Holy Roman Empire Albums (3)
'The Longue Durée'
Release Date 6/5/2007
Tracks 12
Label Hewhocorrupts Inc
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Holy Roman Empire frontwoman Emily Schambra would undoubtedly be horrified by this comparison, but still, it must be said: she is the Kelly Clarkson of post-hardcore. By this, it is meant that Schambra brings a surprising amount of not only technical ability but also emotional depth to a style of music that's not exactly rife with either of those things. Without her, Holy Roman Empire would be a much different -- and far worse -- band. On their second album, producer Matt Allison (a longtime veteran of the Chicago scene) emphasizes Holy Roman Empire's guitar sounds, keeping the rhythm section well in the background and using Neeraj Kane and Jay Jancetic's mostly distortion-free riffs to frame Schambra's up-front vocals. The results are remarkably clean without being sterile, and the nearly slick sound plays up the subtle pop hooks of tunes like the soaring "Olympus." The Longue Durée, pretentious album title aside, is tuneful without being blatantly commercial, thoughtful without being ickily emo, and a generally rocking good listen. There's really no reason why these guys couldn't be huge, like on an all-over-MTV2 level. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
'Lost in Landscapes'
Release Date 1/1/2005
Tracks 6
Label Hewhocorrupts
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Listening to Holy Roman Empire's debut EP after hearing the far superior follow-up full-length The Longue Durée is rather like hearing the Arcade Fire's self-titled record after experiencing Funeral: in retrospect, most of what made the full-length so good is here to one degree or other, but there was clearly an enormous creative leap in between. Lost in Landscapes is competently executed post-hardcore from a bunch of Chicago scene stalwarts anchored by former Longdistancerunner singer Emily Schambra. "Topography," with its unexpected punk-funk bass riff and chiming dual guitars under Schambra's impassioned vocals, hints at the band's incipient strengths, but that's immediately followed by the utterly average indie rock thrum of "Ways to Save Our Lives." Better songwriting, a stronger producer, and a crucial decision to put Schambra's outstanding vocals front and center in the band's sound would fix all of this EP's errors, but overall, Lost in Landscapes is strictly for serious fans interested in Holy Roman Empire's growing pains. ~ Stewart Mason, All Music Guide
