[YT] Imperium – God Emperor

In the grim darkness of the far future, there is only war.

Imperium suffers at the meeting point of black and doom metal… and the Warhammer 40,000 universe. One of the few bands drawing from that piece of lore that isn’t Bolt Thrower, Matt Marblo doles out punishment one slow track at a time.

1. Dawn of the 41st Millenium
2. Mournival
3. Night Haunter
4. Cities of the Ancients
5. Mechanicus

The sound of Imperium is black metal mixing with funeral doom and slathered in gothic and symphonic elements. Synthesized choirs sing. Droning riffs stretch across the vast landscape while tremolo picked tones menace. Drums are kept surgical, striking with precision. The vocals chant dark hymns or shriek in the darkness. The songs blend soft atmospherics with hard-hitting, gigantic riffs and paint a vivid picture of a dismal, expansive, depressing far future.

Imperium’s greatest strength is in its riffs and melodies. Simple sounding they may be, they bring grace and weight to the music. From the dark spires of Night Haunter to the biting black metal of Mournival to the snaking melodies of Cities of the Ancients, God Emperor is full of master-crafted riffs. These riffs not only bring the pain but also sculpt a wonderful atmosphere. The songs play out scenes of immersive, expansive, evocative and beautiful doom.

Line-Up:
Matt Marblo – everything.

Imperium on Bandcamp