Imperial Triumphant bring avant-garde onstage theatrics and dark extremes to the Mothership.
It’s been a while since I’ve been to a show, the all-too-familiar musty odour of a music venue hits me right away—and the show has barely begun! Or is that just the scent of reality, far away from air-conditioned home office setups?
This is one aspect of live music I don’t overly enjoy, that and my old bones giving me a backache already.
But then we are here some tasty, deliciously messed up, Jazz-infused technical Death Metal, and soon enough I’m acclimatised to the venue.
Exit Sign
I’m unfamiliar with Exit Sign, so intrigued by what we have to break the ice with this evening.
Silent whispers in the swirling chaos of what I can only define as discordant black gaze. As the set progresses, we start to lose the black gaze vibe and flow into a more psychedelic Death Metal trip. An enjoyable set that adequately fits in line with the evening’s genre.
Windswept
Before the show, I briefly ran into Steve Francis and spotted Isaac Lundy across the room. I soon recalled that Windswept was their new band. I haven’t managed to catch them live yet, but my anticipation instantly grew as I had heard and seen good things from this year’s Napier Death Metal Fest.
Things were most definitely good as they took the stage, with blistering riffs forming around Steve’s distinctive drumming style. Yet this felt different. This wasn’t merely Bulletbelt in another skin, this was another beast entirely.
Rachel Collins makes a strong appearance as vocalist/front woman. A confident, demonic, yet somehow demure entrance, carrying a goblet and battle axe.
As the goblet is raised, Rachel drinks from the Chalice of Blood (hah) letting it’s thick, blood curdled contents drip down her chin and chest.
Scathing screams and blackened Death Metal erupt with an onslaught of mesmerising darkness.
We break into a brief melodic respite as we drop to a beautiful solo that both feels out of place, yet comfortably at home before returning to madness and concluding the set.
Cold Ceiling
Drop a banger, build the hype, then drop the mic!
When my co-worker says build the hype, that is real. Which makes knowing Cold Ceiling is going on hiatus soon even more saddening.
Opening with a mellow, emotive piece brings a sense of calm over the Mothership.
That peace didn’t last long though. We’re thrust into a progressive crush of time signature fluid off phased post-blackened-Death Metal (what a mouthful!)
All this to say they remind of The Blueprint Dives era Extol. To my ears this is a very good thing.
Imperial Triumphant
Beyond Awesome! I could end this right here and I wouldn’t feel bad.
After a quick last-minute soundcheck (sans costumes), it’s evident that the Motherships’ low ceiling is going to cause potential issues. Not only are the members taller than the average elf, the long-necked bass looks like it’s ready to pierce the roof.
After a few minutes, Goldstar plays over the PA. Imperial Triumphant grace us mere humans, adorned in demigod-like regalia, we’re thrown right into unrelenting dissonance, a cacophonous discordant dirge.
The lack of mouths or facial expressions adds a level of unease at what’s unfolding before my eyes and ears.
Steve Blanco moves us all through an even more disturbing bass solo, interspersed with samples and blurred through feedback and a myriad of effects.
Covering tracks from Goldstar, Vile Luxury, Abonimamentvm, and Alphaville – all bases were covered, and although the discordant dissonance started to blur together for me near the end, it was more a combination of awe, confusion, and adoration.
I don’t think we’ll be seeing or hearing a show quite like Imperial Triumphant in a long time.
Mark Derricutt
Imperial Triumphant
Windswept
Exit Sign
Cold Ceiling
Set List
– Goldstar
– Lexington Delirium
– Gomorrah Nouveaux
– Devs est Machina
– Chernobyl Blues
– Bass Solo
– Atomic Age
– Hotel Sphinx
– Industry of Misery
– Eye of Mars
– Swarming Opulence (Encore)
