Imperialist is about to take off.
Still signed to Transcending Obscurity Records, the American band composed of Sergio Soto (guitar/vocals), Bryant Quinones (guitar), Joshua Alvarez (bass), and Rod Quinones (drums) will release their third album, Prime, in 2025.
The epic begins strongly with Starstorm, the first track, which wastes no time in revealing its haunting melodies before pairing them with rousing fury and aggressive vocals. The long scream before the solo will surprise many, then the song slows down a bit before giving way to Beneath the Sands of Titan, where we find all the coldness of the band, giving the harmonics a special flavor, especially during the most dreamy and melancholic passages. Rage marks the end of the track, which leads into Depravity Beheld, where we first hear that haunting sound followed by a more raw and unhealthy Old School approach, which the band transforms into a majestic sound before handing over to I A.M., a track that is also fairly calm at first glance but then becomes wilder. Blast beats and jerky riffs once again go very well together, as do the chaotic solo and piercing screams, but the band seems determined to give us a moment’s respite on Heavens Sunder, an interlude that starts very slowly with a few soft notes. The rhythm section becomes richer but remains soothing, unlike Final Hours, which immediately gives in to violence but weaves in a few more accessible, unifying moments while remaining very dark before ending with an almost painful lead. Back to savagery on Union Of The Swarm, which offers a very abrasive intro followed by piercing melodies and even a slightly groovy passage before burying us under its harmonics, notably the final solo, followed by Nocturnal Eon, which accelerates the movement once again. The track remains fairly consistent in its intensity, slowing down slightly only to let the lead guitar take center stage for a moment, then continuing with the same power as it leads us to the final composition, A Ghost Abandoned, which, in addition to being the longest, is also the most progressive, offering passages that are sometimes almost mid-tempo and extremely catchy, but still with a few explosions once the track is halfway through, before slowing down to let our minds gradually return to reality.
Since I’ve known Imperialist, the band has never put a foot wrong. This isn’t their first attempt, but Prime is truly a masterpiece, a chilling and perfectly paced album that leaves no room for downtime.
95/100
