Υear: 2019
Total Time: 58:10
Label: Napalm Records
Sixth album from the German duo IMPERIAL DEKADENZ, which was created in 2004 and is now moving in the field of ambient/depressive Black Metal, releasing great albums all these years. The truth is that the band is not very popular, despite their high quality albums, fact that has already started to change due to their great new album “When We Are Forgotten”.
The album is an emotional soundtrack. Lyrically IMPERIUM DEKADENZ deal with the inevitability of death, describing the feelings when this happens and how quickly it can be forgotten. This is a natural and complex situation that most people go through; loss is the very basis of our society and life. This album expresses those feelings in the most beautiful way. And those feelings dominate throughout the whole record, such as thoughts and an inner sadness created by some great guitar riffs. Atmospheric Black Metal with various elements from Doom, melodic Death metal, Post metal or rather post “Burzum” Metal!
There is great variety on the songwriting and each song has its own personality, maintaining the rhythm as also the attention of the listener. The entire album consists of snapshots that decorate this painful creation. Snapshots which you will immediately realize with the amazing title track which opens the album and leaves you breathless. The ability of IMPERIUM DEKADENZ to connect their ideas is truly unique.
I’m really surprised at what c has created on their new album. Every time I listen to it, I discover new feelings (and I have listened it many times!). “When We Are Forgotten” is one of those rare Black Metal releases, where the melody accompanies the sadness and through the core of Black Metal, creating a burst of emotions. In this album, each listener will find and feel something different; despair, loneliness, rage and a curious nostalgia for his past personal experiences. IMPERIUM DEKADENZ with “When We Are Forgotten ” move Black Metal one step forward, as they’ve released an intense emotional record, one of the best releases for 2019 in my opinion!
Rating: 8/10
Editor: Nikos Manousis
Related Link: IMPERIUM DEKADENZ – Official Page