Empires

Formed in Chicago in 2007, the indie rock outfit Empires originated when guitarist Tom Conrad, previously a member of the pop-punk band the Academy Is..., reached out to singer/songwriter Sean Van Vleet to collaborate on new material. Within the following twelve months the lineup expanded to include guitarist Max Steger and drummer Mike Robinson, after which the group tracked its first full-length effort, Howl, and made the album available as a free download via its website in 2008. The self-produced collection, built around punchy garage tones and soaring, tuneful songcraft, quickly attracted an audience, prompting the band to maintain its D.I.Y. ethos by issuing the subsequent EP, Bang, through a sequence of monthly digital singles that preceded a physical edition in early 2010. Empires entered Rolling Stone’s unsigned-artist contest in 2011, a competition whose prizes encompassed a cover feature and a major-label contract; the group reached the final four entrants before elimination. Around the same period the quartet finished its second album, Garage Hymns, and released it independently. Seeking a fresh direction, the members altered both their writing approach and sonic palette, traveling to Texas to record their third album with veteran producer John Congleton. Drawing inspiration from late-’80s alternative rock exemplified by My Bloody Valentine and Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, they crafted the sleek, noir-ish Orphan, secured a deal with the Island imprint Chop Shop, and saw the album issued in September 2014.