I just didn't know what to expect when I first listened to this album's intro, "Die Hoffnung Stirbt...", a fine piece of... spooky piano music! "Lacrimae Mundi" came to drive any doubt away and show me that IMPERIUM DEKADENZ are here to deliver cold Black Metal their own way. Here we go...

The German act was formed in 2004 by the twin Vespasian and Horaz. The band also plays live, supported by guitarists Naavl and Kaelt and bassist Harvst, all members of another German Black Metal band VARGSHEIM. This is the band's third full-length effort and their first through the French label Season Of Mist.

At first I was thinking of two things. Firstly, I have noticed that Season Of Mist has started signing many Avant Garde, Industrial etc bands. Secondly, I was afraid that the German act would be a DARK FORTRESS rip off or something. The duet surprised me with its minimalistic and simple Black Metal, with melodic riffs, mostly mid tempo parts and hellish vocals that perfectly lay upon the haunting music the band plays. What's good, yet also bad at times about these guys is that their music features a wide variety of sounds, from epic passages to hellish Black Metal outbreaks, to acoustic parts. And that's where they seem to have a small problem. It is ok to have acoustic parts in your music, but you just have to work in incorporating them in it. The album has scattered acoustic instrumental songs that somehow create a totally different atmosphere. Something that may sound good or bad to some, as I said above, depends on your view...

Anyway, IMPERIUM DEKADENZ was a pleasant surprise for me and I guess many blacksters will look at it the same. If you are searching for a more than decent addition to your Black Metal arsenal, then "Procella Vadens" is surely what you are looking for.
<