From the dark and eerie underground scene of Belfast comes the melodic black metal outfit Imperial Demonic and this scorching, well-produced EP of theirs sporting the evocative title Beneath the Crimson Eclipse, which leans towards the sound and style of renowned and infamous Swedish acts such as Lord Belial, Necrophobic, Setherial, Dark Funeral, Sacramentum, and Dissection.
Fast-paced, dramatic, and catchy black metal is obviously not something that one can ever have too much of when the result is as solid and cohesive as these six epic compositions are, and although there is nothing particularly original or musically adventurous to what this Northern Irish horde conjures up, the song material is sufficiently interesting and memorable to stand out and leave an impression.
The sharp and relatively crisp sound of the offering ensures that every instrument and each nuance are perfectly clear and audible in the mix, and the whole thing comes across as potent, professional, and focused. This scribe would have preferred more diverse and creative vocals as they do appear slightly monotonous and predictable at times with respect to patterns, style, and inflexions, but that does not mean that they do not get the job done in a convincing manner; they simply could have been more dynamic and unnerving.
The sturdy and melodically strong tracks that constitute this 28-minute output are begging to be played live and will undoubtedly go down a storm due to them being inherently memorable and accessible, which especially goes for the piece named ‘Ways of the Secular Flesh’.
When these guys refine their sound further and truly sharpen their claws so that a unique musical identity emerges, they will be a most fearsome entity that we will all come to love and a serious contender in the international black metal sphere. In other words, their work may require slightly more originality and a more prominent personal touch but make no mistake; it contains an abundance of promise and potential.
Make sure you check this cold, atmospheric, and darkly entertaining slab of fierce metal out on Bandcamp or purchase the Digipak CD.
Beneath the Crimson Eclipse is out now via Black Lion Records.
