Not familiar with Holy Roman Empire? Let's put it this way: If Debbie Harry and Dave Grohl got really drunk and had a one-night-stand (eew!), the offspring would no doubt have a future in music and probably grow up to sound something like HRE vocalist Emily Schambra. This woman possesses the same grit and smarts that Harry did when she fronted Blondie, and she's backed by four guys who could fill in for the Foos if that need ever arose. Hailed by the band's PR machine as "post-hardcore," Chicago's Holy Roman Empire sounds more like, oh, let's call it "post-retro" — or something like that. Point is, labels don't matter here. Holy Roman Empire makes American rock 'n' roll, plain and simple — authentic and aggressive, fueled by Schambra's passion, a blazing rhythm section and plenty of guitar solos that might as well be coveted by U2, The Cure and the Foos. Some individual songs rise above the rest, but The Longue Durée's impact is best felt over the course of the album's dozen tracks.
Track Listing:
1) Undeserving You
2) The Ace
3) An Alliance of Thieves
4) Hail Mary
5) Our Whole Lives, Waiting
6) Shatter Historic
7) Olympus
8) Mute Hearts
9) Action Figures
10) Take It Outside
11) Fire Drill
12) Vicarious Haunting