# EMPIRED ‘Strikes Back’ With New Album

- Link: https://www.nyrdcast.com/empired-strikes-back-with-new-album/
- Published: 2025-07-24T17:00:00-05:00
- Author: Eugene Tierney

### **EMPIRED _STRIKES BACK_ WITH NEW ALBUM VIA HEY!FEVER RECORDS**

#### **Vinyl drops August 29 | Streaming everywhere September 5 | Pre-orders begin August 1**

#### **Digital release party set for Sept. 5 at 4th Horseman in Long Beach**

[**Pre-Order Starting August 1st Here**](https://zjwgpy.clicks.mlsend.com/tf/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjEwOTI4NjUsXCJsXCI6MTYwNTU3MTAxNTA3MTUxNzMyLFwiclwiOjE2MDU1NzExNDUxMzY4NzU3MH0iLCJzIjoiNjk3YjMwM2VkMDE1OTE4NiJ9)

**Long Beach, CA-**-Southern California punk outfit **EMPIRED** is charging full
steam ahead with their highly anticipated sophomore album, _**Strikes Back**_, out
via **HEY!FEVER RECORDS** this fall. Pre-orders go live August 1 at [heyfeverrecords.com](https://zjwgpy.clicks.mlsend.com/tf/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjEwOTI4NjUsXCJsXCI6MTYwNTU3MTAxNTIzOTI4OTUwLFwiclwiOjE2MDU1NzExNDUxMzY4NzU3MH0iLCJzIjoiN2E3OGY1YTI0ZTg1NzUwMyJ9),
with limited vinyl bundles featuring a shirt designed by **Chris Shary** (Descendents,
ALL). Vinyl officially hits shelves **August 29**, with the digital version landing
everywhere on **September 5**.

[⌊Empired⌉⌊Empired⌉[

To celebrate the streaming release, the band will host a **FREE** listening party
on **September 5 at The 4th Horseman** in **Long Beach, CA**—featuring exclusive
merch, charity auctions, prizes, and more in collaboration with **Punk Rock Gives
Back** and **Paws of the Night animal rescue**.

When it came time to record _Strikes Back_, EMPIRED faced a familiar dilemma: pour
their budget into a pro studio—or hit the road? The answer: do both.

_“Empired had a brand new batch of tunes but ran into a dilemma… do they spend the
money on going into a pro studio to record it? Or, do they spend that money on touring
the planet?” _says **guitarist/vocalist Bruce Zebal**.

_“After much debate, we decided to roll up our sleeves and record it ourselves. 
Thankfully, we had a killer engineer in the band, **Cameron Mosavian**.”_

[⌊Empired⌉⌊Empired⌉[

_Empired Photo: @The\_Corona\_Chronicles_

With makeshift studios built out of band members’ homes and guidance from both **
Cam and Bruce**, the record took shape organically. Mastering on select tracks was
handled by **Paul Miner** (Thrice, Death By Stereo), and the band brought in **John
Carey Jr.** at **Under the Oaks Studio** to lend a hand on vocal arrangements for
the song _“Iron River.”_

The result: a 10-song collection (including a vinyl-exclusive live cut of _“KGWe”_)
that captures the raw, high-energy spirit of EMPIRED’s live show with the heart 
and soul of true DIY grit.

Formed in **May 2023**, EMPIRED was born from the collaboration between **Jai Hansel**(
bass/vocals), **Danny Baeza** (drums), **Bruce Zebal** (guitar/vocals) and **Ben
Harrison **(keyboards). Their debut LP, _Finding Calm in the Chaos_, introduced 
a band with unshakable chemistry and a relentless drive. With the addition of guitarist/
engineer **Cameron Mosavian**, the group leveled up fast—earning them a place on
the roster at **HEY!FEVER RECORDS** and a growing tour resume across the West Coast.

[⌊Empired⌉⌊Empired⌉[

### **Album Release Event – Sept 5**

**EMPIRED “Strikes Back” Listening Party**
**The 4th Horseman**, Long Beach, CA**
7:00PM** | **FREE | 21+**With support from **Punk Rock Gives Back** and **HEY!FEVER
RECORDS**Exclusive show merchRaffle prizes & auctionsCharity donations benefitting**
Paws of the Night** animal rescueSpecial guests TBA!

### **Pre-Order Details**

 * **August 1** – Pre-orders open at [heyfeverrecords.com](https://zjwgpy.clicks.mlsend.com/tf/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjEwOTI4NjUsXCJsXCI6MTYwNTU3MTAxNTM0NDE0NzEzLFwiclwiOjE2MDU1NzExNDUxMzY4NzU3MH0iLCJzIjoiMzNjYzA5NWUyYmY0MGYwZiJ9)
 * **August 29** – Vinyl in stores
 * **September 5** – Streaming everywhere

Limited edition bundles include a shirt designed by the iconic **Chris Shary** and
are expected to go fast.

**Cover Photo:** Josh Roush
**Photo: **Joush Roush

Empired will also be hitting the road in Europe with Heartwells from Nov 13–24—tour
booked by City Rat Booking.

**Upcoming Empired Shows:**

 * July 25- San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill
 * July 26- Costa Mesa, CA @ The Wayfarer

**Social Media:**
[Linktree](https://zjwgpy.clicks.mlsend.com/tf/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjEwOTI4NjUsXCJsXCI6MTYwNTU3MTAxNTQ1OTQ5MDUwLFwiclwiOjE2MDU1NzExNDUxMzY4NzU3MH0iLCJzIjoiOWRkNzhiNmY1NjM5OTI4YiJ9)

[⌊HEY!FEVER Records⌉⌊HEY!FEVER Records⌉[

**Follow HEY!FEVER Records**
[Website](https://zjwgpy.clicks.mlsend.com/tf/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjEwOTI4NjUsXCJsXCI6MTYwNTU3MTAxNTU0MzM3NjYwLFwiclwiOjE2MDU1NzExNDUxMzY4NzU3MH0iLCJzIjoiNDI4OWUzYzFiZGFjMDA3YyJ9)
| [Instagram](https://zjwgpy.clicks.mlsend.com/tf/c/eyJ2Ijoie1wiYVwiOjEwOTI4NjUsXCJsXCI6MTYwNTU3MTAxNTYyNzI2MjY5LFwiclwiOjE2MDU1NzExNDUxMzY4NzU3MH0iLCJzIjoiMjExYmZkMzFkNzQ4MTBkMiJ9)

[⌊Earshot Media⌉⌊Earshot Media⌉[

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