What was the inspiration behind the cover?

It’s New York in January. As much as it could have been Tokyo, Paris, London, Shanghai, Sao Polo or Cairo. We were in the final stage of the mixing process of our album and I was walking on what used to be an unusually freezing night. As the cold was trying to get its grip on me, that scene (that ultimately became the “Youthful Dreams Of An Old Empire” EP cover) really struck me. It felt like the city, more than the cold itself, was trying to get a firm grip on me, in a strange static kind of motion, neon lights and other fake colors trying to simulate life in a globally acknowledged way, obscene surrender to a collective soul. We’re all faceless and identical in regard of what we used to dream of and of what ultimately owns us now, as if we had lost ourselves somewhere in the process of our everlasting desire to emancipate our souls rather than being transformed. We became the building’s reflection, perfectly aligned and organized to create the illusion of creative chaos, sad irony of our make-believes and other attempts to drain our untameable nature out of its vivid and imperfect embodiment for any kind of self-preservation type of false security.

As if life, the most defining incarnation of what art is truly about, became the plastic personification of who we are, the collective mirage of what used to lead us to define and redefine the colors of the invisible, of what our now tame nature considers the colors of a defying way to envision a proscribed dream.

The very dominant nature of every empire remains its resilience to impose itself to our intrinsic desire for freedom and its opposition to our willingness to take a chance at living beyond boundaries. When we let go of our fundamental fears of failing, we all start dreaming again, dreaming it all over again. And new morning shades arise before our very own eyes. We might have been blinded by neon lights, but every empire falls down, for we do not need to open our eyes to see. That’s what I saw. And the time I took to contemplate that scenery, musing about the illusions of holding on and about the let go necessary in order to take a chance at living, explains the major frost bites I had when I was back in the studio that night. The guys are still convinced I stopped by the apartment of a very good friend of mine on the way to the studio… well, everyone feeds the nature of his illusions and make-believes, right 😉

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Your Favorite Enemies have been featured as the New Artist of the Day on the UK based website Louder Than War. They’re talking Canadian pride, Nickelback, what the 90’s should sound like in 2013 and style. An great piece you definitely do not want to miss!

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New Artist of the Day: Your Favorite Enemies

Canada’s radio friendly, 90′s inspired shoegazers, Your Favorite Enemies,
have released a new EP – and they’re our New Artist of the Day.

Okay, first off, this is a Canadian band. Where is the “u” in favourite?? There is supposed to be a “u” there! Where is it, dammit??

Second off, I think what was actually sent to me was a Stabbing Westward album when I was sent their new EP, ‘Youthful Dreams of an Old Empire’. Yup, it’s twenty years in the past, revisited today. That being said, back in the day I did like Stabbing Westward, and I have to say, deep down, I like this new EP and this band. Nostalgia? Maybe. But right now, we seem to be seeing somewhat of a resurgence of music of that “era”, what with more and more bands doing some shoegazing, and 90’s revival sounds.

Your Favorite Enemies (without a “u”) ooze style! They look cool. They make cool looking videos. They have great hair. They are aesthetically pleasing. They know how to put on a good light show. And mixed in is some decent enough music and there is no doubt that there is also plenty of talent. The song ‘A View from Within’ which is their single of the moment is hyper stylish and devilishly dark and overall appealing and enjoyable.

This is definitely a well-produced, slickly packaged band. They are interesting enough, for sure, and after listening to some of their past music, I have to say that the ones on this new EP are some of my favourites (note the “u”). At times, there is some great, intense guitar work that I truly do love. The singing is decent, if not brilliant. At times, they sound good, dark and nearly industrial. At others, they sound a tad bland and overly radio friendly, but there is enough of the good, dark times, that it offsets the blatant appeals to radio programmers worldwide.

If I were to stack these guys against another Canadian export, say Nickelback, oh man, these guys are light years better. The reason I compare them is because Nickelback is a band that rehashed the 90’s and made it sound so bland and horrible that it’s almost unpalatable. Your Favorite Enemies have managed to still make interesting sounds and songs in their rehashing of a bygone era. And, although twenty years have passed since the first wave of this sound, they do manage to make it their own enough and make it unique enough that it can stand on its feet in 2013. So, I want to say to Nickelback, guys, THIS is how it is done.

Although new to us (which is why this is a New Artist of the Day), the band has been around since 2006 and their main claim to fame has been the fact that their music was used in part of the Final Fantasy video game series. They are from Quebec, and even have some French lyrics popping up now and again in past releases. Lead singer Alex Foster’s French Canadian accent is prevalent in the song ‘Empire of Sorrows’ at points where he recites lyrics as opposed to singing them. The remaining members of the band are Jeff Beaulieu and Sef on guitars, Ben Lemelin on the bass, Miss Isabel on vocals and keyboard and Charles “Moose” Allicy (now THAT’S a Canadian nickname) on drums. It should also be noted that the band runs their own label, Hopeful Tragedy Records.

