EMPIRES NEVER LAST

3.5 stars. I liked their previous album "Year Zero" quite a lot.There was quite a bit of variety yet it really worked for me, and I enjoyed the theme of the record which was about starting over. "Empires Never Last" is a darker and heavier album which is right up my alley, but I think i'm just getting tired of the subject matter. Or maybe it's just that I enjoy GALAHAD better when they're more positive and not trying to be a Metal band ? Maybe a bit of both actually. I know i'm in the minority with my thoughts here as many feel this is the best work they've done, so you can take my feelings with a grain of salt. Some cool guests here like Karl Groom who engineered, co-produced, edited and mastered this album. He also plays some acoustic guitar on one track and a guitar solo on another. Clive Nolan adds some Fake Dulcimer on the opening song.

"De-Fi-Ance" opens with what I thought was a children's choir but is actually three ladies singing together. Karl groom's wife Tina, Sarah Quilter and Tina Booth (ex MAGENTA). This is contrasted with Stu coming in vocally and angrily shouting "Defiance !" Then a heavy soundscape comes in. "Termination" opens with piano before we get some bombast. Vocals come in, female vocals too. Mellotron on this track as well. Some whispering vocals followed by processed vocals.Themes are repeated. "I Could Be God" opens with synths before drums and vocals join in. Some heaviness comes and goes. He does sing with passion here, sort of like Fish. I prefer his normal vocals but I get the reason for singing like this on this track. I like the atmosphere before 5 1/2 minutes when the vocals stop. Reserved vocals 7 minutes in. A sample of Martin Luther King's speech comes in a minute later. Great sound 11 minutes in. Vocals are back after 12 minutes.

"Sidewinder" opens with some cool atmosphere. I like the way it builds. Vocals after 2 1/2 minutes. Nice guitar 3 minutes in. A sample of George Bush makes me roll my eyes. Why ? Excellent guitar later though. "Memories From An African Twin" might be my favourite song on here. It sounds really good when it gets fuller before a minute. The guitar and organ are outstanding. It settles down then the bass becomes prominant as vocal melodies join in. "Empires Never Die" has a nice bass intro. I like the fuller sound 2 minutes in. Vocals come in when it settles. It gets heavier later. "This Life Could Be My Last" opens with piano, fragile vocals join in. Drums and a fuller sound after 2 minutes. The tempo picks up with piano 6 minutes in. Nice guitar before 8 minutes that goes on and on.

A good album that many will hail as GALAHAD's best yet.