2084 Empire
Self-Released, 2026
9/10
The San Antonio crossover prog outfit, Built For The Empire, pack a lot of ideas into these 2 discs, where influences from Rush, Tears for Fears and Pink Floyd won’t be hard to spot.
“2084” opens with thick guitar and hard hitting drums, where soaring vocals suit the giant presence that could fill stadiums, and “Propaganda” follows with Peter Fithian’s buzzing keys that align with the thundering backdrop and smooth singing.
“Airstrip One” arrives in the middle and unfolds across 11+ minutes of ambience and crunchy guitars that find a nearly spiritual place to reside, while “Zealot” is full of a strong melodic sense via the meticulous rhythm section and swirling ideas.
Arriving late, “Permanent War” balances ruggedness with a dark backdrop that’s mesmerizing, and “The National Anthem” exits with a lush dreaminess that invites singing-along to the memorable finish.
A truly engaging experience, this 4th album from Built For The Future injects dystopian ideas into Patric Farrell, Kenny Bissett, Fithian, and Lalo’s timeless prog vision.
Travels well with: Enigmatic Sound Machines- Divided By One; Galasphere 347- The Syntax Of Things