The Swedish maniacs are back with their brand new album Holy Murder Masquerade! I must confess that their new album is pretty interesting in many aspects. I was really amazed by the whole result of this work! The package, the artwork, the music, everything is amazing! I think that this review is worth your time. Just read below and you will understand...

Formed in 1994 (wow, I didn't know that these guys exist for over a decade!), IMPIOUS is one more band that comes straight from the classic Swedish Death Metal scene. This band once featured the well-known Johan Lindstrandt as a drummer, pretty interesting, huh? Having toured with bands like BLOOD RED THRONE, PRIMORDIAL, ANCIENT RITES and DISMEMBER and having released some good albums, IMPIOUS have managed to earn the respect of the Death Metal fans all around the world.

Forgive me father for I will sin... This is how the album starts. A voice that sounds cold and empty of feelings prepares you for the oncoming slaughter that is going to take place! The album is based on a concept that talks about a psycho that kills everyone who finds in his way just because he thinks that this will help him triumph over evil by erasing a bloodline. All the lyrics are being presented in an incredible way, in a comic that is in the booklet! The lyrics are presented like dialogs or monologs and thoughts of the hero, the guy I told you about before. I think that is a great idea! The whole concept was the idea of Valle Adzic, the rhythm guitarist of the band.

Anyway, Holy Murder Masqueradeis a very good album that comes from the always-melodic Swedish Death Metal scene. I can't say that this band offers something different since these guys lack of originality. It is just that Sweden has produced too many bands in this genre, something that has made it a bit common. The songs are really aggressive, even if the melodies play an important role in this music. The good thing about these guys is that even though their sound is not unique, they play with passion and that is obvious in their songs. I remember when I had first listened to IMPIOUS. It was three years ago when I came across Wicked Saints, a track that comes off the album Hellucinate (2004). I was amazed with how passionate and honest music these guys produce! The production doesn't even need to be commented! I think that Swedish bands have the best sound for years now. Classic amazing and polished production which is the result of the recordings at Studio Deadline and the mixing and mastering at Studio Mega (where the drums were recorded).

Holy Murder Masquerade is a representative sample of Swedish Death Metal at its best! If you are into this music, you have to purchase this CD no matter what! Fans of AT THE GATES and DARK TRANQUILITY, if you would like to listen to how these bands would sound if their music was enriched with elements from SLAYER and old METALLICA, you should definitely check them out!