Overall, this is a decent band worth checking out, especially if you have been listening to anything like Silversun Pickups, HIM, Funeral Party or past bands Canadian bands like Econoline Crush or Moist. They have a Filter-lite sound, if that helps? These are all bands that I have liked, and still like. So, yes, I have to say that I like them. But I wish they would put the “u” in Favorite. It’s the Canadian way, eh!

Check out Your Favorite Enemies at their official website, Facebook and on YouTube where you will find their webshow ‘Bla Bla Bla’ in both French and English.

Words by Chris Hearn

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Your Favorite Enemies are releasing a new EP

Your Favorite Enemies build on their oxymoronic name with new EP ‘Youthful Dreams Of An Old Empire’. The Montreal based Canadians aim to showcase their brand of alternative noise rock with a record which demonstrates their DIY ethos. This ethos led them to forming their own label and converting a church into their studio. Lead track ‘A View From Within’ sees Your Favorite Enemies lace front man Alex Foster’s poetic verses with adventurous riffs and a complimentary video which portrays a decadent, euphoric oriental nightlife. ‘Youthful Dreams Of An Old Empire’ is released July 8 through the band’s own label Hopeful Tragedy Records. Watch the video for ‘A View From Within’ below:

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‘Youthful Dreams of an Old Empire’ is the  debut EP from Montreal based sextet Your Favorite Enemies. The EP processes enough clues to their blend of alternative, shoegazer, and brooding noise rock.  The band are vocalist Alex Foster, Jeff Beaulieu (guitar), Sef (guitar), Ben Lemelin (bass), Miss Isabel (vocals and keyboard) and Charles “Moose” Allicy (drums).They are fierce human rights advocates who remain dedicated to their old school DIY ethos on which they established the foundations of the band. This includes starting their own label Hopeful Tragedy Records and turning an artsy Catholic Church into their own recording studio where they record all of their own material, including this soon to be realised single, ‘Youthful Dreams of an Old Empire.’

It‘s not as arbitrary, the band have stoked this debut release, their really is not much to separate out a lead track, instead, track 1, ‘A View From Within’ 4:20 seconds of ‘in the shade’ wanderings, all of which is still user friendly with an under current of heavier tones which drive the sound into deeper waters, can imagine this song as a live favourite, a sure footed opening, well received, that showcases an attractive hybrid sound well realised. The ante, if there is one, is racked up for ‘Empire of Sorrows’, Alex Foster sings a “In the darkness of my own”  a refrain that resonates, reminding all that love is a many splendored thing, another adeptly crafted song. ‘Satsuki Yami’ brings the single to a close, a brooding mainly guitar piece, like a tag in urban art, it works as a parting signature. 

Your Favorite Enemies combine mood enhancing guitar layers, over effective potent lead riffs, that add to the “introspective” vocals, the over all effect is very agreeable in the main, the debut single  signals a band that promises much, although I wish no more pain on Your Favorite Enemies, it might make for compelling songs, but at a heavy price, as psychotherapy costs so much these days! A strong debut. 7.9/10


Steve James
‘A View From Within’ (Audio Only)

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Your Favorite Enemies’ EP “Youthful Dreams Of An Old Empire” is now available digitally on the YFE Store! UK and Australia people, you can also get it directly from iTunes!

The EP features 3 songs: A View From Within, Empire Of Sorrows and Satsuki Yami.

Get yours on the YFE Store now!

The UK magazine Alternative Sound has made a review about Your Favorite Enemies’ upcoming EP, “Youthful Dreams Of An Old Empire”.

Read the review now

Your Favorite Enemies announce debut EP

‘Youthful Dreams of an Old Empire’ is the stunning debut EP from Montreal based sextet Your Favorite Enemies. The EP showcases their blend of alternative, shoegazer, new prog and brooding noise rock, in places reminiscent of The Raveonettes and Crocodiles and lyrically influenced by bands like The Clash, The Ramones and The Cure amongst others.

The band are vocalist Alex Foster, Jeff Beaulieu (guitar), Sef (guitar), Ben Lemelin (bass), Miss Isabel (vocals and keyboard) and Charles “Moose” Allicy (drums). They are fierce human rights advocates who remain dedicated to their old school DIY ethos on which they established the foundations of the band. This includes starting their own label Hopeful Tragedy Records and turning an artsy Catholic Church into their own recording studio where they record all of their own material, including ‘Youthful Dreams of an Old Empire.’

Combining powerful riffs and strong harmonies with frontman Alex Foster’s introspective lyrics, Your Favorite Enemies’ unique fusion of sonic textures show a distinctive social conscience and symbolist type of approach.

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