Holy Roman Empire

Chicago rockers Holy Roman Empire formed toward the close of 2003. Although several years passed before the group issued any recordings or performed in public, attention arrived almost at once because its lineup drew from veterans of multiple late-'90s hardcore outfits. Guitarist Neeraj Kane, previously of Stabbed by Words, Sweet Cobra, the Hope Conspiracy, and Suicide File, joined forces with guitarist Jay Jancetic, formerly of Arma Angelus and Stabbed by Words, bassist Geoff Reu of Killing Tree, and drummer Tony Tintari, an alumnus of Rise Against and Shai Hulud. The four musicians, each seeking a fresh endeavor, began exchanging ideas and jamming together without a set plan. A mutual acquaintance eventually connected them with classically trained vocalist Emily Schambra, also of Longdistancerunner, who completed the ensemble. In contrast to groups that rush out material to book early shows, Holy Roman Empire spent more than a year rehearsing and composing, drawing influence from Sense Field, Sunny Day Real Estate, the Cure, and Quicksand, before making a live debut. Their first release, the 2005 EP Lost in Landscapes on Hewhocorrupts Inc., contained six tracks of melodic yet atmospheric rock. A brief demo appeared the following year, and in early June 2007 the band delivered its debut full-length, The Longue Durée, recorded with Chicago producer Matt Allison of Alkaline Trio and the Lawrence Arms. Throughout that summer the group played dates alongside Rise Against and Silverstein.