"Heart of the Rock" An impressive lineup this one. Featuring the vocal talents of both Lance King (Gemini, Balance Of Power), and the operatically inclined Mark Boals. (Billionaire Boys Club). Assisted by the six stringing antics of German based Rolf Munkes, a British back-end of Murray and Airey (who haven't they played with!) powered by the dual pairing of Kloos and Johansson (ex Yngwie J Malmsteen among others), the only way is 'up' for this Empire project. The songs are a smorgasbord of melodic metal, ranging in style and influence - starting off from the care-free seventies, and moving forward through into the indulgent eighties and beyond. For instance, 'Into The Light' is a spectacular entrance for Boals masterful vocals. Not to be outdone, King's work on 'You're All That I'm Looking For' is soaring, while the song is a commercial but melodic romp. 'Spread My Wings' which is a ballad - sees Airey stretching out, trying to emulate Ken Hensley with seventies ...(more)

"The Shredzone" Powerful melodic music that tips on the extremes of radio Heavy Metal and Hard Rock. Priceless vocals, screaming guitar work and one hell of a rhythm section barely begin to give credit to this hard rock powerhouse. After hearing the first seconds of "Fool in Love”, I WAS HOOKED! Empire's "Hynotica" sets new standards for hard rock and melodic metal. They bring new life to an already flourishing new host of European rock bands. Lion music knew what they were doing when they signed this rock super group. Empire gets my vote for best Lion artist in a band format. On a scale from one to ten, I give this monster 100! Every song kicks ass! Can you ask for anything more? Well maybe a second record...(HINT HINT) Track two "Fool in Love" is Heavy Metal anthem for sure! With super catchy vocals that will have you singing along for days at a time. Rolf Munkes’s guitar playing is ballistic! He really knows how to ...(more)

EMPIRE - Hypnotica November 3, 2001 LION MUSIC LMC 2110 2 Rating: 9/10 Wow, this is what I would call a super group. Here we got Lance King (Balance Of Power), Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Gary Moore, Company of Snakes), Rolf Munkes and Gerald Kloos in the same band. And if that wasn't enough! The guest musicians are even more interesting, because they are Mark Boals (Ted Nugent, Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring of Fire), Don Airey (Whitesnake, Gary Moore, Rainbow, Company of Snakes) and Anders Johansson (Yngwie Malmsteen, Hammerfall). But a bunch of good musicians isn't enough to make a good album, no, the catchy straightforward hard rock compositions you can hear on this album is the true essence of the album. The basics to the compositions seem to be done by Rolf Munkes and his drummer Gerald Kloos. Rolf also seems to be the one who founded the project, got in contact with the other musicians and refined the compositions together with them. Stefan Kaufman, ...(more)

EMPIRE, "Hypnotica" (Lion Music) Rating: 90 Another solid release from the good people at Lion Music! In fact, this I think is their best release for the year and at any rate, it's my personal favourite from them. Empire features Lance King and Mark Boals on vocals, Rolf Munkes on guitars and bass, Neil Murray on bass, Don Airey on keyboards, Gerald Kloos on drums and Anders Johansson on drums. That's quite a line up you will agree, but the results on record are even better. This is pure European hard rock, but features the best melodies imaginable and some superb harmonies and lead vocals. Naturally, when you consider who is involved. But the tight mix of shredding guitars, big harmony vocals and a fast tempo are not often that well mixed. Thankfully this is a best case scenario. This is not Yngwie style shredding, this has plenty of keyboard and guitar solos, but it's more song based, with a tight rhythm section and balanced solo's adding to the ...(more)

Empire - "Hypnotica" Rolf Munkes - Empire project is a high octane full on rock & roll extravaganza! Featuring an all star cast of rocks elite. Lance King & Mark Boals - vocals, Neil Murray - Bass, Gerald Kloos & Anders Johansson - Drums and the ever great Don Airey - Keyboards. Hypnotica contains twelve tracks of melodic hard rock with some twists and turns that will please almost everyone. There is a little bit of everything here. From power metal to ballads and everything in between. Rolf Munkes provides his usual outstanding and complex guitar playing, showcasing his brilliant style and strong melodic sensibilities. Hypnotica proves once again that Rolf is a musical force not to be taken lightly; powering all twelve tracks with his all star cast of musicians. Tracks like "Fool In Love" and "I Will Always Be There" are kick ass rock and roll with very catchy melodies that draw you into the music. "Spread My Wings" ...(more)

