In the vein of Alice and Chains comes a debut effort by Chi-town boys so packed with ups and downs and highs and lows that its success will surely be a springboard for this band to firmly plant its grungy feet in the hard rock ring to battle right along with the not-so-debut albums. Emperors and Elephants delivers an impressive record showcasing a wide range of vocals courtesy of Jesse Andrews’ gritty and grungy sound supported solidly by a tangled web of duo guitars, igniting the spark between the specific sonic space occupied by the alternative and rock music of the last few decades saturated as inspiration all over this record. Once you’re able to get past the name of the band, Emperors and Elephants will easily fall into just about any music lovers oeuvre. They can rock and they’re smoking hot! Each song listened to individually may be difficult for the common rocker to piece back together as an album, but the cohesive thread that runs through E+E is an influence far reaching that it’s just enough to call the sound as massive as an elephant and as majestic as an emperor. Be prepared for E+E to blow up and facilitate a crowd of cross genre contamination. Music is inbred and Emperors and Elephants is the by-product of Shinedown and a post-Nirvana world.
Jesse Andrews : VocalsJason Meudt : Drums
Jeph Stiph :Guitars
Randy “The Arsonist” Cooper: Guitars
Ron “Stoppable” Vanders : Bass
Devil in the Lake released by Pavement Entertainment in January 2014 plays like an album full of radio friendly singles. “Your Will” has seen success on the radio in Chicago and its surrounding areas and will spread like wildfire the minute the heat from this record catches the air nationwide. Formed in 2010, Emperors and Elephants demonstrates a strong sound of music technicality and offers lyrics scrubbed clean at the opening of most tracks but intertwined with guitar riffs and percussion twists by the end of the song in true 90s grunge fashion. It’s an album that pays homage to those that came before and plays like an old fav yet stays fresh and creative enough that it forces you to listen without blending in to an alternative iPod shuffle.
“Bring it Down” is a strong openner for the album with beastly guitar riffs and a creeping heartbeat of a drum, welcoming the penetration of lyrics so professed yet so subtle it instantly encapsulates the listener and drags them straight down the rabbit hole. The rest of the album soars like a rollercoaster of acoustic, cover, and raw songs all tied together with a bow of talent and potential. Songs like “Locust” echo the rage and power of a percussion section sometimes lost to the screeching guitars so predominant in the soul of 90s grunge, but Jason Meudt does a great job of reminding you that he’s beating the hell out of his kit right along with the destruction of strings in front of him.
Watch the EMPERORS AND ELEPHANTS – WHO YOU ARE Lyric Video
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“Ghost in the Mirror” put Andrews’ vocals on display, as most of the songs on the album seem to do, but in a haunting way that confidently screams separate from the melody behind him. A vocal self-assured sound portrays the talent layered within E+E. As each song unfolds on Devil in the Lake, a new feel, vibe, soul, talent, and respect is established for this perhaps new-to-you Chicago band. “Hit the Red” seduces the airwaves with a sexy and almost whispering sound from Andrews and an acoustic guitar again putting his vocal prowess front and center. The songs intensity reaches a pivotal point and the repetition of, “I’m sorry for this imperfection, I’m sorry for this imperfection” reaches deep into the emotional bowels of E+Es artistic serenity and sings like an alternative rock lullaby to soothe the scars tangible within this album.
“You and I” appears towards the end of the album and is one of the shortest songs on Emperors and Elephants debut effort but packs some of the most passion and sensation. It is an immediate dichotomy to the style in which the album opens up. The guitars and drums are stripped away and a piano dances throughout the song accompanying Andrews silky voice. Shy of three minutes, “You and I” ends Devil in the Lake intimately like a mint after a six course dinner.
Look for Emperors and Elephants to dominate your radio dial effective shy of immediately. The press is positive, the vibe is real, and the feel is that of forward momentum. The boys seem ready to line up during rock and roll role call to fight for their place in line with those that are clearly an inspiration. Devil in the Lake is a sure-fire-quick-fire-spread-like-wild-fire-stand-up-and-yell-fire helluva rock band.
