Style: Modern/alternative rock; compare to Jimmy Eat World, My Chemical Romance, Anberlin
Top tracks: "Saints & Sinners," "It's Not Fair," "The Elevator," "To the Moon"
With opening act slots for Flyleaf, Sublime, Deftones, and Thursday, I Am Empire is following a similar career trajectory to former label mates Anberlin. Crossover attention is destined for this fierce five-piece outfit, thanks in part to mighty melodies, sweltering guitars and towering choruses. It's all wrapped around autobiographical themes of abandonment—starting with childhood despair from a father walking out on his family, leading to a period of internal wrestling, and eventually pointing to forgiveness and restoration.