EMPIRE, "Hypnotica" (Lion Music) Rating: 8.5 Lance King (Balance Of Power) on vocals, Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Gary Morre, Eric Clapton & Ian Gillan to name a few) on bass, Rolf Munkus on guitar and Gerald Kloos on drums invited with Don Airey (Whitesnake, Gary Moore, Rainbow.) on keyboards, Anders Johansson (Hammerfall, Yngwie Malmsteen) on drums and Mark Boals on vocals some guest musicians to create the debut album of this new melodic metal band. Needless to say that a line up like this can only deliver high quality music. After a short intro the band bursts out with "Fool In Love" a perfect example of a classical hard rock tune with neo classical influences. While Ralf Munkus is putting down a sea of guitar virtuosity vocalist Lance King belts out his mesmerizing vocal lines. Everybody who knows the band Balance Of Power will know that Lance is a man with a powerful voice. The second tune "Into The Light" is sung by Mark Boals and ...(more)

Schon allein das Aufgebot an Musikern liest sich interessant. Verantwortlich für die Vocals zeigen sich Blanace Of Power-Ausnahmesänger Lance King und Mark Boals (u.a. Yngwie Malmsteen, Ring Of Fire), ihres Zeichens beide ausgezeichnete Vokalakrobaten mit eigener Note. Rolf Munkes (guit), Neil Murray (baß), Don Airey (keys), Anders Johansson (drums) und Gerald Kloos (drums) vervollständigen das Line-up dieser tatendurstigen Truppe. Bombig-dynamisch und mit einer Unmenge Power geht die Platte gleich von Anfang an ab wia a Zapferl. Nicht, daß wir es mit Speed Metal zu tun hätten - nur eben mit einem runden, silbernen Energiebündel, das sich in komplexen Songs mit super durchgestylten Strukturen, Facettenreichtum, technischer erstklassiger Interpretation und schlicht genialen Melody-Lines austobt. Aus geilen Strophen werden noch geilere Chorusse, ausdrucksstark und eindringlich. Mit eigentlich unauffälligen Breaks, durch die man sich mitten drin ...(more)

Empire - Hypnotica December 2001 | Released: 2001, Lion Music | Rating: 4/5 | Reviewer: Rick When I got this CD to review I really didn't have a clue who Empire were. The CD was totally new and I hadn't even gotten the first buzz about the band. Well now that I am acquainted with the band I a DAMN HAPPY that this CD was sent my way to review. Back in the 80s when I was a young metalhead I was one of those strange characters that listened to everything from hard rock to thrash and everything in between. I might have a Ratt cassette on then jump to some Slayer then back to Quiet Riot then to some Maiden then back to Testament. It didn't matter. It was all metal to me. Today, with revisionist thinking and metals walk down paths much darker and brutal many people would argue with these bands being metal. Well I never cared. I liked it all. Which brings me to why I like this Empire disc. Empire are a (according to their press release) an all star melodic hard rock super group. I ...(more)

Lance King (Balance Of Power) on vocals, Neil Murray (Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, Gary Morre, Eric Clapton & Ian Gillan to name a few) on bass, Rolf Munkus on guitar and Gerald Kloos on drums invited with Don Airey (Whitesnake, Gary Moore, Rainbow…) on keyboards, Anders Johansson (Hammerfall, Yngwie Malmsteen) on drums and Mark Boals on vocals some guest musicians to create the debut album of this new melodic metal band. Needless to say that a line up like this can only delivers high quality music. After a short intro the band bursts out with "Fool In Love" a perfect example of a classical hard rock tune with neo classical influences. While Ralf Munkus is putting down a sea of guitar virtuosity vocalist Lance King belts out his mesmerizing vocal lines. Everybody who knows the band Balance Of Power will know that Lance is a man with a powerful voice. The second tune "Into The Light" is sung by Mark Boals and he puts down a goose bump causing performance. The ...(more)

