Not too ago, just weeks before I'm writing this, I ordered a few items off of Hells Headbangers label / distro and was given their Vol. 6 Sampler for free. On that disc were some fantastic bands that I quickly grown fond of - CEREKLOTH, JOEL GRIND, SUPER CHRIST, NUNSLAUGHTER, and many more. Now, near the end of this compilation was a band that I honestly, no lies, thought was somehow a continuation of Lord Worm's (Of CRYPTOPSY) work (mostly due to the singer sounding very much like Lord Worm does on "The Pestilence That Walketh In Darkness"). Further research yielded that that song had been by IMPIETY, a band not affiliated with CRYPTOPSY or Lord Worm at all. Lord Worm has went on to become an English teacher (pulling a reverse Alice Cooper), though somehow a singer going by the name of Shyaithan had surfaced in parallel (along with IMPIETY, of course). So sit down as I tell you a story, one which will no doubt polarize the few which read my work.

IMPIETY has made their debut sometime in 1996, a Singaporean band. Before that they released several demos and an EP. I'm not the one to tell you how those releases were or how any of IMPIETY's subsequent releases faired; however, since then they'd released many more demos, EPs, and a DVD along with 7 other albums (adding up to 8). So, that being said - IMPIETY is had been around a decent amount of time like CRYPTOPSY. Which sounds better? Well, this is where you'll hate me: my vote actually goes to Shyaithan.

The reason for this is because IMPIETY's choice in style, though more thrash than technical, is so much more appealing. There is no real questionable decision in song making here - no strange decisions, needlessly complicated guitar work, or weak wailing. IMPIETY is heavy I don't ask you to compare the two at all - but honestly sit down and see which one you'd listen to more; I bet it'll be IMPIETY.

"The Impious Crusade" is their newest EP. A fantastic commentary on war and religion, I assume, as what sticks out most is words like 'force', 'fire', 'genocide', 'chaos' and 'weapons of steel' (that is in the first full track "Commanding  Death & Destroy" at least). From start to finish you are privy to a very appealing Death / Thrash / Black style of musical ingenuity that takes you on a destructive and hellish journey - you'll be back again, however. For some reason, this is one of the rare albums that allow me to imagine a setting and scene which it might be a soundtrack to: all out brutal war. I don't usually swear in my writing but: shit, IMPIETY nails it. I don't even know what 'it' is but IMPIETY does it for me.

Again, Hells Headbangers Records has blessed us with a fantastic release by a fantastic release - IMPIETY's "The Impious Crusade". Don't miss out.