Review of The Holy Rolling Empires Album Gigantis

The Holy Rolling Empire‘s first full-length album, Gigantis, comes with a quality of confidence not held by most newly-signed bands who have yet to get their footing as the new guys in town. Usually the first and perhaps best piece of advice to anyone relatively new is to act like you belong, but never compromise. The Tuscon, AZ quintet, established in 2007, must have listened closely. By casually channeling The Beatles, The Allman Brothers, Elliot Smith, and Soundgarden, their sound is as if they’ve been around for longer than they have.

Their style forges both an energetically charged and mellow environment, with lyrics that are as poetic as they are conversational. And with instrumentals either accompanying tracks or serving as their own respective “Interlude” or “Outro”, the listener might become aware of textures and layers not experienced at the interpretation of someone else’s words – and whether this is an intentional side effect or not, it is welcome nonetheless.

It’s been said a million times that nothing is new under the sun; but on the whole, The Holy Rolling Empire commendably brings to mind progressive times in which classic rock was the soundtrack, with a thick covering of  modern indie rock accessorized with psychedelic components. Anyone might think ten tracks more than enough to chew on and savor, but we’re wondering if it’s too early to want heaping second helpings so soon.

Gigantis will be released on Burning House Records on March 3rd.

Recommended tracks: “This is Why We Can’t Have Nice Things”, “Bipolar Bear Mania” “If You Can’t Beat it, F*ck it”

Photo via Myspace