There are lots of great guitar players on this planet, but not many of them are gifted songwriters who have the discipline to subordinate their guitar playing to the song. There are many bands out there whose songs either suffer from guitarsturbation or where the guitarist who leads the band doesn't get a chance to show his talent. Empire is different. This project is the brainchild of the German guitarist Rolf Munkes, who has assembled a line-up that can only be described as first-class. The low frequencies are provided by ex-Whitesnake and current Company Of Snakes bassist Neil Murray, on drums there's his pal Gerald Kloos and on vocals Balance Of Power singer Lance King. Guest stars are ex-Rainbow, ex-Whitesnake and ex-Ozzy keyboard wizzard Don Airey, Yngwie Malmsteen and Hammerfall drummer Anders Johansson and also ex-Malmsteen and current Ring Of Fire singer Mark Boals. While many a guitar-orientated album gets stuck in endless solos and self-indulgent riffing, Rolf has ...(more)

No More Obscurity is his wonderful debut solo album, whilst most shredders are content to just create the ultimate album full of widdle diddle, Munkes takes the initiative by recording a number of songs with singers...... Because of the album diversity Rolf Munkes has delivered a wonderful album that never gets boring and keeps the listner interested and impressed right the way through. (Nicky Baldrian)Rating 8/10

What they`re created is a tight, bright, technologically advanced guitar showcase with many real songs and a playful, jazzy powermetal feel.... Cool album, well paced, sort of like compressed, mindful of song. (Martin Popoff)

He is a highly spirited wizard of strings and a gifted guitarplayer. Serious guitarwork and outstanding arrangements that will blow every serious guitarists mind.

Munkes has a distinctive guitar-playing style charakterized by clean, fast legato lines.... Rolf Munkes shows a lot of promise as a guitarist and songwriter. (Kevin Ryan)

A guitar virtuoso.... We finally have something to stick in our decks from this great musician..... Rolf is an amazing guitarist..... This is a fun album to listen to.... very creative guitar work. (Dave Palmer)

No More Obscurity is most definitely a "guitar" album, but it`s also most definitely a song-oriented "guitar" album. Munkes and drummer Gerald Kloos have managed to lay down a batch of tunes that walk that thin line between hotshot showmanship and commercial accessibility. (Tim Wadzinski)

Gunther Matejka (chief editor): "I am impressed". Accurate play, creativity and compact compositions distinguish the production. The audience at this year's International Music Fair in Frankfurt was deeply impressed with the Rolf Munkes live performances at the booth of Rath-Amps.

One of the most talented German guitarists.Rolf Munkes presented himself to the German Hard Rock establishment with a spectacular demo CD. He proofs himself being a fabulous guitarist and plays styles like Satriani, Steve Vai and Tony McAlpine. Why are his three songs so much fun? Because it's a journey through all parts of rock music and touches seventies-Bands like Wishborne Ash with his twin lead breaks.

Finally! A solo debut from a guitarist with substance. Rolf Munkes is a brilliant guitar virtuoso offering more then just a blast of shredding. This is a very guitar oriented album but yet very diverse in the fact that it is also music driven. Instead of in your face guitars it is a well blended mixture of all involved. Of course that's not to say that there isn't some massive shredding here but it has it's place and that in itself is unique. A very impressive effort, accurate, distinct, complete compositions and a great cover of 'Message In The Bottle'. Munkes is a true craftsman in his field, a great musician showing tons of true promise. Rolf is sure to blow the mind of any guitarist with his outstanding guitar work. Obscurity is evident of this, full of raw energy and power breathing in musical elements such as jazz, rock, fusion, blues, and powerful metal. This is a superb album that never leaves you in boredom. There's always something new to hear on each listen. Rolf Munkes - ...(more)

Already in G&B 04/99 Rolf Munkes was introduced, and even then the fast guitarist impressed the Jury lasting. On his first longplayer No More Obscurity, Munkes plays with his band classical Hard-Rock, which reminds from the way of production of the eighties. Original is in this connection the cover of the Police-Hit "Message in a bottle", which was put under clear High-Speed-Licks. Actually Rolf`s stringwork is impressive. He is very familiar with the playing of guys like Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Eddie Van Halen. But not only in play technical respect, also with his fat guitar-sound he goes in a similar stylistically direction. Good work!

Why is this music still a demo? The guitarist Rolf Munkes has extraordinary talent and his CD presents songs that are played technically and virtously brilliant.

In terms of technique he has improved tremendously and moves turbocharged on the neck.