the song through to the end. Then, the final song ‘New Republic’ brings this magnificent show to a close.
Watching an Empyre show, you really feel like you’re witnessing something special. They really are an incredible band and they pulled out all the stops and last night, delivered a masterpiece. Everything was perfect, the sound, the lights, the visuals on the big screen. This is a band who are destined to play massive stadiums and I felt like I was watching a little bit of musical history in the making. I think the ‘Relentless’ launch party might even be up there in my ‘top ten best gigs’ list! It was an amazing night and a gig that’ll stay with me for a long time.
