Throughout the 885 Greatest Songs Of The 2st Century countdown, we’ll take you on deeper dives into select songs that pop up each day.
Released just last year, Big Thief’s “Vampire Empire” quickly established itself as a standout in their discography. From the first note, the track feels like a reckoning, both deeply personal and wildly cathartic. It builds with tension before exploding into its full intensity, taking listeners on a ride that’s equal parts chaos and clarity. It’s a song that makes you want to scream along, deeply and unapologetically.
“Vampire Empire” was first heard during Big Thief’s 2022 tour, leaving audiences buzzing and eager for an official version. On March 1, 2023, the song made its official debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and the studio recording was released a few months later, on July 19. Each version sounds unique, showcasing the Brooklyn band at their rawest and most visceral. Adrienne Lenker’s vocals are at the heart of it all, equal parts pleading and fierce as she delivers lines such as “You say you wanna be alone and you want children / you wanna be with me, you wanna be with him.”
Throughout the song, the band keeps pace with Lenker, ramping up their energy to match her raw, guttural screams. Buck Meek’s jagged, frantic guitar riffs propel the song, while Max Oleartchik’s bass and James Krivchenia’s drums lock it into a rhythm that feels primal and urgent.
What makes “Vampire Empire” truly remarkable, however, is its emotional honesty. The song feels unpolished in the best way, embracing imperfections to amplify its human core. It’s not about being clean or contained, rather, it’s about capturing a feeling that’s hard to define. The recurring imagery of vampires adds another layer, transforming what could be a straightforward breakup anthem into a meditation on love’s darker, consuming edges. Lenker describes the song, “For me, it’s about getting out of toxic internal patterns – leaving the empire of energy drains that obscure pure essence, learning about what healthy boundaries are, and finding the power to implement them for the possibility of giving and receiving (both inwardly and outwardly) unbroken and infinite Love.”
Formed in 2015, Big Thief quickly gained recognition for their blend of indie rock, folk, and Americana. Since then, the band has refined their sound with each album, constantly evolving while staying rooted in their characteristically personal storytelling.