Course of Empire was a hard-edged, post-industrial, alternative music group based in Dallas, Texas from 1988 to 1998. In the early days, large drums would be placed throughout the audience as a means to eliminate the separation between performer and audience. Inspired by the Kodo Drummers of Japan, C.o.E. sought to use the theater of mass drumming to illustrate their vision of a future culture that would evolve as a response to the exponentially increasing human population on the planet. This practice was stopped, however, when the drums ceased to be played by ever-increasing crowds, becoming dangerous missiles instead. The band retained one defining feature however: two drummers playing simultaneously (Michael Jerome and Chad Lovell) creating a propulsive, driving beat that underlaid many of the group's songs.
Song topics were initially of a more political and environmental stance (the name "Course of Empire" having come from a 5-piece series by 19th Century painter Thomas Cole). Later, the lyrical content would take on topics related to conspiracy theories and the personal quest of spirituality.
Course of Empire is the debut self-titled album from the Dallas, Texas band. The album was originally released on Dallas based Carpe Diem Records and sold over 5000 copies in the city alone. All songs were written by Course of Empire and produced by David Castell (Blue October, Burden Brothers, Deep Blue Something, SouthFM). The following August, Zoo Entertainment signed the band and reissued their CD with distribution through BMG
Track listing
"Ptah" - 4:17
"Coming Of The Century" - 4:04
"God's Jig" - 4:02
"Copious" - 3:34
"Cradle Calls" - 4:32
"Under The Skies" - 4:10
"Peace Child" - 5:43
"Sins Of The Fathers" - 3:25
"Thrust" - 7:21
"Mountains Of The Spoken" - 3:42
"Dawn Of The Great Eastern Sun" - 6:37
Zoo Reissue
Zoo Entertainment remixed and remastered the album in January 1992, which resulted in significantly different track lengths.
Provided to YouTube by Volcano/Legacy
Apparition · Course Of Empire
Initiation
℗ 1993 Volcano Entertainment II, LLC.
Released on: 1994-10-01
Mixing Engineer, Producer: David Castell
Composer, Lyricist: V. Stevenson
Composer, Lyricist: M. Graff
Composer, Lyricist: P. Semrad
Composer, Lyricist: C. Lovell
Auto-generated by YouTube.
published: 06 Jun 2019
Course Of Empire Apparition
published: 11 Sep 2009
Mike Graff performing "Apparition" (Course of Empire) 6/6/2015
Mike Graff performing "Apparition" by Course of Empire -
Saturday - 6/6/2015 @ Wine Therapy in Dallas, Texas
- Originally from COE album "Initiation" 1994
@mikegraffguitar on twitter
published: 10 Jun 2015
Course Of Empire "The Information"
Course of Empire Music Video from the movie "Dark City"
published: 25 Nov 2006
Course of Empire - Breed
A track from the album "Initiate" by the criminally under-rated Course of Empire.
published: 30 Sep 2009
Course of Empire - Persian Song
No North Texas music archive would be complete without the mighty Course of Empire, now would it?
From the album 'Telepathic Last Words'
Copyright 1998 TVT Records
published: 10 Apr 2011
Course Of Empire "Gods Jig" at Catalyst Club Santa Cruz CA 1992.dv
Mike Graff playing "God's Jig" with Course Of Empire while on the first tour in 1992.
published: 15 Jan 2012
Course of Empire - God's Jig
published: 05 Apr 2012
Course Of Empire "Invertebrate" at Initiation Record Release 1994.dv
Course Of Empire playing "Invertebrate" at the Initiation Album Record Release, at Deep Ellum Live, January 22, 1994.
published: 20 Jan 2012
Course Of Empire - Gear
#3 - Gear - Course Of Empire - Initiation (1992)
Since 1998, Course of Empire's albums have gone out of print and the band members are no longer receiving compensation for these releases. Mike Graff and the webmaster of this site have decided to offer free downloads of all of the band's major releases
http://www.courseofempire.com/mp3
Zoo Entertainment ('92 re-release)
Provided to YouTube by Volcano/Legacy
Apparition · Course Of Empire
Initiation
℗ 1993 Volcano Entertainment II, LLC.
Released on: 1994-10-01
Mixing Engine...
Provided to YouTube by Volcano/Legacy
Apparition · Course Of Empire
Initiation
℗ 1993 Volcano Entertainment II, LLC.
Released on: 1994-10-01
Mixing Engineer, Producer: David Castell
Composer, Lyricist: V. Stevenson
Composer, Lyricist: M. Graff
Composer, Lyricist: P. Semrad
Composer, Lyricist: C. Lovell
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Provided to YouTube by Volcano/Legacy
Apparition · Course Of Empire
Initiation
℗ 1993 Volcano Entertainment II, LLC.
