An emotionally charged Seattle-based hard rock quartet led by singer/songwriter Damien Lawson, Awaken the Empire specialize in a fiery blend of hard-hitting emo-metal and melody-driven modern rock that evokes names like 30 Seconds to Mars, Eyes Set to Kill, and Nonpoint. Formed in 2009, the quartet, which also includes Daryl Falconer, Shivan Somaratne, and Romina Fronti, issued its debut EP, Awakenings, in 2011, followed by a series of increasingly high-profile singles and videos that culminated in a deal with Century Media Records in 2013. Awaken the Empire released a pair of singles, "Rise and Fall" and "Insomniacs Unite," before issuing their debut studio long-player, Aurora, in August 2015. ~ James Christopher Monger