Space is a vast expanse containing everything with the appearance of nothing keeping it in order. Within it, there is as much potential for exploration and appreciation while it could act as “a transcendent prison where nothing escapes” – “Singularity”, Imperialist.
On the borders of the city of angels, USA comes the second outing, “Zenith” after 2018’s “Cipher” from the sci-fi death metal quartet, Imperialist.
Imperialist consists of the talented stargazers of Sergio Soto (vocals, guitar), Bryant Quinones (guitar), Joshua Alvarez (bass), and Rodney Quinones (drums).
For the most part, they set a vigorous pace prefixed by more melodic intros. Track 1, “01011000”, is almost a dawn rising on a sinister moon as the habitant lifeforms uncoil from a rested position and unfurl their large horn-like spikes on their backs before creeping out their lairs into a world they dominate. The track perhaps is inspired by a secret side mission in the game, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided in which the main character, Adam Jensen, helps Helle remember who she really is.
The album art depicts an impressive scene on an alien planet with a hostile-looking landscape looked at by another celestial body. With a towering building dominating the city at its feet it sets the scene for a society that thrives on power and domination. This place would not likely feature high on a tourism website.
On the first listen this album rips through everything playing the music as hard and fast as they possibly can. They do provide a thrilling tempo after the initial intros which doesn’t seem to veer away from much. The lead guitar swerves and maneuvers behind the crashing drums to add layers of complexity with swoops of picking and the occasional harmonic. Sometimes the balance can seem out of focus with more intensity being placed into the crunching rhythm and the drums adding little at times.
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The riffs can be intense and ferocious. Melodies are kept at bay usually by the ferocity of the overall pace and rhythm. “Parallax Descends” has a few areas of merit in it with guitars skipping like a stone on pond water in its last stages after a hard throw.
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Generally, the riffs work well enough in the songs giving a mesmerizing feel to the composition, but perhaps sometimes they won’t stand out as well and the lack of unity with the drums can be felt. “He Who Mastered Shapes” has some elements of this within it.
“Terminal Odyssey” brings some interesting tempo changes and guitar tones. “Majesty of the void” brings you into the crashing track with the speed and vigor of some intensely aggressive predatory alien species chasing down its prey.
When you eventually get to fly in a ship on the way into space then it’s good to back this along for those times when traveling at lightspeed and you need some tempo music to match the pace outside as you while away the time.
Tracklist:
1. 01011000
2. The Maw
3. Parallax Descends
4. He Who Mastered Shapes
5. Majesty of the Void
6. Terminal Odyssey
7. Beyond the Celestial Veil
Imperialist: Facebook
Release Year: 2021
Label: Transcending Obscurity Records
Category: Album
Country: USA
Reviewed by Byron Lotz
