Originally printed in Issue 1 of Crunch Magazine HERE check out Hutch’s review of the new EP from our pals in Imperium!!
It was a mere four months ago that Imperium dropped the banger that is Iron Thunder. Since then, there seems to have hardly been a week go by without news from their camp about progress. I’ve seen the band rule the Coalville weekend in July, caught up with singer Ben Porter at Bloodstock, and made plans to get to the launch of this EP on 23rd September. It’s fair to say that Imperium’s sound, work ethic, and general attitude align with what I like in a metal band.
So, here we are, with the early copy of the latest EP, When Kings Meet. Six tracks that include two from their triumphant set at Bloodstock in 2022 (ed – If you purchase the CD, streamers just get the new recordings), and all bursting with the aggression, pace, and power that we’ve come to expect from the band. It’s bristling with energy, and with a production that enhances their chainsaw sound.
The EP opens with the title track. A tale of power, greed, and futility, set in the days of armour, horses, hand to hand combat and of course, serfdom. It’s to their credit that Imperium are writing in a way that creates a visual image to match their stories, and this is ably illustrated on When Kings Meet. You smell the smoke, taste the blood, hear the cries of anguish, pain, and death on the battlefield. Driven by a relentless riff, there’s an underlying melody that Imperium seem able to weave into their music with ease. That doesn’t detect from the punishing delivery, with Ben’s rough, roaring vocals rising above the high intensity musical coalition that evolves underneath him. A neat change of pace sees the band move into a thrashier second half, with Hardip Sagoo releasing some searing lead work that screams out of the melee that is exploding around it. When Kings Meet isn’t as instant as some of Imperium’s other songs. You need to work with it for a few plays, but once you’ve given it time, it stands shoulder to shoulder with their other work.
Desperate Screams sees the tempo increase exponentially. There are echoes of UK thrash legends Evile and Xentrix within this song, but don’t let that influence your listening, for it’s a savage and feisty beast that thunders along, with James Hawes drumming particularly on point. It breaks down into a slower, Anthrax-style chug mid-section and demands that you circle pit, raise a fist, and bang the head. This leads to an old favourite, at least if you’ve seen these boys live. Capable of Murder is more infectious than a STD on an 18-30 holiday, the hook ripping into the flesh and burying deep. Can you avoid singing along to the chorus? Not a chance, and it’s a song that coaxes the oldies amongst us back into the pit. Tighter than a nun’s chuff, Imperium are on fire on this one, and it’s pleasing to final have this arriving on a filthy physical copy at long last.
Do we need to say anything about Iron Thunder? It’s a banger from start to finish, and as I’ve already reviewed it for these very pages I’m just going to refer you to that very review
And then we come to the two tracks recorded at Bloodstock. Now, I was there in the heat in 2022, sweating my nuts off as the swirling pits raged and everyone swooned as Scotty ripped off his shirt to reveal THAT physique. The original versions I received were muffled and the mix muddy, with Ben’s vocals almost non-existent. Thankfully a better mix was sent through, and although it still sounds like someone has recorded it on their phone from a portaloo in Midguard Capable of Murder and When Kings Meet at least present as savage beasts that work well in the live arena If you slap the phones on and crank the volume up, then it just about works, and transports you back to the sweatiest festival of 2023 for a delicious ten minute distraction.
With fresh and vibrant artwork courtesy of Daniel ‘The Pitforge’ Porta, and a production that works on the studio recordings, this could have been a blistering release. Instead, it’s sadly a little marred by the sound quality of the two live songs.
When Kings Meet is self released this Friday the 23rd September
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