Time after time I try to think what is so important to re-release older albums. Every time I am trying to tell myself that there are a lot of reasons concerning marketing, new release rights by different labels, requests for remastered tracks and a sort of a newfound reminder of the band in question that jumps in. Well I can certainly understand when a label re-releases an album by a band from the 70s, 80s and 90s, but re-releasing an album that is less than ten years old while still being fresh more or less? That might not be the first time but this particular reissue came to my lap. This review will concentrate on the second album, "Trading Souls", of the supergroup of the multinational (England & Germany mostly) veterans of EMPIRE, led and formed by guitarist Rolf Munkes, which was reissued by the German label Pride & Joy Music. It is actually the second reissue after Lion Music, which originally released the album back in 2003, made a reissue themselves nine years later. Generally, "Trading Souls" paved the road for ex-BLACK SABBATH vocalist, Tony Martin, to take on the helm at the front of the vocal line. Such a skilled and artistic natured vocalist like Martin upgraded the band dramatically as a sole vocalist unlike the sharing of vocal influences by Mark Boals and Lance King on the debut "Hypnotica" Album, with no disrespect of course. However, just as the debut, EMPIRE kept the same line of melodic Hard Rock oozed up by elements of classic 80s Heavy Metal.

Even without being a fan of melodic Hard Rock, this album got to me. With mild sense of catchiness, EMPIRE played tune after tune reminding me of the great moments of the 80s but with a little bit more modern production. I can swarm you with a variety of bands with the same musical direction, but I won't tire you with that list. Each of the skilled musicians of the line-up brought with him his own influence and signature history. Therefore there were aspects rooted out from 70s Hard Rock, a little of classical music elements contributed by the keyboards and slight reminders of Heavy Metal. Munkes' guitar work shared distinctions between heavier riffing and feral soloing to the lighter edges of low gain Rock riffs and electric acoustic displays. Along with Martin's vocals, it was quite an assorted experience where EMPIRE jumped from here to end, from a little than the average catchy hit to the emotive boundaries of semi-ballads. Rock is here to stay but with the watchful eye of Metal from above.

However, the thing that bugged me on "Trading Souls" was the fact that EMPIRE group, along with their accumulated experience didn't attempt to give up the ordinary formula of most of the Hard Rock songs. Maybe that is the reason why several of the songs sound very much a like when it comes to their structures. Such obviousness was expected but I believe that there should be a drawn borderline. Selling is important but so is the slight diversity for the continuance of interest. "Did You Ever Love Me" was the best possible example of a song that started as an emotive ballad and rounded up as a great Hard Rocker with a heart. That plain shift made it stronger than most others. The dark "Teenage Deadhead" sounded like the early 90s BLACK SABBATH song along with a DEEP PURPLE touch thanks to Don Airey on the Keyboards. On this one the message told the sad tale. The music was also interesting and confrontational bearing a sign for all to see. Others like "Back In The Light" and "One In A Million" represented the commanding aura of the album, Hard Rockers following the same pattern but with a rather exciting features.

"Trading Souls" is no perfect, yet it is still a great album thanks to the performance of the members behind it. The material might not be that challenging of varied, but it is a fun to listen, easy to capture and think about and certainly leaving a taste for more out of this line up.