New Empire, Vol. 1

by Hollywood Undead

Overview

Album number six from the veteran rap-metal Los Angelinos commences with a glitchy nerve-fraying intro that suggests Bring Me the Horizon by way of the American Horror Story theme. Vocalist/bassist Johnny 3 Tears described New Empire, Vol. 1 as "our attempt at reimagining Hollywood Undead, not just a new sound for this release, but a new sound for the band altogether." Produced with factory floor precision by Matt Good (Asking Alexandria, Sleeping with Sirens), the nine-track set doesn't really reinvent the band, but it does lean harder into the heavy metal and electronicore aspects of their sound, resulting in something that feels a little less dated than previous outings; they've also dispensed with their signature hockey masks. Standout cuts like "Already Dead," "Empire," and opening salvo "Time Bomb" feel rooted enough in the group's back catalog to please longtime fans, but they're delivered with the gusto of a fledgling entity looking to shed some skin and blood to make an impression. That vitality is omnipresent throughout the album's brutally efficient 32-minute runtime; a tightly packed sonic assault festooned with djent-y breakdowns, bold electronics, seedy West Coast rap verses, and huge radio-ready choruses. It's not the boldest line of demarcation between the group's past and present -- it's far too soon to be rebranding themselves as Hollywood Reborn -- but New Empire is aptly named, and more importantly, a pretty damn solid record. ~ James Christopher Monger

Product Details

Release Date:	02/14/2020
Label:	B.M.T. / Bmg
UPC:	4050538589078
Rank:	75918

Tracks

1. Time Bomb
2. Heart of a Champion
3. Already Dead
4. Empire
5. Killin It
6. Enemy
7. Upside Down
8. Second Chances
9. Nightmare

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Hollywood Undead   Primary Artist
Benji Madden   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Daniel Murillo   Vocals,Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)
Luke Holland   Drums
Dylan Alvarez   Vocals
George Ragan   Vocals,Guitar (Bass)
Jorel Decker   Vocals,Keyboards,Guitar (Bass)
Jordon Terrell   Vocals
Kellen Quinn   Vocals,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Hollywood Undead   Composer
Daniel Murillo   Composer
Matt Good   Mixing,Composer,Engineer,Producer,Mastering
Darren Craig   Art Direction
Chris Nilsson   Management
Andrew Purcell   Management
Dylan Alvarez   Composer
George Ragan   Composer
Jorel Decker   Composer
Jordon Terrell   Composer
Ian Dietrich   Management