ARTIST: Imperial Destruction
ALBUM NAME: Ruinous
RELEASE DATE: 30 January2016
COUNTRY: South Africa
CITY: Cape Town
GENRE: Melodic Death Metal
MEMBERS:
Jason Modryc – (Vocals)
Wian Bester – (Lead Guitar)
Josh Barkley – (Bass Guitar)
Wesley Du Preez – (Rhythm Guitar)
Evan Fourie – (Drums)
Imagine for a moment that you have wandered into a really old castle. This castle is an old gothic cathedral, and from within, it is emitting a rather intriguing sound. Gargoyles and cobwebs above your head, you follow the noise until you get to a large black door, heavily cladded in locks and metal. You hesitate for a moment, but then you realise that the sound you are hearing is an amazing guitar riff! You swing open the door to find Imperial Destruction ending off their first song off the album Ruinous, The Witch Hunt. Which has recently been named number one on African Metal’s Top 10 Chart for March, 2016.
The setting that I have created is the one I imagine this band to be in, with their hauntingly beautiful melodies that hit you harder than a bottle to the face. As the lead vocalist Jason Modryc says, ‘I like viewers to imagine their own stories and possibilities’, which this album really allows for.
Reading the lyrics while listening to this band for the first time, I have to say that the old school sound and feel is truly refreshing. The story that they create with their words, and then the amazing melodies behind, are truly impressive. You can feel the intense pain and anguish in the different melodies, with amazing progression.
The mixture of bands that I hear when I listen to this album is astounding. I pick up essences of:
Woods of Ypres
Bring Me The Horizon (the golden oldie stuff)
The Used
Chelsea Grin (their new sound)
Deathklok
(Random, I know)
The song Lady Dark Page showcases their vocal abilities really well, although, the production of the song could have made the voices a little louder and clearer. Having said all of that, I really love this song. The taunting tale of love and betrayal. At least that’s what I took away from the song.
My Sword Hungers has a really awesome build up to 3 minutes, and then an amazing guitar solo commences. I really love all the different sounds they bring in, and how the instruments really do tell a story just like a classical counterpart. A great song to showcase the bands talents.
The Enemy Within is a very emotive and hard-hitting song, with interesting chord changes throughout. I just love these lyrics from the song:
‘Arise children of mine,
Mankind your oath is to me,
No creation stands above in design,
The divine have fallen now a new era has begun’.
They have an amazing way of writing and a vast understanding of the English language, with a poetic license in full swing.
To summarise, this is a very powerful album. The kind of music you would listen to if you had a really bad day, full of idiots making your life miserable. Put this album on, and feel yourself transform into a Viking warrior!
Well done to the band, I can see you guys really going places!
Check them out at A Night Of Destruction: Hellington Open Air on the 26th of March.
Reviewed by: Splice (more from Splice)
Shots fired by: Iggy
Date: 23 March 2016
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