Empire Springs Unleash a Frenetic Blast of Musical Fury with "Treading Water" (out today)
PROGRESSIVE METAL BAND
EMPIRE SPRINGS
RELEASE SOPHOMORE SINGLE
“TREADING WATER”
TODAY
FROM FORTHCOMING LP
ATTRITION
DUE OUT APRIL 2025
Above: “Treading Water” single artwork; Credit: Anthony Sky
NASHVILLE, TN (August 2, 2024) — In their latest sonic assault, prog-metal juggernauts Empire Springs are breaking free from their metamorphic cocoon, unleashing a frenetic blast of musical fury with their newest single “Treading Water,” out today. Designated as the sophomore single from their forthcoming six-track LP Attrition — set to drop in April 2025 (exact date TBA) —“Treading Water” unleashes the band’s most crushing sound yet, ideal for head-banging and more. Unveiled exclusively with Outburn Magazine, the track boasts melodic guitar lines weaving through relentless drum patterns and complex harmonies, the song ultimately hinges on a distorted breakdown and a final, fervent chorus that truly captures the essence of its emotional core.
STREAM “TREADING WATER” HERE.
LISTEN / WATCH “TREADING WATER” BELOW:
Composed of bassist/vocalist Brett Bellomy, guitarist Michael Naro, keyboardist Chadwick McDowell, and drummer Ethan Standard, Empire Springs began as a studio project between college friends. Eventually, Bellomy and Naro began honing in their collaborative songwriting process, and the quartet fell into creative harmony.
Emerging from a transformative period, Attrition channels the band’s progressive roots through a metalcore lens, crafted during a time deeply shaped by weariness, grief, and loss, which profoundly influenced the songwriting. The band infused their music with these intense emotions, allowing them to drive the project’s evolution as they worked through their personal struggles. Michael Naro explains, “I felt it was necessary to center the overarching concept around fighting a war of attrition — being adaptable enough to experience and overcome challenges under ever changing conditions.”
One noticeable shift in the forthcoming album is the heavier sound compared to their earlier releases. The band’s recent listening habits have veered toward the thunderous drums, distorted guitars, and high-energy vocals of heavy metal, and these elements have blended with their usual progressive metal style to create a fresh, dynamic sound. The result is a fantastical display of their intricate musicianship in an accessible package.
On June 7, lead single “Golden” and its hard-hitting music video were revealed exclusively via MXDWN, who praised, “The track is complex, braiding together intricate instrumentation, heartfelt melodies, driving choruses and elaborate lyricism with a dynamic metalcore-style edge that propels listeners forward through the heavy sonic palette. The music video, on the other hand, is simple yet artful. Lighting variations take center stage, choosing to highlight the complexities of the composition rather than the visual.”
Recorded while still in the midst of creating their debut album, “Golden” is profoundly inspired by their collaboration with producers John Douglass and Eric Guenther from The Contortionist. Lead vocalist and bassist Brett Bellomy elaborates, “The goal was to write a song that we felt raised the bar from the album that we were recording at the time, while also exploring a different direction.”
WATCH THE “GOLDEN” MUSIC VIDEO BELOW:
ATTRITION TRACK LISTING:
“Golden”
“Treading Water”
“Circle Forbidden”
“Hollow”
“Arrival”
“Message In A Bottle”
Above: ‘Attrition’ LP Artwork
The band’s 2022 debut LP, The Luminescence, garnered acclaim from Prog Magazine, Goldmine, Metal Storm, among others, due to its skillful musicianship and bold arrangements. By dedicating countless hours to writing, creating, and performing, The Luminescence distilled the best elements from Empire Springs’ diverse influences into a brilliantly complex, cohesive, and challenging album. This success has established Empire Springs as one of rock’s most exciting new acts.
Drawing inspiration from luminary artists such as Circa Survive, Dream Theater, Coheed and Cambria, Spiritbox, Erra, and Dayseeker has been instrumental in cultivating the distinctive sound of Empire Springs. Bellomy notes, “We would love for people to discover the same kinds of inspiration in our music that we got from so many of our favorite artists.”
As Empire Springs keeps evolving, they’re always on the lookout for intricate guitar riffs to weave into dynamic drum fills, complemented by polished lyrics. Reflecting on their work on Attrition, Naro explains, “We hope that our listeners can connect and see themselves in what we feel is our best release to date.”
Above: Empire Springs (L to R) Ethan Standard, Brett Bellomy, Michael Naro, Chadwick McDowell;
Credit: Hollie Bellomy