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/:: Artist :: Triumph ::\
:: Album :: Imperium Lucifer ::
:: Year :: 2023 ::
:: __ _ _ __ ::
-:--\\-----------------------------------------------------------------//--:-
:: \ / ::
:: . Genre :: Black Metal Source :: CDDA . ::
:: Label :: Hammer of Damnation R.date :: 2023.08.18 ::
_::__ Cat.nr. :: HOD302 S.date :: 2023.08.08 __::_
::// \\::
::/---------------------------------------------------------------------\::
:: ::
/: Encoder :: LAME 3.100 -V0 :\
..: Bitrate :: avg. 239kbps :..
. Quality :: 44.1kHz/Joint Stereo .
. Size :: 37.78 MB .
. .
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
.\\\\------- : | ---\ /---------------------\ /--- | : -------////.
+/ -\------- | | ----\ tracklist /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: 01. Imperium Lucifer 03:40 ::
:: 02. The Black Sun 05:26 ::
:: 03. Lost and Forgotten 00:50 ::
:: 04. Whispering Darkness 04:24 ::
:: 05. Deep Abyss of Coldness (Outro) 02:11 ::
:: 06. Warlust (Bonus Track) 05:00 ::
:: ------- ::
.. >> 21:31 ..
__ __ _ . : _ ____ _ _ ____ _ : . _ __ __
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+/ -\------- | | ----\ release notes /---- | | -------/- \+
/: . : : . :\
/:: ::\
:: ::
:: Upon receiving 'Imperium Lucifer', the latest album from the ::
:: Sao Paulo horde TRIUMPH, sent to me by Hammer of Damnation a ::
:: few weeks ago, I was astounded on multiple levels. The ::
:: initial surprise was the unexpected arrival of a new release ::
:: from a band that I have long admired both musically and ::
:: ideologically, and that I had believed to have disbanded ::
:: years ago. After all, nearly two decades have elapsed since ::
:: their self-titled second album saw the light of day. The ::
:: subsequent and most remarkable surprise came when I pressed ::
:: play and discovered, to my utmost amazement, that Imperium ::
:: Lucifer stands as the pinnacle of the band s discography. ::
:: As a fervent devotee of their first two albums, I assure you ::
:: that this offering has truly left an indelible impression on ::
:: me. ::
:: ::
:: It commences with an impeccable sense of aesthetics, as if ::
:: crafted by someone who profoundly comprehends that composing ::
:: music is not merely an assemblage of riffs, but rather a ::
:: communion a profound dialogue between the very soul and the ::
:: musical instrument to convey an inner truth. In the case of ::
:: Imperium Lucifer, it conveys the personal truth of Ares, ::
:: the vocalist, guitarist, and primary composer. Judging by ::
:: the six tracks presented herein, the inner realm of the ::
:: mastermind behind this opus is relentlessly ruthless, dense, ::
:: tragic, and shrouded in darkness. The album s inception lies ::
:: in the eponymous track, an intro that features a somber ::
:: piano melody enveloped in dissonant noises a sonic ::
:: manifestation of the mental desolation preceding the baptism ::
:: of fire in the inaugural battle. Such audial expression ::
:: portrays the unwavering brutality and overwhelming intensity ::
:: of the ensuing composition, 'Black Sun', in a truly ::
:: terrifying manner. Ares guitars in this piece constitute a ::
:: consummate union of unbridled violence and the most ::
:: suffocating melancholy ever conceived by a human being. . ::
:: Soulreaper's stunning drumming throughout the song resembles ::
:: an unrelenting barrage of machine gun fire, while Rvist s ::
:: superb bass work evident not only in this track but ::
:: throughout the entire album surpasses the standards set by ::
:: most contemporary black metal acts. The concluding guitar ::
:: phrases and melodic intricacies cement this opus as the ::
:: superlative composition I have encountered thus far in 2023. ::
:: ::
:: Following this masterpiece, we encounter the brief acoustic ::
:: interlude, 'Passagem', an oasis of tranquility that serves ::
:: as an intermission between two battlefronts. However, before ::
:: we can catch our breath, we are swiftly introduced to ::
:: 'Whispering Darkness', a rapid black frenzy that adheres to ::
:: the same premise as the aforementioned 'Black Sun,' albeit ::
:: with less emphasis on the melancholic aspect. This ::
:: composition veers towards a more malevolent direction in its ::
:: guitar work and harbors an element of controlled chaos. ::
:: Regrettably, I did not have access to the album s lyrical ::
:: content, yet I find myself contemplating whether the lyrical ::
:: essence of this track holds any relation to H.P. Lovecraft s ::
:: masterful short story, The Whisperer in Darkness. ::
:: Additionally, we must acknowledge the noteworthy guest ::
:: appearance of guitarist Vekum from the band Black Achemoth. ::
:: On the subject of guests, it is worth mentioning the ::
:: involvement of Lord Mephyr from the bands Spellforest and ::
:: Cruor Cultum in the composition of the title track. ::
:: ::
:: Subsequently, the instrumental piece 'Outro - Deep Abyss of ::
:: Coldness' follows, and although I am uncertain if this track ::
:: should ideally conclude 'Imperium Lucifer,' its title and ::
:: sonic landscape, devoid of hope and despairing, would indeed ::
:: be perfect for such an endeavor. Nevertheless, we are once ::
:: again taken aback by the inclusion of the bonus track, ::
:: 'Warlust,' which exhibits a more bellicose tone in its ::
:: aggression and, in some parts, a slightly slower pace than ::
:: the preceding compositions. However, let it not be mistaken, ::
:: as this is by no means a slow-paced song. ::
:: ::
:: In my estimation, 'Imperium Lucifer' may very well be the ::
:: most bombastic comeback album of recent times. My sole ::
:: reservation lies in the album's duration, which could have ::
:: been slightly longer. Nonetheless, the exceptional quality ::
:: of the memorable compositions showcased here is the ::
:: paramount highlight of this opus. If this release serves as ::
:: a gateway to future endeavors from the band in the near ::
:: future, I wholeheartedly welcome it. Another precise shot to ::
:: the head delivered by Hammer of Damnation. Here, free will ::
:: is nonexistent it is unequivocally obligatory. ::
:: ::
:: . _ _ . ::
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