New York is one hell of a city… I can hear the underground
clubs cracking with blackened death metal, I can visualize the earthquakes
breaking the city streets, I can hear the thunderous storms forming in the
black skies above the buildings, I can feel the fragility and frailty of human
existence and the ephemerality of life. Such are the images and feelings that Imperial Triumphant gives me with
‘Abyssal Gods’ album.
The band was formed in 2005 with the purpose of transcending
the mainstream bases of metal and to create a vanguardist black sound,
categorized by futuristic elements of modern black metal. Composing inharmonious
melodies, devastating ambients and technically superior soundscapes since 2005,
the group is formed by Ilya (vocals and guitars), Malave (bass), Cohen (drums)
and Grohowski (also playing drums). Their influences range from Deathspell
Omega to Polish Post-Serialism composer Krzysztof Penderecki, thus the
peculiar, unconventional and bizarre musicality.
‘Abyssal Gods’ is a monster of a work. There are few bands
capable of expressing such complex ingenuity and “spirit”, preserving at the
same time a unique identity. This is what Imperial Triumphant does with a dark
splendor – the transformation of deconstructed, well established roots in
brilliant, terrorizing and modern opus.
It’s easy to capture the American style in their playing.
The quartet displays an almost blues/jazz orientated sonority. In addition, to
top it off, there’s a grand variation in the band’s blends, ranging from black,
death, atmospheric to a post-serialism influenced genre. This is why I was
immediately attracted by the grotesque essence of Imperial Triumphant. Not to
mention the great quality of the album’s production. The complexity of the
band’s creations could easily turn the production in a bloomer, but that’s
obviously not the case. The constant change of rhythm, the inconsistent
features of the songs (in a strangely pleasant way) and the difficult
compositions don’t spoil the work at all.
The 10 track album, containing a total of 40:31 minutes, is
a masterpiece of black metal. One can’t simply name one song of the work and
talk about it. The monstrous piece must be “attacked” as a whole; the listener
needs to spend his time searching for the gems that can be found all over the
music. It offers a journey to experience over and over again.
I highly recommend ‘Abyssal Gods’. Not only will you be able
to headbang to intense music, you will also be able to calmly savour every
single note transpired by these weird beings of black metal. The album will be released on February 2015 through code 666. Check it and rock on \m/.
One melee with the words, ideas and its paradoxes... albuns that are news, the reviews at "HeavyHardMetalmania.net", always with its watermark, Pedro Ribeiro, with love for beer... sorry, music from an early age, he studied piano and singing from 7 to 14 years, then, devoted himself to the study of the guitar for 5 years. "The wisdom is found in the extremes, all extreme Metal here!"
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| 01 - From Palaces 02 - Abyssal Gods 03 - Dead Heaven 04 - Celestial War Rape 05 - Opposing Holiness 06 - Krokodil 07 - Twins 08 - Vatican Lust 09 - Black Psychedelia 10 - Metropolis |
Listen Imperial Triumphant's song 'Sodom' from previous album 'Goliath' below:
