Description
Rise Records: Galactic Empire — Galactic Empire (Audio CD)
Brand new! Factory packaged! As pictured! Buy with confidence!
Product Details:
- Product Type: Audio CD
- Brand / Label: Rise Records
- Artist: Galactic Empire
- Title: Galactic Empire (self-titled)
- Release Year: 2017
- UPC: 4050538257816
- Catalog Number: RISE 345-2
- Genre: Rock, Metal
- Style: Instrumental metal, symphonic metal
- Condition: New / Factory Sealed
Product Features
- Format: CD
- Discs: 1
- Tracks: 11
- Content: instrumental metal covers of John Williams's Star Wars film themes
- Packaging: digipak sleeve
Overview
Galactic Empire do exactly what their name and costumes promise: they take John Williams's beloved Star Wars music and blast it through a wall of electric guitars. This self-titled debut is the band's calling card — eleven of the saga's most iconic themes reborn as full-throttle instrumental metal.
The track list reads like a greatest-hits of the galaxy far, far away: the "Main Theme," "The Imperial March," "Duel of the Fates," "Cantina Band" and the triumphant "Throne Room: End Title." Where Williams wrote for full orchestra, Galactic Empire answer with shredding leads, double-kick drums and crushing riffs — all played note-for-note tight by masked musicians in full Imperial regalia.
It's a clever idea executed with genuine chops. Pieces like "Duel of the Fates" and "Battle of the Heroes" translate perfectly to metal's drama, while "Cantina Band" becomes a gleeful romp. The musicianship is no joke, even if the concept keeps its tongue in cheek.
For metalheads, Star Wars fans and anyone who's ever air-guitared the Imperial March, this is a hugely entertaining disc — geek culture and heavy music colliding at lightspeed.
Interesting Facts
- Galactic Empire is an American instrumental metal band whose members perform in full Star Wars Imperial costumes under character stage names.
- The band built a following through viral videos of their high-energy metal arrangements of John Williams's film scores.
- All the music on the album originates as themes composed by John Williams for the Star Wars films.
- "Duel of the Fates" and "Battle of the Heroes" come from the prequel trilogy, while "The Imperial March" and "Cantina Band" date to the original films.
- The album was released on Rise Records, a label better known for metalcore and rock acts.
- The group's theatrical live shows lean fully into the Star Wars villain aesthetic, complete with masks and capes.
Track Listing
- Main Theme
- The Imperial March
- Duel of the Fates
- The Force Theme
- The Asteroid Field
- Battle of the Heroes
- Cantina Band
- Ben's Death: TIE Fighter Attack
- Across the Stars
- The Forest Battle
- The Throne Room: End Title
Publishers
Released 2017 by Rise Records Inc. (catalog RISE 345-2), with Velocity Records.
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