Courtesy: Rise Records
Star Wars is one of the biggest film franchises in Hollywood’s modern history. Ever since the franchise’s first movie debuted way back in 1977, it has proven to be anything but a niche property. It has generated no fewer than eight movies, multiple TV series, video games and more. Next month, another tribute to the Star Wars will be released in the form of the self-titled debut record from cosplay cover band Galactic Empire. The 11-song collection will impress Star Wars fans and fans of Powerglove, Trans Siberian Orchestra and other acts of that ilk. That is due in no small part to the songs chosen for the record. That will be discussed shortly. The songs’ arrangements are just as important to note in examining this record as the songs themselves. That will be discussed later. The record’s sequencing rounds out its most important elements. Each element plays its own important part in the record’s presentation. All things considered, Galactic Empire proves in the end to be an enjoyable covers collection and a fun first effort from the band from a galaxy far, far away.
Galactic Empire’s self-titled debut album is not a collection of original compositions. That aside, it is still an enjoyable experience that Star Wars fans will appreciate just as much as fans of Powerglove, Trans Siberian Orchestra, and others of that ilk. That is due in part to the songs chosen for the record. The 11 songs that make up the body of the record come from not just one of the franchise’s films but a number of them. ‘Main Theme’ and ‘Imperial March’ come from the franchise’s original trilogy. ‘The Force Theme’ has been incorporated into most of the franchise’s entries including The Force Awakens. The band even reaches back to the series’ “prequels” with ‘Duel of the Fates’ from Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Fittingly, the whole thing ends with the famed “Throne Room” theme from the end of Return of the Jedi. Between that and the rest of the songs featured here, it becomes clear why the songs collected for this record are so important to its presentation. They show the band wanted to reach as many of the franchise’s fans as possible, not just one specific audience. To that end, the band is to be commended. It is just one reason the band (and album) should be commended, too. The arrangements that are presented within the songs are just as important to note as the songs themselves.
The songs that make up the body of Galactic Empire’s debut album are in themselves key to its presentation. That is because they show the band aimed at as many of the franchise’s fans as possible. They are, collectively speaking, just one of the record’s key elements. The songs’ arrangements are just as important to note in examining the record’s presentation as the songs themselves. Listeners will note that while the arrangements are presented in a rock format, they stay largely true to the original compositions. Listeners will especially appreciate the way the band handled the beloved ‘Force Theme.’ It maintains that solemn vibe presented in the original composition, even despite being handed on guitar. On another note (no pun intended) one could argue the band’s take on ‘The Asteroid Field’ (from Star Wars Episode V) is even more exciting than the original symphonic composition with its guitar-driven sound. That is not to say that the original composition is bad by any means. In fact it is very enjoyable. Keeping that in mind and considering the record’s other arrangements, it is clear in listening to each arrangement why the arrangements in whole are so important to this record’s presentation. They are, again, just as important to note as the songs themselves, and are still not the only important pieces of the record’s whole. The record’s sequencing is just as important to note as its songs and their arrangements.
The songs presented in this record and their arrangements are both clearly important alone and collectively to the record’s presentation. As important as they are to the record’s presentation they are not its only key elements. The record’s sequencing rounds out its most important elements. It is clear in listening to the record from start to finish that a lot of thought was given to its sequencing. It begins with a bang with the franchise’s original theme. It ends with just as much of a bang with the song used at the end of the original trilogy’s final movie. In between, the energy rises and falls at all of the right points, thus keeping listeners fully engaged throughout. The record’s first three songs keep the energy high before things pull back a little in track 4, ‘The Force Theme.’ Things pick right back up with the record’s next two songs, ‘The Asteroid Field’ and ‘Battle of the Heroes’ before turning a little more light-hearted with the band’s cover of the famed song from the famed cantina scene in which Luke originally meets Han Solo. The energy and emotion rises and falls just as much in the record’s final songs. The end result is an experience that will keep listeners engaged and entertained just as much in that final group of songs just as much as any of the record’s other compositions. All things considered, the ups and downs are expertly balanced from beginning to end, guaranteeing an experience that listeners will enjoy and appreciate. Being that they will enjoy and appreciate that well-thought-out sequencing just as much as the record’s featured songs and their arrangements, listeners will agree that when all three elements are joined together, they make the record in whole a collection that Star Wars fans will appreciate just as much as fans of Trans Siberian Orchestra and Powerglove. They join together to make the record a fun first effort from Galactic Empire.
Galactic Empire’s self-titled debut record is a work that Star Wars fans will appreciate just as much as fans of Powerglove, Trans Siberian Orchestra and others of their ilk. As has been noted here, that is due in part to the songs that make up the body of the record. They pull from the franchise’s original trilogy and its prequels. Being that ‘The Force Theme’ is included in The Force Awakens, one could even argue to a point that even that movie is represented to a point. That shows that this musical cosplay collective wanted to reach as many Star Wars fans as possible with this collection. The songs’ arrangements stay largely true to the source material, even having been re-worked in a rock setting. Truly devoted Star Wars fans will appreciate that aspect of the songs. The sequencing rounds out the record’s most important elements. It is clear in listening to this record that a lot of thought was put into its sequencing. Each element is obviously important in its own right to the record’s presentation. All things considered, Galactic Empire proves, once more, to be a fun first effort from its namesake; a record that will take listeners easily to that galaxy far, far away with every listen. It will be available in stores and online on March 10 via Rise Records. More information on Galactic Empire is available online with all of the band’s latest news and more at:
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