The late-2019 worldwide pandemic has once again found itself sandwiched between album releases, and subsequently left its mark on the band members of Crown The Empire (Rise Records). Their fifth full-length album, DOGMA, produced and mixed by Zach Jones (Fever 333, Poorstacy, Scene Queen, Nova Twins), sees a diverse album fueled by angst, crisis, isolation, and resilience. Touring drummer turned band member Jeeves Avalos completes the lineup for this album cycle and offers his creative input, and thus, it is the dawning of a new age for Crown The Empire.
While in lockdown, self-reflection also caused a redirect of style and writing within the band. “More theatrical or colorful lyrics could sometimes make things convoluted,” clean vocalist Andy Leo says. “The pandemic caused a lot of introspection and a shift in priorities as individuals and as a group. The lyrics are less wordy and lofty. It’s more honest and direct.”
As if to illustrate a point, the album cuts to the chase and opens with the title track, which repeatedly jabs a firm finger into the chest of hypocrisy. Drums drop in and gallop into the chorus, “You say to look away, while you bathe in your greed, you say we must obey, follow the dogma”.
Style-wise, DOGMA marries the heart of Crown The Empire with current genre-blending components that have been emerging within new music, such as some darker pop elements which are juxtaposed against the harder tracks of the album. “We brought back the classic elements of Crown without taking anything away from what we’ve done more recently,” says bassist/unclean vocalist Hayden Tree. “The high-energy, fast-paced, hard-hitting riffs, with the band’s more melodic side, mashed together into an updated sound.”
The album includes previously released singles ‘Immortalize’,’ ‘In Another Life’ (featuring Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante) , and ‘Dancing With The Dead’. Collectively, the three singles have garnered a monstrous 11.5M streams. The album also includes another collaboration, this instance with Palaye Royale’s Remington Leith on the track ‘Superstar’, which takes on a heavier yet solemn pop-rock approach.
A pandemic isn’t the only fever dream that weaved its way into the album. Unusual dreams and paranormal experiences also served as inspiration. The quarantine’s weight started to get uncomfortably heavy and Leo started to feel like a shell of himself. Plagued by manic dreams, he began to see things he couldn’t explain; a ghost. A 1920s actress once lived in Leo’s current home, and she died suddenly, eerily around the same age Leo is now. ‘In Another Life’ (ft. Courtney LaPlante) was the first song written for the record and outlines Leo’s experience navigating these happenings and emotions.
‘Dancing with the Dead’ is the first track in Crown The Empire’s catalog that has solely unclean vocals from both Leo and Tree. Fitting, since Leo claimed he hit his lowest point during the pandemic by feeling like he was waking up to relive the same day over and over, and the screams serve as a catharsis to the desperation and rage.
DOGMA outlines vulnerability, resilience, determination, desperation, trust, and reliance. There is a full circle moment that reaches back to the inception of Crown The Empire, and Tree sheds light on the true meaning behind the band’s logo.
“We’ve never really explained it to our fans, but the symbol we designed represents unity amongst everyone,” Tree reveals. “The cog represents the wheels that keep turning in the world. The idea is that anyone, from any walk of life, can do anything they set their mind to do. It’s the reason we called the very first EP Limitless. We had a dream of this band and collectively fought to make it a reality. The crown means that anyone can conquer, and everyone is welcome. We’re a family.”
Buy the album here:
7 / 10
JESSIE FRARY