Released on: 1994-10-01
Mixing Engineer, Producer: David Castell
Composer, Lyricist: V. Stevenson
Composer, Lyricist: M. Graff
Composer, Lyricist: P. Semrad
Composer, Lyricist: C. Lovell
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Mike Graff performing "Apparition" by Course of Empire -
Saturday - 6/6/2015 @ Wine Therapy in Dallas, Texas
- Originally from COE album "Initiation" 1994
@mik...
Mike Graff performing "Apparition" by Course of Empire -
Saturday - 6/6/2015 @ Wine Therapy in Dallas, Texas
- Originally from COE album "Initiation" 1994
@mikegraffguitar on twitter
Mike Graff performing "Apparition" by Course of Empire -
Saturday - 6/6/2015 @ Wine Therapy in Dallas, Texas
- Originally from COE album "Initiation" 1994
@mikegraffguitar on twitter
No North Texas music archive would be complete without the mighty Course of Empire, now would it?
From the album 'Telepathic Last Words'
Copyright 1998 TVT Rec...
No North Texas music archive would be complete without the mighty Course of Empire, now would it?
From the album 'Telepathic Last Words'
Copyright 1998 TVT Records
No North Texas music archive would be complete without the mighty Course of Empire, now would it?
From the album 'Telepathic Last Words'
Copyright 1998 TVT Records
#3 - Gear - Course Of Empire - Initiation (1992)
Since 1998, Course of Empire's albums have gone out of print and the band members are no longer receiving comp...
#3 - Gear - Course Of Empire - Initiation (1992)
Since 1998, Course of Empire's albums have gone out of print and the band members are no longer receiving compensation for these releases. Mike Graff and the webmaster of this site have decided to offer free downloads of all of the band's major releases
http://www.courseofempire.com/mp3
Zoo Entertainment ('92 re-release)
#3 - Gear - Course Of Empire - Initiation (1992)
Since 1998, Course of Empire's albums have gone out of print and the band members are no longer receiving compensation for these releases. Mike Graff and the webmaster of this site have decided to offer free downloads of all of the band's major releases
http://www.courseofempire.com/mp3
Zoo Entertainment ('92 re-release)
Provided to YouTube by Volcano/Legacy
Apparition · Course Of Empire
Initiation
℗ 1993 Volcano Entertainment II, LLC.
Released on: 1994-10-01
Mixing Engineer, Producer: David Castell
Composer, Lyricist: V. Stevenson
Composer, Lyricist: M. Graff
Composer, Lyricist: P. Semrad
Composer, Lyricist: C. Lovell
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Mike Graff performing "Apparition" by Course of Empire -
Saturday - 6/6/2015 @ Wine Therapy in Dallas, Texas
- Originally from COE album "Initiation" 1994
@mikegraffguitar on twitter
No North Texas music archive would be complete without the mighty Course of Empire, now would it?
From the album 'Telepathic Last Words'
Copyright 1998 TVT Records
#3 - Gear - Course Of Empire - Initiation (1992)
Since 1998, Course of Empire's albums have gone out of print and the band members are no longer receiving compensation for these releases. Mike Graff and the webmaster of this site have decided to offer free downloads of all of the band's major releases
http://www.courseofempire.com/mp3
Zoo Entertainment ('92 re-release)
Course of Empire was a hard-edged, post-industrial, alternative music group based in Dallas, Texas from 1988 to 1998. In the early days, large drums would be placed throughout the audience as a means to eliminate the separation between performer and audience. Inspired by the Kodo Drummers of Japan, C.o.E. sought to use the theater of mass drumming to illustrate their vision of a future culture that would evolve as a response to the exponentially increasing human population on the planet. This practice was stopped, however, when the drums ceased to be played by ever-increasing crowds, becoming dangerous missiles instead. The band retained one defining feature however: two drummers playing simultaneously (Michael Jerome and Chad Lovell) creating a propulsive, driving beat that underlaid many of the group's songs.
Song topics were initially of a more political and environmental stance (the name "Course of Empire" having come from a 5-piece series by 19th Century painter Thomas Cole). Later, the lyrical content would take on topics related to conspiracy theories and the personal quest of spirituality.
Reeling from hallucination, I chatted with an apparition Drifting my his own admission, he fell apart in Tennessee Breathing deep I recognized him, held on to and empathized him Life weighed heavily upon him, just as he has done to me I swelled until I burst, and you fell down to earth Churning from the visitation that colors my imagination I parted with the apparition, just as he has done for me