Review / 200 Words Or Less
Burning Empires
Burning Empires

Fuck City (2009) Jon E.

Burning Empires – Burning Empires cover artwork
Burning Empires – Burning Empires — Fuck City, 2009

I was admittedly pretty psyched about this as it marks Andy Hurley's (Fall Out Boy) return to hardcore. Unfortunately this ends up sounding like Misery Signals and Darkest Hour joined together to make something incredibly tepid. The musicianship is definitely top notch but the songs don't seem to go anywhere, ever. The riffs are catchy but not anything special. As I've said, nothing sticks out here. Sadly Hurley's return to hardcore is boring and hopefully improves as all the members are quite good at their instruments.

5.7 / 10Jon E. • December 10, 2009

Burning Empires – Burning Empires cover artwork
Burning Empires – Burning Empires — Fuck City, 2009

Related news

Burning Empires Post Another New Song

Posted in MP3s on December 9, 2009

Burning Empires Preps 7" EP

Posted in Records on November 3, 2009

Recently-posted album reviews

The Phase Problem

The Power Of Positive Thinking
Brassneck Records (2024)

I spent a good part of the late ‘90s annoyed at the abundance of Ramonescore. I’ll stand by my word: many of the bands of that era were carbon copies that didn’t bring anything new to the format. But time has passed and what was overdone is now a refreshing change of pace. For whatever reason, when I hear a … Read more

Totally Slow

The Darkness Intercepts
Refresh Records (2024)

I find Totally Slow a hard band to categorize. Their brand of melodic, hard punk is familiar and comforting -- rooted in ‘80s hardcore, ‘90s skatepunk, and post-something guitar-driven rock. The press release namedrops Dag Nasty and Hot Snakes, among others, which I think are good starting points. But while it’s familiar, it’s absolutely not a carbon copy. Like their forebearers, the songs … Read more

Steamachine

City of Death
Records Workshop (2023)

City Of Death is the third album from Polish noise makers Steamachine. Having dabbled in a few metal styles over their career, City Of Death has a heavy carnival influence to it which I have to say I really like. It's interesting just how much more sinister things sound when you pump eerie, jingly circus sounds amongst very dark, heavy, … Read more