Australia has a rich tradition of producing mainstream rock acts. But somewhere along the way, they became few and far between. The bands that really rocked seemed to move to the fringes. We have an amazing metal scene, but there’s not a lot of new music you can imagine dominating the airwaves. There’s a gap in the market, but thankfully Reckless Empire are here to fill it. Their latest single “The One” is a masterclass in how a rock ballad should sound.
From Justin Mansour’s powerful vocals to those soaring electric guitars, this song is so exciting. There’s the theatre of glam rock and those classic ‘80s hair bands, but without the cheese. If you love bands like Van Halen, Whitesnake, and Bon Jovi though, I think this song will be right up your alley.
The coronavirus pandemic has taken so much from the music industry, but without it, this new music might never have been. Reckless Empire got together in 2016. They gigged relentlessly and released their debut EP, V. But then the lead guitarist Simon Davis moved interstate and the band dissolved.
Enter COVID-19. Justin was songwriting and working remotely with his old buddies Simon and Steve Twist (bass, backing vocals) seemed only natural. Boom, just like that Reckless Empire was back together. They make the tracks in their home studios before handing them over to Sydney producer Luke Bertoz. The founding trio has also enlisted Phil Pender (drums) and Simon Gilmore (guitar) for streaming and live shows. Keep an eye on their Facebook page to learn more about those gigs and check out their website for some sweet merch. It’s a great way to support the band until those live gigs start up again.
Image used with permission from Reckless Empire