Young Empires Detail Debut LP 'The Gates'

BY Gregory AdamsPublished Aug 4, 2015

Having issued their "The Gates" single a few months back, Toronto pop group Young Empires have announced that they'll soon be treating us to an album of the same name. Their debut LP drops September 4 via Pirates Blend.

A press release notes that the record marks the first full-length effort from the Ontario, who had previously issued the electro-house-minded Wake All My Youth EP in 2012. Work on this latest, 10-song outing started back in 2013 at vocalist Matthew Vlahovich's home studio, with the group later tracking the set with producers Stephen "Koz" Kozmeniuk (Kendrick Lamar, Madonna), Jimmy Messer (AWOLNATION) and Kevin Seaton (Snoop Lion, Active Child).

The set is said to be a "genre-blending" affair that finds the unit working with electronic and avant-pop flavours. Apparently, the recording sessions also found the act taking an instrument-swapping approach.

"We weren't sticking to our own instruments; it was very fluid," Vlahovich said in a statement. "Sometimes Taylor [Hill, drummer] or Jake [Palahnuk, bass] would jump on the piano to come up with a lick or I would find a beat."

The record features previously revealed singles "The Gates," "So Cruel" and "Sunshine." You'll find the tracklisting down below, along with a few upcoming tour dates. An audio stream of "The Gates" can be found below, while a video for the track can be viewed on the MUCH website.

The Gates:

1. Mercy
2. The Gates
3. So Cruel
4. Ghosts
5. Stranglehold
6. House Lights
7. Never Die Young
8. The Unknown
9. Sunshine
10. Uncover Your Eyes
 
Tour dates:

08/15 Hamilton, ON – A Midsummer's Dream Festival
08/16 Toronto, ON – Harbourfront Centre
08/22 Georgetown, ON – Rock The Hills Music Festival
09/03 Toronto, ON – The Drake Underground Album Release Party
09/04 Sarnia, ON – Festival of Good Things
09/05 Edmonton, AB – Sonic Boom
09/06 Calgary, AB – X-Fest
09/17 Vancouver, BC – Fortune Sound Club
09/19 Victoria, BC – Rifflandia Festival

Latest Coverage