IMIPOLEX - Order of The Epimethean Flame
Self Released / Black Spark Records
January release reviews are always cool especially when there's a Wolf Moon in the sky. Which there is tonight as I write this piece. Ya know while doing this blog it's all about extreme music, mostly metal. And of course I like metal of various genres but it's always cool when a band/act combines the best of multiple genres. In this band's case it's blackened death and doom. In the end it's cold, cruel and miserably good.
IMIPOLEX is a four piece act outta Portland, Maine. A place where you wouldn't say it's inhospitable but yeah it's gets frosty up there in the Winter. On this their debut full length the band comes out with five lengthy sub zero cuts of icy extremism that covers a number of bases. I would not be wrong to say these guys like some DISSECTION. There's riffs on a few cuts that remind me of those old Swedes. But this is far from a cut and paste homage to Scandinavian black metal of the past.
This band finds ways, many ways to create song structures that are just inviting as well as repulsive in a blackened way. The first two cuts are good. The second one, "Auspices", is where a subtle DISSECTION influence in the riffs comes out. But then when the third cut "Battleslain" commences we'll treated to a whole new reckoning. The drum work becomes an arsenal of explosiveness. The leads come full on with icy stabs and dreamy atmospheric touches. Riffs are solid blackened punishment. But the vocals have a unique touch as in imagining what Martin van Drunen would be like singing black metal.
The last two cuts, "Epitapheum" and "Anamnesis" are both over ten minute epics. The former is a trudging death doom mover which carries you along it's jagged road until the atmospheric leads chime in mid way through. From that point on there's almost a DRUDKH blackened fury send off that carries this song to it's end. The latter one starts off with some weird psych touches which develops into a cavernous vocal of pain in doom aesthetics. The music takes on a semi jazz/progressive rock aspect with the drum and bass work. The cut moves back into the tortured blackened realm.
In the end, and ya know you don't want it to end. I found my first favorite album of 2020. IMIPOLEX on this their debut full length are just captivating. Originally this is a Fall of 2019 self release but in a few months it's coming out on a label. That's a good enough reason for slapping a best of 2020 label on to it.
https://imipolex.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Imipolex/
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