Veteran German black metal act Imperium Dekadenz have just unleashed their latest album for Season of Mist, titled Dis Manibvs, their fifth overall and first since 2013's strong Meadows of Nostalgia. Blending vintage black metal elements along with a more symphonic, atmospheric, and progressive side, the duo of Vespasian (drums, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass, synthesizer) and
Horaz (vocals, electric guitar, synthesizer) certainly are one of the more adventurous acts of the genre, opting for a multi-layered vocal approach that incorporates rasps, screams, growls, and chants, supported by blast beats, textured guitar riffs, and plenty of keyboards. "Only Fragments of Light" has a haunting, celestial quality, the excellent vocal layers ebbing through the tremolo picked riffs, synths, and blasting, while both "Still I Rise" and the title track bring to mind the cold, frost laden landscapes of classic black metal acts such as Emperor, Immortal, and Borknagar. The chilling ferocity of "Vae Victis" coupled with the epic sounds of "Volcano" make for a tremendous 1-2 punch near the back end of the album, but it's the lengthy "Pure Nocturnal Rome" that provides Dis Manibvs with its most progressive moments, as jagged riffs stab the walls of keys and acrobatic drum blasting, the duo creating a web of startling and dramatic sounds meant to completely entice the listener, and it works.
There are a lot of bands playing what we like to call 'progressive black metal', but Imperium Dekadenz never seems to truly get their due as being one of the leaders of this style. Dis Manibvs is quite strong, and comes highly recommended.
Track Listing
01. In Todesbanden
02. Only Fragments Of Light
03. Still I Rise
04. Dis Manibvs
05. Pantheon Spells
06. Vae Victis
07. Volcano
08. Somnia
09. Pure Nocturnal Rome
10. Seikilos
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