Crown the Empire: One Story Ends-Another Begins

As the story of the Runaways comes to a close, Crown the Empire is excited about the new musical tales they have coming up. Andy Leo (vocals), David Escamilla (vocals), Brandon Hoover (guitar), Hayden Tree (bass), and Brent Taddie (drums) are already working on the next full-length album that promises a fresh, new direction with the signature Crown the Empire vibe.

One moment can change the world. In the story of the Runaways, Crown the Empire demonstrates that even one life event has the power to end the world as we know it. Whether it is the loss of a job, end of a relationship, or failing a midterm, many things happen in our lives that can plunge us into despair. Okay, so getting dumped will not cause a global apocalypse, but it can certainly feel like it, and that is the passion and emotion which is captivating. Lyrics from the song “Prisoners of War” ask “We live to exist/But are we alive?/We can’t run away/How will we survive?”, highlighting the moment when you question if the struggle is worth it. But the song becomes more than the voice of doom when it offers up hope for the future. “Will we fight through the storm/Or stay forever more/The prisoners of war”. It is a choice we all make in the face of disaster: give up or stay and fight with faith that things will get better.

Seeing is believing. The dual vocals of Escamilla and Leo are stunning. Haunting melodies blend with powerful screams in a passionate delivery designed to make you sit up and take notice. The harmonies are unmistakably on point and stay locked in your memory like an opera you can dance to. Escamilla, known for his clean and unclean vocals, believes that it is more than just singing. He explained, “Being a front man takes a perfect balance of confidence and technique.” Confidence is essential and Escamilla points out that “It took a long time to develop and I’m still working on it every single day, with every performance, to get better at that.” Technique is equally important and Escamilla still does a variety of vocal exercises throughout the day to improve his vocal range and skill in both clean and unclean vocals.

Who’s the guy in the back? Often the drummer is overlooked, positioned at the rear of the stage behind everyone else. Not the case in Crown the Empire, where Taddie uses his perfect timing and innovative fills to set the stage for each song. The drum parts are front and center, actually creating the scene for each piece. The key to being a great drummer is Taddie’s ability to balance creativity with skill, which is a continuous learning experience. He says, “I could be the best drummer in the entire world, but if I’m not playing (music) genuine to myself or genuine to Crown the Empire, you will never get that cohesiveness you’re looking for on the album.” Taddie works constantly on techniques, while trying to re-imagine parts to make the live shows different. He ranges his sound from classic rock beats to thundering industrial tones, adjusting his technique to fit the story. Drums build and wane throughout the music, allowing the beat to carry the listener through each movement of the song.

More to come. The Runaway saga has captured the hearts and minds of fans worldwide, but it is time for the story to end. Crown the Empire is moving forward to new stories, new songs that promise the same connection with fans in a fresh new light. Their next full-length album with Rise Records is already in the works and set for a Summer 2016 release. The Rise of the Runaways re-issue is already available for pre-orders and will be released October 30, 2015.
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