Southern California punk outfit EMPIRED has officially unleashed their explosive sophomore full-length Strikes Back, out now on HEY!FEVER RECORDS and available on all digital streaming platforms. The album follows last year’s debut Finding Calm in the Chaos and captures the band at full throttle—razor-sharp, road-tested, and ready to take their signature West Coast punk energy across the Atlantic this fall.
To celebrate, the band will embark on a European tour with labelmates Heartwells, kicking off November 13–24. The run—booked by City Rat Booking—marks Empired’s first international trek and promises to deliver the kind of raw, sweaty, and defiant live show that’s quickly earned them a reputation across the DIY punk circuit.
“This record is us at our most honest and unfiltered,” says guitarist/vocalist Bruce Zebal. “We tracked it ourselves, we produced it ourselves, and we’re hitting the road to share it with anyone who’ll listen. Europe’s always been a dream for us—and to do it alongside Heartwells and the Hey!Fever family makes it even better.”
Stream ‘Strikes Back’ here:
ABOUT STRIKES BACK
Recorded entirely in-house by guitarist/engineer Cameron Mosavian, Strikes Back is a high-voltage blend of melodic grit and anthemic urgency. The 10-track collection (including a vinyl-exclusive live cut of “KGWe”) was mixed and mastered with help from Paul Miner (Thrice, Death By Stereo) and John Carey Jr. at Under the Oaks Studio, capturing both the precision of a studio album and the chaos of a packed club show.
From the blistering opener “Blood on the Floor” to the defiant closer “Iron River,” Strikes Back is pure Empired—equal parts heart, sweat, and distortion.
TOUR DATES
Empired / Heartwells — Europe 2025
Presented by Hey!Fever Records & City Rat Booking
Nov 13–24, 2025
13.11 WERMELSKiRCHEN (D) AIZBAHNDAMM
18.11 HRADEL KRALOYE (CZ) BAJKAZYL
14.11 MUNSTER CD
HEILE WELT
19.11 Hof (D) PUNK ROCK OFFICE
15.11 HANNOYER D) TBA
20.11 DEN BOSCH (NL) WILLEM TWEE
16.11 BERLIN D
FRANKEN BAR
21.11 ZEIST (NL) DE PEPPEL
17.11 ViENNA (AUT) TBA
22.11 AULENDORF(D) IRREAL
Fans can expect limited edition vinyl bundles featuring artwork by Chris Shary (Descendents, ALL), exclusive merch drops, and tour-exclusive variants.
Order Vinyl & Bundles: heyfeverrecords.com
Follow Empired: linktr.ee/empiredmusic
Follow HEY!FEVER Records: Instagram | Website
Cover Photo: Josh Roush
Photo: Joush Roush
Album Track List:
1. Iron River
2. Thanks For Nothing
3. Just A Phase
4. Money
5. Parking Lot
6.Bitter Pills
7. Spite
8. Blood on the Ceiling
9. R.H.L
10. KGWe (Live at Alex’s Bar)
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