US black metal band IMPERIALIST have conjured up a brilliant sci-fi themed album that stands out both conceptually as well as musically. Rooted in the early Swedish black metal sound of luminaries like NECROPHOBIC, DISSECTION and SACRAMENTUM, IMPERIALIST hone it up further to suit their futuristic theme by adding touches of thrash metal without diluting the rich aura. 'Cipher' is backed by a visually stunning artwork by Adam Burke (VEKTOR, LURK) that extends into a continuous two-panel work depicting the grand theme. It's rare to find bands that have a bold vision and at the same time create the perfect blend for music that is at once atavistic and forward-thinking. This is one of the finest examples of meticulously written black metal counterbalancing aggression with melodies and thrashy sections.
released October 20, 2018
- "the best possible album that the band could have written" - Angry Metal Guy (US) 4/5
www.angrymetalguy.com/imperialist-cipher-review/
- "one of the better metal albums of 2018" - Kvlt (Poland) 9/10
kvlt.pl/recenzje/imperialist-cipher2018/
- "It's sci-fi, it's black metal, it's fast as hell, technical, and really well written" - Metal Injection (US)
www.metalinjection.net/av/new-music/imperialists-new-song-mercurian-dusk-is-mind-melting-black-metal
- "greatest kind of metal music available" - The Independent Voice (UK) 5/5
www.theindependentvoice.org/2018/03/01/imperialist-cipher/
- "do not miss this wonderful piece of music, it would be an epochal mistake!" - Zephyrs Odem (Germany) 9.5/10
www.zephyrs-odem.de/cd-s/detail/imperialist-cipher-2018-8537
- "magnificent" - Reviewer.cd (Switzerland) 9.5/10
bit.ly/2FoCgne
- "An utterly impressive full-length debut" - Heavy Blog Is Heavy (US)
www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2018/11/07/kvlt-kolvmn-october-2018/
- "an exceptional album" - The Metal Wanderlust (US) 4.5/5
themetalwanderlust.com/2018/08/14/album-review-cipher-imperialist/
- "a master stroke" - Music In Belgium 4/5
www.musicinbelgium.net/pl/modules.php?name=Reviews&rop=showcontent&id=9620
- "superb" - Return To My Blood (Mexico) 8.5/10
www.rtmbmusic.com/2018/10/resena-imperialist-cipher.html
- "a record of dizzying highs" - The Killchain (UK)
thoseonceloyal.wordpress.com/2018/10/20/review-imperialist-cipher/
- "What a impressive, fantastic full-length debut!" - The Metal Gamer (Sweden) 4/5
themetalgamerblog.wordpress.com/2018/11/08/imperialist-cipher-melodic-black-metal
- “Fucking brilliant” - Worship Metal (UK) 8/10
www.worshipmetal.com/reviews/imperialist-cipher-album-review/
- "immediately gratifying" - Grizzly Butts (US) 4.5/5
grizzlybutts.com/2018/08/22/imperialist-cipher-2018-review/
- "riveting" - No Clean Singing (US)
www.nocleansinging.com/2018/09/26/an-ncs-premiere-imperialist-umbra-tempest/
- "a great Black Metal soundtrack" - Trvefrykt Zine (Germany)
trvefrykt-zine.com/2018/08/18/album-review-imperialist-cipher/
- "a juggernaut" - Toilet ov Hell (US) Premiere
www.toiletovhell.com/premiere-imperialist-reveal-the-splendor-beneath-an-ancient-permafrost/
- "a must have" - The Dirty Room (US)
www.facebook.com/TheDirtyRoomLasCruces/photos/a.1530461790387543/1530510580382664/?type=3&permPage=1
- "a very complete album that has no filler" - Dioses Del Metal (Spain)
diosesdelmetal.org/imperialist-cipher-2018
- "cutting edge Black Metal" - Metal Addicts (US)
metaladdicts.com/site/imperialist-cypher
- "an excellent first step" - Moshpit Nation (US) 4/5
www.moshpitnation.com/imperialist-cipher
- "a solid debut release" - Maximum Metal (UK) 4/5
www.maximummetal.com/reviews/sumrevresults.asp?ID=1149
- "a very remarkable debut" - Broken Tomb (Spain) 8/10
www.brokentombmagazine.com/2018/09/critica-imperialist-cipher-2018
- "An impressive offering" - Heavy Blog Is Heavy (US) Premiere
www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2018/08/22/exclusive-premiere-imperialist-destroy-worlds-with-advent-anathema/
- "classy, vicious black metal" - Head-banger Reviews (US)
headbangerreviews.wordpress.com/2018/08/16/imperialist-cipher/
- "a great album" - The Doorway To (US)
thedoorwayto.blogspot.com/2018/09/4-travels-into-very-different-sonic.html
- "powerful" - Black Metal Ist Krieg (Italy)
www.blackmetalistkrieg.net?p=8368
- "really enjoyable" - Nattskog (UK)
nattskog.wordpress.com/2018/09/16/album-review-imperialist-cipher/
- "beautiful" - Rock'n'Load (UK) 8/10
rocknloadmag.com/album-review/imperialist-cipher-album-review/
- "very impressed" - Metal Bulletin (US)
metalbulletin.blogspot.com/2018/08/imperialist-review-by-mmb.html
- "exquisite" - Giornale Metal (Italy)
giornalemetal.blogspot.com/2018/10/imperialist-cypher.html
Line up -
Sergio Soto - Guitar & Vocals
Rod Quinones - Drums
Bryant Quinones - Guitar
Joshua Alvarez - Bass
Album artwork - Adam Burke (LURK, VEKTOR, LOSS)
Art design and LP layout - Francesco Gemelli (MASTER, TOWARDS ATLANTIS LIGHTS)
Official YouTube Channel -
goo.gl/dW5JTS
Official Band Facebook -
facebook.com/Imperialistofficial
2018 Transcending Obscurity Records
www.tometal.com
www.facebook.com/transcendingobscurityrecords
Europe Store -
transcendingobscurity.aisamerch.de
US Store -
transcendingobscurity.aisamerch.com