Empires, from Chicago, is at RecordBar tonight

Sean Van Vleet’s voice is the kind of ultra-powerful baritone that seems destined for rock arenas and radio hits. That talent is why, on 2012’s Garage Hymns, it was disappointing to hear Empires dipping dangerously close to soulless, Kings of Leon–variety rock ballads.

Thankfully, on the Chicago band’s latest, Orphan, Empires has grown into its songs a bit more, rounding out its jagged garage edges with 1980s pop licks. While no one really welcomes a U2 comparison these days, the songs on Orphan — with their lung-filling anthems and majestic, guitar-fueled choruses — remind us of the things we once loved about Bono and company.

Details here.