Hempire – The Weight

by Mark 'Yeti' Richard · March 11, 2025

Hempire is a high country power trio based in Asheville, North Carolina. They play a style of heavy stoner rock that has a strong metal and thrashy component to it. The lineup consists of Joey Shaw on vocals and guitar, Jason Watson on bass, and Jon Andre on drums. The band put out a demo in 2022 called High Country Hash Thrash. On January 24th 2025, they released their debut full length album, entitled The Weight. Containing ten tracks in forty six minutes, the album is self released.

The Weight is the kind of record that requires multiple listens to fully appreciate. Hempire has a lot going on with the songs, incorporating heavy riff rocking grooves, laced with a heavy metal edge of thrashy grit. “Nugrunner” begins with a slight fade in of volume of piercing guitars that build in some pounding drums around it. The song then kicks in with a heavy rocking riff enticed with some raspy vocals. The band lay down a heavy groove between the first verse and begins a cascade of metal infused stoner rock. “The Grind” thrashes next with some double bass drum action and some brutal guitar riffing. Hempire derive some nice guitar leads and cool drum fills too. The third track “Sound Of The Hellbound” has an old school metal feel throughout the song incorporating some excellent backing vocals too. They include a cool drum fill break just before the leads that cranks into a nice head banging rhythm. Hempire has subtle twists of prog and psych merged into their music too which makes each song more interesting. They even provide some guitar octave nuances and squeals at the end of the song.

“Without The Darkness” is one of the longer tracks on The Weight. It’s starts with bass and drums and expands into a rocking groove of metal. The song features some electrifying guitar leads and some nice psychedelic melodies entrenched in tribal-esc percussion. The band gels into a ripping jam to close out the tune. “Wasn’t Born Yesterday” has a grungy metal flow to the music as it moves along. The vocals remain raspy and gruff with a hint of melody to the chorus parts. Joey Shaw also cranks out more enticing guitar leads in this song. “Deathbringers, Inc.” is another hard rocker utilizing some phase guitar parts with some dank good riffs. The ending tones down with clean guitar and pounding drums as the song fades on out. It drops back into “Gravedigger” which is another hard banger with metallic elements spread throughout, with backing vocals and screaming leads.

The eighth track entitled “Bongbroth” explores a spacy and psychedelic component that Hempire deliver with grace and vigor. The instrumental transcends into a heavy driving rhythm of metal and infuses heavy psych into the mix. Jason Watson throws down some cool and flowing bass lines too which suits the song well. The song plays right into the tasty drum hammering beginning of “Deathtrap”. Jon Andre displays some very good drumming throughout The Weight and has a rocking style doused in heavy metal with hardcore moments. “Deathtrap” is another straight ahead smasher that pummels ahead with ample fuel and intensity. The final track on the album is called “Ain’t Leaving Here Alive”. The song dials in the doom and has a grinding flow to the rhythm. More death squeals and thrashing going on with this one. It has an aggressive sound to both the music and vocals and it is a strong closer to the record. Hempire delivered an overall great and solid album with The Weight. The band manages to keep the heavy driving metal in abundance while shifting off into some psychedelic rock territory which keeps the music vibrant and interesting.