It’s been a rough ride for Imperial Domain. Although a promising figure in the 90s Swedish melodeath boom, a breakup in 2005 and reunion in 2014, followed by the tragic death of original vocalist Tobias von Heideman, means that they haven’t released any new material since 2003’s The Ordeal. However, after regrouping with new frontman Andreas Öman, they’ve managed to put all their struggles down into musical form and return with their new album The Deluge, their first in 15 years.
Opening with “True Face of War”, we are greeted with dramatic pianos and complex riffage from Philip Borg and Peter Laitinen before things roar into action. Andreas Öman is a perfect fit for Imperial Domain, as his guttural roars complement the crushing guitars and progressive structures, showcasing a real maturity to their songwriting after 15 years away. Title track “The Deluge” continues the mid-paced melodeath onslaught, with a more simplistic approach than the opening track. It’s cleat that Borg and Laitinen aren’t afraid to go back to basics when the mood suits them, and that helps add an element of variety to their songwriting – although while the riffs are simple enough, the song itself is still full of pace changes and shifts to keep the listener on their toes.
Throughout all the different layers of sounds present on The Deluge from subtle leads to chaotic keyboards dancing through the verses, you’ll always spot something new on repeat listens. This is one of the joys of the Swedish death metal scene, as it never settles for just the basics, and it always wants to add little extra pieces for more devoted listeners to dig deep and discover. Tracks like “Conspiracy” and lead single “The Future is Lost” are full of these, from odd drum hits by Alvaro Svanerö, to zany prog rock keyboard solos and wall-of-sound, multi-layered guitar production. Such an aural onslaught may be too much for the casual listener, but if given time the rewards are clear. Luckily, you are offered the odd breather through “Withdrawn from Life”, with its slow tempo and spoken word vocals from Simone Svanerö, and acoustic interlude “Evanescent”, interwoven with pummeler “Eternal” and epic closing track “Ever Since That Day”.
The main problem lies in the fact that, interlude aside, only two track sit below 5 minutes in length. For the more progressively inclined death metal fan, this won’t be a problem, but it is all too easy for the casual listener to zone out and lose interest in longer tracks – which can be an issue in a genre where speed and aggression are key tenets to holding a listener’s attention. It could well be that Imperial Domain are not interested in courting these fans though, as there is plenty of good material here to keep those who are willing to give this a chance, something to enjoy. At only 8 tracks, those minutes matter, and every one is jam packed with riffs and terrific songwriting. Although not many people may be familiar with Imperial Domain after such a long absence from the scene, The Deluge stands as a welcome return for devoted fans, and an excellent introduction for new fans.
Imperial Domain’s new album The Deluge is out now via Inverse Records. Follow the band on Facebook.
Opening with “True Face of War”, we are greeted with dramatic pianos and complex riffage from Philip Borg and Peter Laitinen before things roar into action. Andreas Öman is a perfect fit for Imperial Domain, as his guttural roars complement the crushing guitars and progressive structures, showcasing a real maturity to their songwriting after 15 years away. Title track “The Deluge” continues the mid-paced melodeath onslaught, with a more simplistic approach than the opening track. It’s cleat that Borg and Laitinen aren’t afraid to go back to basics when the mood suits them, and that helps add an element of variety to their songwriting – although while the riffs are simple enough, the song itself is still full of pace changes and shifts to keep the listener on their toes.
Throughout all the different layers of sounds present on The Deluge from subtle leads to chaotic keyboards dancing through the verses, you’ll always spot something new on repeat listens. This is one of the joys of the Swedish death metal scene, as it never settles for just the basics, and it always wants to add little extra pieces for more devoted listeners to dig deep and discover. Tracks like “Conspiracy” and lead single “The Future is Lost” are full of these, from odd drum hits by Alvaro Svanerö, to zany prog rock keyboard solos and wall-of-sound, multi-layered guitar production. Such an aural onslaught may be too much for the casual listener, but if given time the rewards are clear. Luckily, you are offered the odd breather through “Withdrawn from Life”, with its slow tempo and spoken word vocals from Simone Svanerö, and acoustic interlude “Evanescent”, interwoven with pummeler “Eternal” and epic closing track “Ever Since That Day”.
The main problem lies in the fact that, interlude aside, only two track sit below 5 minutes in length. For the more progressively inclined death metal fan, this won’t be a problem, but it is all too easy for the casual listener to zone out and lose interest in longer tracks – which can be an issue in a genre where speed and aggression are key tenets to holding a listener’s attention. It could well be that Imperial Domain are not interested in courting these fans though, as there is plenty of good material here to keep those who are willing to give this a chance, something to enjoy. At only 8 tracks, those minutes matter, and every one is jam packed with riffs and terrific songwriting. Although not many people may be familiar with Imperial Domain after such a long absence from the scene, The Deluge stands as a welcome return for devoted fans, and an excellent introduction for new fans.
Imperial Domain’s new album The Deluge is out now via Inverse Records. Follow the band on Facebook.