New acoustic version of 2017’s “Let It Die” featuring Mutiny Within vocalist Chris Clancy is released as a new single!
X-Empire, from São Paulo, once again prove that within contemporary metal there are no boundaries, and those who don’t try new challenges tend towards a dangerous stagnation within the moulds of how music is consumed nowadays.
Because of this, the quintet currently formed by Michel Villares (vocals/production), André Marques and Ricky Franco (guitars), Émerson Soares (bass) and André Luis (drums) have released on all digital platforms, their new acoustic version of the song “Let It Die”, with the guest appearance by British singer Chris Clancy, from American band Mutiny Within, as the group’s new single.
Produced, Engineered, Mixed and Mastered by Michel Villares (M&H Studio – @meh.studio)
Co-Production and Additional Engineering by Ricky Franco (M&H Studio – @meh.studio)
“Let It Die”, Michel Villares’ first full composition, was originally released on the excellent and well praised 2017 album “Grief”, also featuring Chris Clancy.
In 2023, already with the band’s current lineup, “Let It Die” was revisited in acoustic format and brought new and incredible arrangements with more commercial accents created by the guitarist duo André Marques and Ricky Franco.
After all these years, the friendship and bonds between Chris and Michel never weakened, so much that Chris gave Michel singing lessons for 4 years and, also, being an excellent producer, was responsible for mixing and mastering the song “Hard To Breathe”, released by X-Empire in 2020.
Like “Paralyzed (Acoustic)”, released last year, “Let It Die (Acoustic)” will be part of the new acoustic EP entitled “Revised & Acoustic” that the band intends to release very soon, preceding “Catharsis”, the long-awaited release of totally new stuff from the band.
In a few weeks, a music video for “Let It Die (Acoustic)” will be released on the band’s official channel. Stay tuned!
Comments from the musicians about “Let It Die (Acoustic)”:
Michel Villares commented on the participation: “At the time, Chris made us very comfortable. I sent him the melody, and he gave it back to me in 2 days in a much better way than I had written it and without changing the lyrics (laughs). All the emotional charge of the theme is felt in its parts. It turned out amazing.”
About this new version of “Let It Die”, bassist Émerson Soares commented, “Although we only released this version now, it has already been worked on for a while. It was one of the first songs we chose for this acoustic format and we worked hard on it to keep the original identity, but with different arrangements and vocal lines. Originally it had a strong chorus with Chris’ interpretation, and now I believe we have managed to make it even better.”
New guitarist Ricky Franco went further: “It was a unique and exciting experience to recreate ‘Let It Die’ in this way. Having total creative freedom to add new elements, such as synthesizers and guitar details, was incredible. And keeping the participation of Chris, one of the greatest singers in the world, in an even more exciting version was a question not only of honour, but of good taste.”
André Marques also commented: “When I heard the original version, I always imagined how it would sound like an Alternative Rock ballad from Nickelback and Creed, for example (laughs). So I took the idea to the band to make it very commercial and the result was excellent.”
Chris Clancy commented on his social network about his participation: “It was really impressive to see all of Michel’s commitment to “Let It Die”. It is very rewarding and uplifting for a musician to see and feel another musician’s passion for their own art!”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Formed in 2012 in the city of São Paulo, X-EMPIRE aims to express their sound in a contemporary way, using new and deep lyrical concepts that perfectly balance with their dense melodies.
Their modern, complex and unique sound, based on alternating vocals that vary from clean and melodic to guttural and harsh, added to the technique of their well-structured guitar riffs, striking bass and drums, pleases a large part of the public appreciative of catchy choruses and more progressive and heavy strands that permeate styles like Groove Metal, Djent, Prog Metal, Metalcore and even Pop.
Since their formation, they have never been afraid to try new challenges, and now strongly expose influences from bands like Meshuggah, Periphery, Trivium, Scar Symmetry, Mutiny Within, Symphony X, Nevermore, Dream Theater, Iced Earth, among others, with the intention of never limiting their art.
Listen to X-EMPIRE at:
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/36JnwNM
Deezer: www.deezer.com/br/artist/
Apple Music: https://apple.co/3IwIM6E
Bandcamp: https://xempireofficial.
Youtube: www.youtube.com/
Mídias Sociais/Contato:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/xempire_
