Roll of the Dice is a short interview format with a variable amount of questions. A Pair of dice is rolled and the total, between 2 and 12, is the amount of questions we can ask. All questions are given to the interviewee(s) at once, and no follow-ups are allowed. The interview may be lightly edited for content and clarity.
With over a decade at the forefront of the scene, metalcore act Crown The Empire are continuing to make their presence felt with the newly released Dogma. TGEFM was thrilled to have an opportunity to sit back with vocalist Andy Leo to Roll the Dice and chat about their sound, the internet haters and what the future holds.
Thank you so much for agreeing to this interview. Congrats on the upcoming release of DOGMA. What can you tell us about the band today and the songwriting process on these tracks?
Thank you and thanks for having us. Our process this time around was during the pandemic. We started remotely compiling different progressions, riffs, melodies, and vocal patterns before collectively being able to work on them in the same room. It felt unusual at first, but the new approach helped really flesh out the songs before getting into the studio.
It’s been over 10 years since Crown The Empire’s debut. What has changed the most in the scene from your perspective? What stood out most to you with this recording compared to your previous trips to the studio?
Over the course of ten years we witnessed the birth of Youtube / streaming algorithms and the death of actual record sales. The music industry being flipped on its head was frightening to most labels, but very exciting giving a voice and opportunity to anyone making music without any of the traditional hoops to jump through. What stood out the most this trip is that instead of writing behind a narrative concept the album ended up being much more straightforward than any other record thus far.
You’ve all been at this all for a while, what is your biggest regret? A gig you turned down, advice you didn’t take, what one thing do you wish you handled differently as a musician?
We’ve made plenty of wrong decisions along the journey so far but looking back I’d say we could’ve given ourselves some time off of the heavy touring circuit we were on when we first hit the road.
CTE’s sound has progressed and evolved many times over the 5 records. I think your charting and tour sales show that the change has resonated as a net positive, but it’s a digital world and there is quite a bit of entitlement amongst those who can speak from behind a screen. How, if at all, have you reacted to the criticism of the vocal minority on social media and have you found a way to channel it into the music?
Being a part of the first wave of internet bands quickly taught us that no matter what you make, or how you do it, there will always be someone who fucking hates you for it and that is ultimately okay. Stay the course and keep true to what we and our fans love.
It seems like a sense of isolation is prevalent on the singles released. How does that sense relate to the COVID lockdown experience? What affect, if any, have the cultural and political landscapes of the last few years had on your music?
This record was fully birthed from pandemic induced existential crises. Our journey as a band at that point had led us to a holy war within ourselves to break down, re-purpose, and rediscover who we are leading into the next chapter.
One of our obligatory questions in these interviews also tends to be the one I have found most important on a personal level. Who are some bands on your radar that TGEFM readers may not know about, but you think they should know about?
Blood Youth & Kublai Khan TX.
Now that the world will soon have its hands on the record, what’s next for Crown The Empire?
We continue to create, tour, collaborate, and experience for as long as humanly possible.
Thank you so much for your time! Was there anything I missed that you’d like to share or dive deeper into with our readers?
Thank you to everyone who’s been a part of our journey so far. To everyone else joining us now, welcome aboard. We can’t wait for you to hear DOGMA.
Bad Dad (occasionally called Ed) has been on the periphery of the punk and punk-adjacent scene for over twenty years. While many contributors to this site have musical experience and talent, Ed’s musical claim to fame comes from his time in arguably the most punk rock Blockbuster Video district in NJ where he worked alongside members of Blanks 77, Best Hit TV and Brian Fallon. He is more than just an awful father to his 2 daughters, he is also a dreadful husband, a subpar writer, a terrible dresser and has a severe deficiency in all things talent… but hey, at least he’s self-aware, amirite?
Check out the pathetic attempts at photography on his insta at https://www.instagram.com/bad_dad_photography/
