It’s hard to accept change when it comes to the sound you’re familiar with, especially when it’s a favorite band. First, you’re in absolute disgust. Then comes the wave of sadness. And of course, the denial.
This all applied when first listening to Crown The Empire’s deluxe edition of The Resistance, which contains two brand new tracks, a reinvented version of “Machines,” and an acoustic version of “Millennia.”
Between both of the new tracks, “Prisoners Of War” is the easiest to get used to. The track slowly builds up to vocalist David Escamilla’s screaming “Am I the prisoner,” which at first is expected to be Crown The Empire’s usual edginess. But that’s not the case. The track is toned down by a lot and it disappoints. The Resistance gave off the sound of rebellion which caused the runaways to assemble and revolt, but “Prisoners Of War” didn’t fit that tone.
The lack of heaviness, and especially Escamilla’s choice of clean vocals, is a huge shift. But give it some time and it’ll grow on you. Instead of being rebellious, the track gives a sense of positive unity amongst the runaways. Although the track is more on the softer side, it’s not entirely subtle. While the song progresses, it becomes louder, creating an intense atmosphere.
On the other hand, “Cross Our Bones” is completely different. There’s no slow build, no intense screaming to start off the song. Instead, vocalist Andrew Velasquez begins the song with his strong, yet mellow voice, along with the catchy drumming. It’s obvious to see the definite sound drummer Brent Taddie brings to the track. Rather than a mix of heavy fast-paced beats, the drumming is simple, yet attention grabbing. Although the drumming deserves recognition, so does David Escamilla’s singing. From loud screams to soothing vocals, Escamilla has definitely grown as a musician, as for any vocalist who makes this shift. Stepping outside your comfort zone to bring change shows growth and maturity. Yes, the screams are gnarly, but the singing is better. But the shift doesn’t mean the screams are gone. Halfway through the track, Escamilla intensifies the sound with a five second roar. I have to say “Cross Our Bones” is a perfect mix of old and new sounds.
So far with the two new tracks, the deluxe edition seems perfect. Of course, that’s impossible for anything. The reinvented version of “Machines” breaks the series of fresh sounds that can be appreciated. “Machines (reinvented)” is far off the track of what Crown The Empire is trying to accomplish. Time and constant listening sadly cannot change this opinion. The original should’ve been kept untouched.
For the last track off the deluxe edition, Crown The Empire did an amazing job with “Millenia (acoustic).” Almost any acoustic version of any track can be respected. But it’s not just the use of the acoustic guitar that makes this track amazing, but it’s the use of the piano. So much emotion is felt with the piano playing because of how perfectly it compliments Andrew Veasquez’s voice. His singing, although soft, has so much power and strength. Velasquez has a way with holding his voice off.
All in all, the deluxe edition of The Resistance can be greatly appreciated for the change and new sounds. Crown The Empire has definitely grown as a band, and as musicians individually. They’re a perfect example of being able to accomplish so much in a matter of time.
tags:
andrew velasquez brandon hoover brent taddie cross our bones Crown The Empire david escamilla hayden tree johnny ringo machines millenia prisoners of war Rise Records runaways The Resistance
