Prog Rock Band Empire Springs Release “Ascend”
Above: “Ascend” single artwork; credit: Elijah Zakharov
EMPIRE SPRINGS
—PROGRESSIVE ROCK QUARTET—
RELEASE NEW SINGLE
“ASCEND”
NEW FULL-LENGTH ALBUM
THE LUMINESCENCE
OUT APRIL 29
NASHVILLE, TN (February 18, 2022) — Progressive rock band Empire Springs have released their latest single, “Ascend.” This sonic rollercoaster from the Birmingham, AL quartet is robust and unpredictable, exhibiting Empire Springs’ aptitude for creating progressive rock music.
PROG Magazine, the trusted source on all things progressive music, unveiled Empire Springs last single “Broken Glass” and raved that it “channels the cyclical nature of Pink Floyd’s 1979 opus, The Wall.”
Consisting of bassist/vocalist Brett Bellomy, guitarist Michael Naro, keyboardist Chadwick McDowell, and drummer Ethan Standard, the group began as “a studio project between college friends,” according to Bellomy.
Although progressive music itself wasn’t especially popular in their town, the guys were nonetheless surrounded by highly determined and creative musicians. That sense of support and community, coupled with their collective love of artists such as Led Zeppelin, The Dear Hunter, Rush, Pink Floyd, Dream Theater, Tool, Coheed and Cambria, Between the Buried and Me, The Contortionist, and Umphrey’s McGee, fueled the fire that ignites everything Empire Springs does.
As Bellomy recounts, they wasted no time building a regional reputation as an extremely passionate yet affable group: “We connected with other bands in our area musically and personally, and we played together constantly.” Eventually, they were able to book bigger shows as part of “Birmingham’s Holy Trinity of Prog,” a three-band lineup that also included heavy post-rock troupe Lasting Impressions and math rockers False Jasmin. That would be quite an accomplishment for any act, let alone one in which every member has a demanding day job (McDowell and Bellomy are music teachers; Standard works at a Nashville, TN recording studio; and Naro is a salesman).
On April 29, Empire Springs will deliver their new 11-track concept album, The Luminescence. Leading up to the release of the LP, Empire Springs will issue one of its best tracks – “Drawing Lines” – on March 25, and already kicked off the new year with two older, non-album gems – “Broken Glass” and today’s single, “Ascend.” Interestingly, “Drawing Lines” was the first song they worked on together, so it “felt right for it to be the first single of The Luminescence.” Although the other two tunes are astounding as well, they’re simply not as related to “the rest of the newer songs,” Bellomy confesses, so they didn’t make it onto the LP.
Above: Empire Springs; credit: Hollie Owens
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