This is the limited edition re-release of Empire's debut album 'Hypnotica' including three bonus tracks. Empire plays 80's hard rock in the style of different 80's hair metal bands, such as Whitesnake, Guns 'n Roses and Poison. Their choice of style is obvious when you take a look at their line-up. It comprises of Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Gary Moore), Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring of Fire), Lance King (ex-Balance of Power, Mattsson), Anders Johansson (Hammerfall, Yngwie Malmsteen), Don Airey (Black Sabbath, Deep Purple), Rolf Munkes (ex-VANIZE, Condition Red) and Gerald Kloos (Condition Red).

Material on this album is of quite even quality... and I was amazed by the diversity which isn't usually heard on these (80's hard rock) records. Rolf Munkes is really good guitarist, which can be heard on this album (melodical guitar solos are all over the album). Actually it's quite refreshing to hear 80's hard rock album made in the 21st century.

Production on this album is good. This album is kind of a modernized 80's hard rock album... with many different bands in it (you can actually name the influences from the different songs, they're so obvious). For example, on 'Back to Me' Lance King mimics Guns 'n Roses singer Axl Rose (but Lance actually sounds better). If you're a fan of 80's hard rock, this album is for you.

Release date: 24.09.2004


- MAGE (15.08.2004)

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LINE-UP:
King, Lance: Vocals Munkes, Rolf: Guitars, Bass Murray, Neil: Bass Kloos, Gerald: Drums Guests: Boals, Mark: Vocals on Tracks 3 & 8 Johansson, Anders: Drums on Tracks 3 & 12 Airey, Don: Keyboards (Track 5)
Producer:	Munkes, Rolf
Mixing by:	Kaufmann, Stefan & Munkes, Rolf
Mastering by:	Melchior, Manfred

	TRACKLIST:
	01. Hypnotica 02. Fool in Love 03. Into the Light 04. You're All That I'm Looking For 05. Spread My Wings 06. Bad Bad Boy 07. Here I Am 08. I Will Always Be There 09. A Different Sign 10. Shelter 11. Back to Me 12. Another Place Another Time 13. Take a Look Around 14. Dogtown Shuffle 15. Spread My Wings (Unplugged)