They say that the only person you need to be better than is your past self. And while “they” might just be that one line in Kingsman, the sentiment holds water nonetheless. On the other side of the coin, there’s the cautionary tale to not get high off your own supply of self-improvement – and thus we have the struggle of growth. It’s within this murky middle ground between doing something and doing too much that Empire Within’s new single ‘Protagonist’ comes into the conversation.
“‘Protagonist’ is a song that speaks of the internal struggle between who you are now and who you used to be along with all the decisions that go along with that,” the band explain of the track, premiering today on Blunt Magazine ahead of its official Friday, 2nd July release. “This song is about growing as a person and moving past the old you, even if it means letting go of past choices weighing you down so that you can emerge anew.”
The post-hardcore belter is certainly not for the faint of heart, with manic riffage and a drummer who clearly calls no man sir. The head-spinning pace of Protagonist is set early in the piece and rarely dwindles, no doubt in a cheeky homage to the head-spinning pace at which life thrusts change upon us. Conflict is at the heart of Protagonist, even down to the vocals, with cleans and screams duelling throughout.
The Brissy boys came good for their city with the release, incorporating a small crowd of creatives from The River City to bring the idea to life. “The narrative aspect of our video was aimed to capture the frantic nature of growth and coming to grips with your own ego,” explains vocalist James Ring. “A young human, transitioning into independence trying to understand themselves and the increasingly intimidating world around them. We hope you enjoy the hours of hard work and collaboration of over 15 Brisbane locals to make this song and video come to life!! The creative community around us is so strong, and it’s a privilege to share this piece with you!”
If you like what you hear, you’ll be delighed to know that this is but the first sample of fresh material from Empire Within, who have confirmed that Critical Mass, their new EP, will be out in August of this year.
