Imperium Dekadenz - When We Are Forgotten (2019)

Delivering a hefty dose of melody, melancholy and atmosphere, today we have German duo Imperium Dekadenz and their latest release “When We Are Forgotten”. Invoking the early days of Vried and Thyrfing, we are treated to one hell of a Black Metal release that will have you headbanging from start to finish.

The release opens with the grandiose album title track, gaining momentum as the layered guitars craft a punishing and yet very melodic atmosphere. Horaz vocals have a slight Immortal-esque edge, allowing them to perfectly complement the intensity of the music, as “Bis Ich Bin” demonstrates. The band’s ability to switch gears and unleash their melodic brilliance in dramatic interludes or more somber tracks like “My Solace I (Choirs Of Solitude)” makes them one of the more exciting bands in the scene these days.

Being extremely far from one-dimensional, songs like “A Cave Called Wisdom” will make you headbang furiously thanks to the killer guitar melodies and tight drumming. Other tracks have a more modern Post-Black Metal edge like the crushing “Transcendence”, a song that reminds us of Heretoir and similar bands. The use of atmospheric interludes in tracks 4,7 and 10 nicely break up the flow of the release and compartmentalize sections in movement-like structures. Our favorite song is the grim and mournful “My Solace I (Paths Of Perception)”, one of the finest atmospheric pieces in this release.

The album closes with the moody “Frozen In Time”, a track that sends the listener back into the real world after a killer musical ride in “When We Are Forgotten”. While most bands these days are looking to follow a trend of play a certain style, Imperium Dekadenz does their own thing and expertly craft a unique sound that is multidimensional in nature. The band’s musical influences are perfectly weaved together to create one of the most impressive releases of 2019, so be sure you don’t miss out.

Label: Napalm Records

Release: August 30th, 2019

Genre: Black Metal

Country: Germany