LISTEN: Fall Out Boy Drummer's New Project
MP3
Burning Empires (Matt Mixon, Kyle Johnson, Ryan Morgan, Andy Hurley, Stu Ross)
Fall Out Boy is on indefinite hiatus, but drummer Andy Hurley is busier than ever!
In addition to the Damned Things, his heavy metal band with members of Anthrax and Every Time I Die, the 29-year-old sticksman is working on another project: Burning Empires, a hardcore quintet featuring Stuart Ross, Ryan Morgan, and Kyle Johnson of Misery Signals, plus Matt Mixon, formerly of 7 Angels 7 Plagues. They're all Milwaukee natives (and housemates!) with one ambition: to deliver their political message hard, fast, and loud.
Listen to Burning Empires' new song, "Accomplice," below.
Like Misery Signals and 7 Angels 7 Plagues, Burning Empires rip out a heavy, furious sound with thundering double kick drums, screeching electric guitars, and Morgan's vicious screams. But with "Accomplice" -- a song off the band's early 2010 EP, Heirs of the Soil, to be released via their own Fuck City label -- there's an added element: a scathing message about the U.S. government's war against animal and environmental activists.
Speaking exclusively to SPIN.com, Hurley, a devout vegan and follower of anarcho-primitivism, discussed the new band -- and its message:
"This is a band I've always wanted to do with these guys, who have been best friends for about as long as Pete [Wentz] has been my best friend -- over 10 years," he said. "Burning Empires satisfies a heavier, more pissed off side of me that has been waiting to come out, and the politics of the band are so important to me. They're issues for which I've wanted to have a musical outlet for years."
Ryan Morgan agreed: "['Accomplice'] is a song about the guilt of existing in an ecologically destructive system," from which "there is virtually no escape."
"And should someone choose to take action," he added, "they're facing a disproportionate and heavy-handed response from the government. The FBI has labeled the animal rights and environmental movements as the 'No. 1 Domestic Terrorist threat.' It's horrifying and it's bizarre and backwards."
Listen to "Accomplice" below, then tell us what you think in the comment section!
LISTEN: Burning Empires, "Accomplice"
36 Comments
Click here to comment- Posted By Anonymous
03.21.10 12:42 PM
if you listen closely, you will notice the drumming style and pattern which is very much fall out boy-ish. i'm talking about "take this to your grave" and a little bit of "from under the cork tree". but still, i'm happy for andy. i'm a big fan of fall out boy AND all the four members. they are all great musicians in their own right. i wish them all the best of luck in their new paths, but i prefer to see 'em back together.
- Posted By Anonymous
03.08.10 5:48 PM
This is so much more better than fall out boy. Don't get me wrong, fall out boy were unreal but, in my opinion, this stuff is a lot better. Plus, it gives Andy more of a chance to show off all of his full drumming skills whereas in FOB he was fairly limited.
- Posted By oddevened.
02.16.10 3:16 PM
this is one of those songs.... where you'd like to listen to it and say you like it,but you cant help but wander what it couldve been.....if fall out boy were back together....:-(
- Posted By M@rri (the @ is pronounced as an A)
02.07.10 9:39 PM
Omigod. I love this band! I really miss FOB and wish that they'd reform soo badly!!!!!!I'm an insane FOB fan and I also enjoy screamo/metal. Luv U, Andy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- M@rri
- Posted By UnnurmalxD
02.05.10 7:32 PM
I like the rythm of the song.. well more or less
but the vocals sucks... sorry. Don't like to hear a guy just screaming his voice out like crap
- Posted By kisskiss124
01.05.10 8:20 PM
Im a die hard Fall Out Boy fan, so im not thrilled with the whole 'other band' thing thats in process, but i do like the music. The lyrics are good too, like the meaning is well put togther, and the sound is cool, but i miss fal out boy.-this is definatley a change in key from fall out boy and Andy seems happy with the sound, so what makes him happy makes me okay with it.
~~~~
- Posted By Anonymous
12.25.09 5:56 PM
Man, no one needs to cuss. These are some of the most honest dudes in music and passion is never in short supply with their compositions. It's been said before and apparently people need to be reminded: If it's not what you dig, don't listen. And keep negativity to a minimum!
I for one love this song, it's the best out of all B.E's releases i'd say.
Fast, hard, and exciting music. Takes me back to the local hardcore days.
- Posted By Mikei so fine
12.18.09 10:35 AM
"All I care about in a band after they produce something like this is how their live show is."
I wish more people thought this way.
- Posted By Anonymous
12.14.09 7:37 PM
Kids who down stuff like this make me laugh. This is nothing groundbreaking, but the sound is actually a lot more melodic and fresh than anyone cares to credit in their comments. The message is great that they are promoting. It is more flavorful than One Dead, Three Wounded. Don't get me wrong, 1d3w style is way good by me, but this is more poetic I suppose.
I can't wait to see how this evolves. All I care about in a band after they produce something like this is how their live show is. Your message falls flat without kids behind your performance. The rest will come in time. Hope to see how it is when they actually move around the US
- Posted By HellsDreamer
12.12.09 9:51 AM
I love it, except I'm a big Fall Out Boy fan so if Andy leaves Fall Out Boy for this or something happens I don't think I'll be so happy. Guess I can't stop him or anyone in Fall Out Boy for that matter. Well, awesome music, great vocals, overall I like it. =)
- Posted By Daniel is an idiot
12.10.09 10:31 PM
@Daniel
If you don't have any background in this style of music, how can you say the vocals are poor? There is a certain art to this style of music, from drums to guitar to vocals, and if you don't understand it, then don't comment about it.
- Posted By Mike Mirza
12.10.09 8:13 PM
Very solid stuff. Nothing groundbreaking, but it's very well done. I'm excited for the political themes, and relieved they're not trying to work singing parts into the songs.
- Posted By Theecapptain
12.10.09 12:50 PM
Damn Right, I Love this!
05.12.10 1:04 PM
These guys are way better then Fall Out Boy that band just screams lets go cut ourselfs and stare at pete naked lol andys a lot better off not playing emo crying ****