It’s hard to believe we’re nineteen volumes deep in Imperative’s ongoing compilation collection. Distributed to labels and publications like ours and then to you lovely people, they’re a showcase for many bands, though do feature the occasional “known” name, such as the opening track on this one – Kerry King’s “Where I Reign” from From Hell I Rise which we reviewed back when it was released.
Obviously, that track’s a killer. How will the lesser known bands match up? Well, there are no worries. Parabellum also thrash with “Behold a Pale Horse”, every bit as well produced as the first song. In fact the two pair together rather well and I could see Parabellum fitting perfectly on a tour package with something like King if that gives you an idea of their sound. Scars of Atrophy ramp things up a bit more with some nice double-kick throughout “Smoke Screen” and Phantom Witch bring strident evil with “The Guillotine”.
“Witness To Decay” is an absolute headbanger from Black with some great bass guitar work while two-piece Hell Comes Home feature more guttural vocals on “Sic Semper Tyrannis”.
All of the previous bands are based in the US, but The Netherlands also feature with Zubzero’s “The Essence of our Existence”. Upper Decker from France kick off “Fatberg” with party horns and cowbell before descending into wonderfully heavy grind before Finland’s Magnadur mix epic and death metal with “Hamlet”. German act Dr Baer bring the riffs with “Too Rare to Describe”, adding a touch of prog to the heavy mix.
An act from New Guinea follows, Doomsvein playing some classic heavy metal – “Ex-Communicado”, their singer covering a staggering range from growls to high pitched wails. Venezuela’s Vettor n’The Insurrectos give a more multi-vocal performance with “Ghost of 1” from their debut album. “Nightmare Reign” is next from Japanese band Makkbeth featuring some great guitar work and speed / thrash performances. Canada then gives us the chugging tones of Eternal Drak’s “Circle of Black Flames”. Skipping a track, we hear from Italian act Rotgod whose garage punk style “Cute music must die” is nicely lo-fi.
The remainder of the songs (including the one I hopped over) are back in the USofA. Fatal Prophecy raid their album Reckless Mischief to give us “Beer Suckers” which is as silly as it sounds. Never Kenezzard obviously misheard some references in The Matrix but even their edited version of “Deceiver” thumps, and possibly explains their hearing issues. Phantom Power’s “Beauty of Your Dreams” is a bouncy and fun track, coming across like a classic NWOBHM number. Inherently Lost reverse the feelgoods with the doomy and majestic “Unraveling Sanity” which gives a taste of their upcoming Art of Corruption.
Wrapping things up is “Orchids in the Sunrise” from Under the Horizon which manages to be haunting, ethereal and grungy all at once.
The compilation is presented by Imperative Music. If you contact us and ask nicely, we have five copies to send out!
