From Bandcamp, “On their fourth album, "Confessing Darkness," IMHA TARIKAT are once again pushing hard against all the boundaries that define the genre without ever losing the essential connection to the harsh style. Black metal has always been a much less narrowly defined musical beast than outsiders or jealous gatekeepers have often insinuated. The German black metal innovators have previously made use of all the possibilities that the genre offers while still carving out their own territory. Their dark sonic kingdom is built on two pillars: Musically, a relentless pushing and unstoppable drive forward characterize their sound. "Confessing Darkness" delivers even more of that raw energy than before. The other foundation is a deep emotional intelligence that fully utilizes the ability of black metal to express every feeling ranging from purest love to darkest hatred, from severe depression to outbursts of joy.”

The album has eleven songs. “Wicked Shrine” has a heavy and aggressive dissonance, with tortured vocals. From there, it settles into a steadier sound, even with a bit of melody here and there. “Another Failed Ritual” begins with very solemn tones, segueing into some rawer aggression. The harsh vocals paint a desolate picture, as well as one of absolute hopelessness. “Excellent Grief” has another hopeless sound, and it’s almost as if the world is ending. His maniacal laugh hints at how he feels about that. So far however, I don’t hear much joy that the band talked about in the album introduction. The title track does indeed feature darkness…the kind that is as black as the abyss. The fast moving song shows some of the band’s intricate skills as well, and the vocals rage with intensity.

“Chamber of Sin” is an angry song, and the vocals hold the key to the rage. He shouts, as if from the very rooftops, and the backing vocals carry in tow. “Horns in the Smoke” has fleeting tinges of hope, but they are buried in the aggressive and somber landscape. This song is as if they band pressed down the gas pedal all the way to the floor and rarely let it up. “Memoria Dei” has a more relaxed pace, but the heavy drumming and thick guitars remain. The intensity is dialed up pretty quickly thereafter, and the vocals speak of unconscionable horrors. The bass work is fantastic also. “Pitch Black Reflection” features drums in double time, even quadruple time, and the thick base of guitars at the bottom fulfills the “wall of sound” that you often hear in the genre. “The Day I Died” closes the album, and it’s another rager.

The album was good. It swam in the swamps of despair, and rose to the peaks of mountains fueled by its anger. The musicianship was strong, but it could have used a little more diversity, especially among 11 songs. Too many of them had a similar sound.