More about: Empath

Empath's sophomore album Visitor graces us with its cacophony of optimistic sounds and guitar greatness this Friday (11 February). The eleven-track LP is first of the band's material to be enriched by studio production and the extra pair of ears on Jake Portrait’s sonically-minded head.

The album kicks off with one of many obscure samples: minecraft footsteps breaking the anxiety-inducing ambience created by a building reverb. Before you know it, the gates of Visitor are booted open to find a glossy sonic wasteland, ‘Genius of Evil’ ushering in the new age of Empath. Where the music in the opener welcomes you with an ethereal optimism (which is revisited later in the album), it’s followed up with one for the punks, one that hits the thrashing nail on the head. 

Fractured memories take pole position in the pop-infused yet drum-hammering ‘Diamond Eyelids’, painting lyrical images of sudden surprise and pity with unwavering and shattering vocals from Catherine Elicson before flowing seamlessly into ‘Passing Stranger’. Painful lyrics line the walls of the track and unearth tough memories that can make a heart ache and eyes weep: it’s one of those poignant moments in the album where the walls cave in but the pop music keeps driving onward.

But forget that and wipe your tears, otherwise the snappy ‘Corner of Surprise’ will do it for you. It’s a well-needed burst of adrenaline, razor sharp tempo cutting through the album with a probing alien-like synth courtesy of Randall Coon. With no dull moments throughout the one minute burst and an enlightening tremble-picking guitar exit, you’re left with a watering mouth gagging for more and a 'what on earth just happened' expression on your face. It remains the most exciting moment on the album. 

The likes of ‘House + Universe’ and ‘Elvis Comeback Special’ have special qualities like the Diet Cig-esque swing in the verses that do make for an enjoyable listen but find themselves in a ceaseless carousel wheel of familiarity: once you’ve seen the view a few times, you’ve seen it a million times. ‘80’s’, though, has a good-for-the-soul riff that is damn right more-ish, begging for you to sink your teeth in.

Empath demand your attention on ‘Bell’. To have your mind absent during it would be an injustice to miss out on so much going on... Departure for Visitor arrives in the form of ‘Paradise’, the grand finale, the crescendo, the encompassing track to round things off. It does so spectacularly. The incendiary intro that carries throughout, is the staple to a listening experience that it is as inventive as it is deranged in parts. It's fitting that Empath bow out with ‘Paradise’: what a fucked up paradise it is. 

Visitor arrives 11 February via Fat Possum Records.

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More about: Empath