While they stick closer to the traditionally heavy, sometimes ham-fisted hard rock compositions they began investigating almost a decade earlier on Hypermagic Mountain, the songs ring especially weird and unstoppable in their new clarity.
Fantasy Empire will reward longtime listeners and draw in new fans simultaneously, a heady accomplishment for a couple of dudes bashing away at their instruments.
This is also their most flat-out rock'n'roll album to date, and their best since Wonderful Rainbow.
Truthfully, Fantasy Empire is an ear-splitting delight.
Fantasy Empire is the sound of a band modifying their sound rather than totally changing direction and whilst their spontaneity may have been tempered by their new ways of recording, their intensity and creativity remains very much intact.
Fantasy Empire is perhaps the most accurate documentation of Lightning Bolt so far as well as their most accessible.
As a project to capture the energy of a live gig, Fantasy Empire is near-flawless. It’s a visceral, pulsating entity, echoing with tinnitus.
Unlike the tinny wash of their earlier albums, Fantasy Empire never makes you feel like you're lost.
There is nothing wrong with bands making predictable music specifically designed to be played live; hell, bands like Motörhead and AC/DC have become rock institutions by doing just that. With this in mind, do not expect an artistic revelation from Fantasy Empire.
"Fantasy Empire" has moments of repetition, but it's still a very chaotic and aggressive offering from the Brians. What's new about this project, however, is the switch to an actual studio. The audio just sounds noticeably cleaner and, while I miss the lo-fi messiness of their other outings, the mix is so well done that it's easy to forgive.
Fav Tracks: The Metal East, Dream Genie, Runaway Train, Horsepower, Over The River And Through The Woods
Least Fav Track: King Of My ... read more
8/10
exceptional
Fav tracks: The Metal East, Over the River and Through the Woods, Horsepower, King of My World, Mythmaster, Dream Genie, Snow White
8/10
exceptional
Fav tracks: The Metal East, Over the River and Through the Woods, Horsepower, King of My World, Mythmaster, Dream Genie, Snow White
This is my favorite Lightning Bolt album, somehow beating Wonderful Rainbow.
Fantasy Empire isn't that lo-fi but it has easily their best production with the heaviest guitar sounds that also don't try to over-overdrive themselves like on some moments on Earthly Delights. It's just the best one for me with amazing compositions that are similair to what is to be found on Wonderful Rainbow and even more interesting ones too. Just a banger noise rock album.
whimsical times through 120 db basslines
fav track: runaway train
least fav track: king of my world
1 | The Metal East 4:13 | 91 |
2 | Over the River and Through the Woods 6:31 | 91 |
3 | Horsepower 4:43 | 91 |
4 | King of My World 3:57 | 63 |
5 | Mythmaster 5:11 | 95 |
6 | Runaway Train 4:39 | 95 |
7 | Leave the Lantern Lit 1:16 | 62 |
8 | Dream Genie 6:21 | 100 |
9 | Snow White (& the 7 Dwarves Fans) 11:21 | 94 |
#37 | / | Loud and Quiet |
#37 | / | The Vinyl Factory |
#81 | / | Piccadilly Records |
#92 | / | The Quietus |