Danish Heavy Rock Act EMPATH, Featuring VOLBEAT's KASPAR BOYE LARSEN, Announces Debut Album

Copenhagen, Denmark-based heavy rock band EMPATH makes its debut with its eponymous album, set for release through Indisciplinarian on November 13.

EMPATH finds its creative core in the songwriting duo of two artists who share a past in the metal band RISING — vocalist Morten Grønnegaard (QAISOR) and guitarist Jacob Krogholt (ANTI RITUAL). Joined on their eponymous debut album by bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen (VOLBEAT, ANTI RITUAL) and drummer Jeppe Munk Aakeson (KNYTNÆVE, IOTA),the constellation became complete and a new unique artistic path was carved out.

"Empath" consists of eight songs of enormous variety, shaping an album that carries itself with a focused musical narrative throughout its thirty-eight minutes. Musically, "Empath" has its roots in heavy, progressive, and psychedelic rock and metal of the 1970s and '80s. A contemporary, organic production serves the intricate and melodic song material well, and with the addition of synths reminiscent of old sci-fi soundtracks, the band delivers a heavy, rich, and atmospheric sound, thus carrying the virtuous torch of their musical heroes into the future.

Thematically, "Empath" deals with the nature of man, the consequences of our ambition and dreams, as laid bare in our present capitalistic society with escalating climate change, inequality, isolation, and conflict on the horizon. Inspired by science fiction literature from the last century and experimental poetry works from the romantic era, the lyrics of Morten Grønnegaard dig into various ideas that gripped writers and thinkers such as Arthur C. Clarke, William Blake and Thomas De Quincey. Even though the subjects often dwelled into the fever dreams and far away futures of humankind, they resonate very well with where and what we are as humans today.

"Empath" was produced by Kaspar Boye Larsen and EMPATH, mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (OBITUARY, DEADGUY, THE ARMED),with cover art by Morten Grønnegaard.

EMPATH has shared the first single of the album with the psychedelic heavy rock anthem "Lyca's Lost", a song that touches on the alienation between generations imagined in the sci-fi theme of parallel worlds and different dimensions.

EMPATH's "Lyca's Lost" can now be played on all streaming services.

"Empath" will be released on two vinyl variants — 100 on transparent blue and 100 on black — as well as all digital formats.

"Empath" track listing:

01. New Dawn
02. Lyca's Lost
03. Sisters Of Sorrow
04. Deceiver
05. Childhood's End
06. Solace
07. The Tower
08. Only The Dead

EMPATH will make its live debut at "A Colossal Kind Of X-mas" at Hotel Cecil in Copenhagen on December 11, alongside a string of prominent heavy Danish artists.

Additional previews of the record will be issued over the coming weeks alongside more live dates.

Photo by Martin Goltermann