Review Summary: Black Psychedelia
In the wake of 2015’s ‘Abyssal Gods,’ New York based Imperial Triumphant have delved even further into madness. Wielding a fearsome mixture of blackened death metal and otherworldly psychedelia, Imperial Triumphant’s ‘Inceste’ is arguably the band’s most experimental release yet. Despite clocking in at less than 25 minutes, ‘Inceste’ may very well be one of the best extreme metal releases of 2016.
On ‘Inceste,’ Imperial Triumphant have retained the core of their signature sound whilst simultaneously injecting a miasmic dose of experimental flair. Though Imperial Triumphant’s approach to riff writing was always unconventional, with ‘Inceste’ they have strayed even farther from the beaten path. Tortured leads sprawl across each track with hideous shrieks and bends while the rhythm lays down furiously tremolo-picked lines and grinding chugs. The drumming plods along with the guitars, blisteringly fast and maddeningly imprecise. In its most desperate moments, ‘Inceste’ is clamorous and unforgiving.
“Kaleidoscopic Orgies” is a pustulent affair, bursting forth with slabs of distended riffing and gurgling growls. Nestled within the cacophony are fleeting moments of madness. Soft, vaguely jazzy drum fills accompany a tremulous melody through a brief 30 second interlude. With a clatter of toms, the track erupts once more into sonorous roaring, relentless blast beats and wailing saxophone. “Kaleidoscopic Orgies” is a microcosm of ‘Inceste’ as a whole; dark, provocative insanity encapsulated by suffocating Blackened Death Metal.
Remaining tracks “Oblivion in Morsels” and “Breath of Innocence” aren’t without their ‘moments’ as well. “Oblivion in Morsels” finds vocalist Ilya’s wretched howling accompanied by an unearthly choir while the rhythm section careens their way through passages of frenzied of tremolo picking. “Breath of Innocence closes out the EP with a crunching, palm muted breakdown. Amidst the off-kilter drum fills and grinding riffs, unsettling susurrations and screams emanate from the background.
‘Inceste’ is an ugly thing; a debauched three-and-a-half track EP that oozes with violence and insanity. It is a definitive step forward for Imperial Triumphant, a band already standing precariously close to the edge.
