Review: Holy Roman Empire - The Longue Duree

Posted on 9 October 2007 | No Comments

Filed Under: Album Reviews, Post Rock, Punk

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Holy Roman Empire is a female-fronted band with a sound somewhere between the poppy pseudo-core of Paramore and the more mainstream hard rock of Evanescence. Their latest album The Longue Duree isn’t overly catchy or bursting full of energy at every moment, but it is a solid and polished effort from a band that features former members of Shai Hulud, Arma Angelus, and The Hope Conspiracy (among others). The music is well-played and alternates cleanly played and toned down verses with punchy and crunchy guitars blowing the choruses wide open. Vocalist Emily Schambra (like Paramore’s Hayley Williams) has a great voice that carries the melody in most of the songs and is (rightfully so) the major focal point. The Longue Duree is pretty standard fare but it is solid and something that I could easily picture hearing on all the big “alternative” radio stations.

Here’s an addendum. Strangely (though) The Longue Duree after a few more listens began to really grow on me. Musically, Holy Roman Empire reminds me a lot of Texas Is The Reason but with female vocals. Sometimes a good record just needs a chance to grow. The Longue Duree is out now on Hewhocorrupts Inc.

MP3 | Holy Roman Empire – Undeserving You The Longue Duree
MP3 | Holy Roman Empire – An Alliance Of Thieves The Longue Duree