By: Nikos Mixas
Album Type: Full Length
Date Released:
30/08/2019
Label: Napalm Records
“When We Are Forgotten” CD //DD//LP track listing:
1.
When We Are Forgotten
2.
Bis ich bin
3.
My Solace I (Choirs of Solitude)
4.
Trauma
6.
Transcendence
7.
Seance
8.
Absenz Elysium
9.
My Solace II (Paths of Perception)
10.
Reverie
11.
Frozen in Time
12.
Behold the Flame of Time (Bonus Track)
13.
Owl of the Black Forest (Bonus Track)
The Review:
There
are so many great bands in the metal-multiverse that don’t receive the
recognition they deserve. The reasons are simple…they may not be part of your
favorite genre of the moment, or your friends aren’t talking them up, or more
than likely, popular media sources pass them over. Personally, I believe that Imperium
Dekadenz is collateral damage from all three of those reasons. Being this is the first time I’ve listened to
Imperium
Dekadenz, my sample size of them is only their most recent album, “When
We Are Forgotten.” I’ll make a
bold statement right now. It’s one of my favorite albums of the year…and I’ve
listened to a lot of them.
Imperium
Dekadenz
is labeled as an atmospheric black metal band and I believe that’s a very
accurate description. Their music is very
composed and has a lot of headroom for their melodies to breath and their
heaviness to cut through. The production
is very crisp and is not reverb-laden compared to other “atmospheric black
metal” bands. Every instrument can be
heard in the mix in addition to the vocals.
Producing a clean mix on an album like this is difficult and Imperium
Dekadenz nailed it.
There
isn’t a weak song on the album but a couple tracks do stand out for me from the
rest, those tracks being “Absenze-Elysium”
and the title track, “When We Are
Forgotten.” I won’t put you through
a play by play for each of these songs, but I just feel that both of these
tracks summarize the sound of the album.
Both of them are very emotional and contain crafty tempo changes to keep
your interest throughout the whole song.
Another thing to mention is that “When We Are Forgotten” consists of
eleven songs plus two bonus tracks depending on what version of CD or LP you
purchase. If you prefer digital
downloads (Blasphemy! Get a physical
copy you cheapo!), you’ll get the bonus tracks regardless.
“When
We Are Forgotten” is an album worthy of your collection, or at
the very least a play through on your favorite streaming service. During a year of so many outstanding
releases, unfortunately there’s a good chance this album will be “forgotten” by
the time those annoying Top Ten Album lists start popping up on every music
blog site. I can tell you without a
doubt if I’m called upon to create a list, “When We Are Forgotten” will be on
mine.
“When
We Are Forgotten” is available HERE
