[1][2] The AllMusic review by Ken Dryden states "when Colley has had the opportunity to record as a leader, he has explored provocative originals interpreted with a crop of great players from his generation ...

This often subtle release deserves a quiet setting to be truly appreciated, it is easily one of Scott Colley's finest recordings".

[3] On All About Jazz, John Kelman's review called it "a sure contender for one of 2010's top picks" and said "Empire may have been a long time coming, but arrives with an even more definitive sense of purpose and, given the chameleon-like demands on Colley as a sideman, a clear, cohesive and cogent conceptual voice".

[4] NPR's Kevin Whitehead noted "Colley's lyrical and catchy tunes bring Empire halfway home, but it's the players who complete the job; who breathe life into the frameworks he builds.

[5] BBC Music's Lara Bellini said "Colley’s writing is superb ... Tagging along on his rhythmical discourse is an exciting, never predictable journey, and definitely never a soulless one.