The Empire Shall Fall (Times Of Grace, ex-Killswitch Engage) have opted to not release their forthcoming three EP’s individually on CD. Rather, they will release all three of them together on the format at a later date. Speaking via their Tumblr, the band offered:
“…We’d like to take a moment to discuss the issue of why we have chosen not to press the new EP to CD format. A lot of you have been asking this question, and this is a little explanation as to why we have made this decision. First off, let us explain that for the new EP, you will have two options to choose from, when purchasing.
Option #1: Vinyl
This was our first choice, and our preferred method of pressing.
Vinyl provides the highest audio quality over any other medium, with the exception of maybe 2” tape.
When you compare the sound next to a CD or MP3, the difference is obvious.
We have chosen to use 180 gram vinyl with 2 sides @ 33rpm.
These numbers may not mean anything to a lot of you but, it basically means you are getting the best sounding audio possible. Another nice thing about vinyl is that the artwork is much bigger. 12 square inches of artwork. We take pride in all of our artwork. The man behind all of our art, Matt Yezuita, is pretty much a 6th member of the band. What better way to display his talent than to give him a bigger canvas to work with?
The artwork for this EP is stunning and we feel that the vinyl packaging will really allow it to shine. On top of all this, the vinyls come with a high quality digital download. The packaging will include a card with a download number. So, when you receive the package, you simply go online, enter the code, and you will automatically download a digital copy of the EP. So, if you have an ipod or a zune(probably not), no need to worry.
Many people want a CD because they like to have a physical copy, something to hold in their hands. I(nick) feel the same way. I hardly download MP3’s. Believe me, it’s way more satisfying to hold a 12 inch vinyl, than a CD. What if you don’t have a record player? You can always buy one. You can find them all day long on ebay/craigslist for like $50. But, we aren’t here to make you buy record players, so if you want something physical and still want to listen on your digital device, the vinyl is a great way to go.Also, the lyrics and production notes will all be included in the vinyl package. Honestly, for $15 it’s a good deal.
Option #2: High Quality Digital Download
Pretty self-explanatory, but here is some info about this option.
For the pre-orders, we are hosting the downloads on a site to obtain the album.
When the album release date comes, we will email you a code to enter.
Enter the code on the site and you will then be able to download the album, in it’s entirety.
It’s the same process as downloading the album if you purchase the vinyl.
We will be providing these MP3’s in high quality. We will also host the lyrics sheet and album art on our website for download. If you need a CD format, you will be able to burn your own CD, even print out the artwork if you’d like.
In this sense, all bases are covered. If you crave something physical, go with the vinyl.
If you only need MP3’s, just purchase the MP3’s. If you want something to collect with great artwork, vinyl.
If you want the best sounding audio, vinyl. If you need a CD to play in your car, get the MP3’s and burn a CD.
Why didn’t we press to CD?
At this point, it’s an extra cost that we don’t see being too beneficial to anyone.
It’s also a waste, because these EP’s will average around 25-30 minutes per EP.
CD’s hold between 60-70 minutes, so there would be a lot of unused space.
Most people have MP3 players. Not everyone, but most, so for many, digital download is adequate.
Also, we have stated that upon completion of all three EP’s, we will be pressing a CD that will contain all the EP’s. This will essentially become an LP, at that point. So, if after all that, you still need an official CD, you can get it. But, you will have to wait a good 9-12 months for us to release that, as the first EP still hasn’t been released. I hope this has cleared up some questions that many of you have had.
We do hope that you opt for the vinyl, as we feel it is a good deal, and something special that we have been working on for a while, now. You will not be disappointed with the vinyl packaging. As mentioned earlier, the artwork is stunning and really compliments the music.
As always, thank you everyone for your continued support.
We are still DIY, even more so, now. Please help us continue to make music.
All the Best,
-TESF”
The first release in the series, “Volume 1: The Solar Plexus“, is expected to arrive this fall.
