"Empire" is the fourth full-length studio album by American progressive metal band Queensrÿche, released on August 20, 1990. Produced in London by Peter Collins, and engineered by James Barton, "Empire" features a heavier sound and more diverse lyrical themes than the band's previous releases.
Commercially, "Empire" is Queensrÿche's most successful album to date, reaching triple-platinum status. It peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 and remained on the chart for over a year. The power ballad "Silent Lucidity," which features an orchestra, became the band's first Top 10 single, boosting the album's popularity.
Relevant to its time, the album's lyrics tackle socio-political issues. For instance, the title track "Empire" discusses drug trafficking and its implications, while "Resistance" addresses the fall of communism. Other songs like "Best I Can" and "Another Rainy Night (Without You)" depict personal experiences of the band members.
Despite containing some darker thematic elements, "Empire" possesses a comparatively lighter and more polished sound than Queensrÿche's previous efforts. Showcasing the band's enhanced musical maturity and versatility, "Empire" is widely regarded as a landmark release in progressive metal music.
The band for this album comprised Geoff Tate on vocals, Chris DeGarmo and Michael Wilton on guitars, Eddie Jackson on bass guitar, and Scott Rockenfield on drums, picking up where they left off with the acclaimed concept album "Operation: Mindcrime". "Empire" proved that Queensrÿche could deliver music that was not only complex and challenging but also commercially successful.
