IMPERIAL VENGEANCE

I must admit I had very high hopes for this album after hearing tracks on MySpace a while back. Imperial Vengeance hail from England and feature Cradle of Filth touring guitarist Charles Hedger or, for this project, ‘C. Edward-Alexander’, who along with co-conspirator David Bryan have crafted a fine album of very British sounding extreme metal along the lines of Cradle of Filth. Taking their cue from a classic time in Britain’s history Imperial Vengeance remind of the aesthetic of Eibon la Furies and A Forest of Stars who are both purveyors of the Victorian Occult flag in Black Metal. Imperial Vengeance play it safer than these two but will probably reap a larger audience because of this. The songs themselves are glorious and the playing is second to none with David Byron’s lyrics being well informed. After the intro, ‘The Drop’, we are transported straight into the war themed ‘6th Airborne Division’ that cracks in with a real vengeance using subtle sound effects mixed into the music of roaring aeroplane engines. Although war is the main theme of the album Imperial Vengeance touch on many other themes and periods from history as well. A particular highlight on the album is hearing the voice of the 110 years old Harry Patch (last surviving soldier who fought in the trenches during the First World War) which helps give Imperial Vengeance resonance on their mission. It’s a truly haunting moment during the title track followed by the ‘whistles’ that mark the moment of going ‘over the top’. The main niggle I can’t get rid of, though, is the similar nature of the musical song writing (that feels very Cradle of Filth orientated) and some more varied ideas may have brought this album up to ‘absolute classic’. As it is this is a very solid debut album that, if the band plays it right, will resonate with a great many people. Certainly a band worth keeping an eye on.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

Candlelight Records

Album

AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN

Review by Paul Sims

RUNNING TIME:

60:34

RELEASE DATE:

20th July 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) The Drop
2) 6th Airborne Division
3) Aristocratic Sex Magick
4) Unto That End
5) At the Going Down of the Sun
6) From Childhood's Hour
7) Cwn Anwwn
8) Jus Ad Bellum
9) Theory of the Grotesque
10) Trinovantes

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

UK

"Taking their cue from a classic time in Britain’s history Imperial Vengeance remind of the aesthetic of Eibon la Furies and A Forest of Stars who are both purveyors of the Victorian Occult flag in Black Metal."