ALBUM REVIEW: Episode II – Galactic Empire
Having the Galaxy within their grasp after a stellar first album, GALACTIC EMPIRE are back with the aptly named Episode II. Will this second instalment in their quest for domination bring a great disturbance to the Force? Or can they bring the final Resistance to it’s knees?
March of the Resistance starts as powerfully evocative as the last albums introductory track. More complex and confident already, you might speculate, GALACTIC EMPIRE know they have attracted attention, and have boldly grasped that with both hands. Next, Scherzo for X – Wings is a supped-up ride that, like the original piece, takes motifs and themes from previously loved pieces and sprinkles them into the swirling haze of colourful guitar and bass work. It’s very well crafted, not to mention the drum work already has some incredible technicalities.
Hyperspace is a classic piece of music any Star Wars fan will know and love, and it’s a blaze of wicked riffage. It’s incredibly impressive how well GALACTIC EMPIRE have managed to transpose the original music of these beloved films into full bodied, fun and imaginative Metal tracks. There’s such a new lease of life in this album, that not only inspires you to appreciate this genius reworking but appreciate the majesty of it’s origins all over again.
The Droid Invasion and the Appearance of Darth Maul, takes us down perhaps a lesser known track in the Star Wars universe and brings it to a more contemporary feel. It’s great to see GALACTIC EMPIRE reinterpret a more varied range of Star Wars themes. The very crescendo of the track really leaves you with that foreboding of a Sith Lord on the horizon. Superb. Equally, Kylo Ren Arrives at the Battle, is a mighty, intense ride into the darker edge of the Saga’s music. Having that real drive to delve into even more difficult pieces to develop into fully fledged metal music, the Empire have once more tackled the track well.
Love Pledge and The Arena is yet another speedy blast of a track, sweeping though highs and lows without a moments notice. It’s well paced, full of great squeals and little riffs. Another great moment here, Reys’ Theme arrives at just the right moment. A new and yet familiar theme, it’s clearly a perfect track for this album. Constantly rising into something inspiring and grand, both new and old fans will enjoy this piece. The Departure of Boba Fett is an undeniably bad-ass track. Brimming with all the gnarly, Darkside drumbeats, ringing guitars, technically brilliant melody, it’s a fast contender for one of GALACTIC EMPIRE‘s best interpretations to date. Likewise, The Emperor takes that fully menacing quality that John Williams brought forward so beautifully in the films, and transforms into something equally as ominous, with an added layer of wickedness thrown in.
Into The Trap gets back into some of the more groovy interpretational ideas that GALACTIC EMPIRE can do so well. It’s a collective of one of the best moments in. It’s an epic track, taking all the subtle moments that build and build throughout its run time, and turn the dial up to max. everything that these rulers of the Galaxy touch manage to come out as utterly awesome.
The Battle of Yavin (launch from the Fourth Moon) is an extravaganza of a final track. With such a long time to dramatise musically, a full eight minutes forty, it plays on the stereotype of long instrumental metal tracks, all the time allowing for some of the best music in contemporary composing to be meddled into a track of the upmost quality. Perhaps not what you’d expect, it’s the perfect way to complete this album.
In the same vein as the beloved Star Wars series, the second instalment of GALACTIC EMPIRE is bigger, darker and more ambitious than even the first. Full of unexpected moments, Episode II is a blast through and through. Truly, and Star Wars fan must own this album. It is impressive… most impressive.
Rating: 8/10
Episode II is out now via Rise Records.
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