Filthy Music Review - 'Internal Bleeding: Imperium'

Internal Bleeding – Imperium (2014)

Unique Leader

Review by Jude Felton

Californian label, Unique Leader, has impressed all kinds of hell out of me of late. The label, which was formed by members of Deeds of Flesh, over the last few months delivered the goods with terrific albums from young bands like Inanimate Existence, Acrania and especially Fallujah’s recent masterpiece. Now it’s the turn of the old blood to get in on the act, with the Long Island slam machine, Internal Bleeding, unleashing a new album, twenty-odd years into their existence.

As a band, Internal Bleeding, they have never quite hit the heights, or recognition should I say, of other death metal bands of a similar age and experience. This really should change with the release of Imperium, which is a snarling, groove-laden and dare I say brutal son-of-a-bitch. This is the sound of a band that isn’t out to try and prove anything to anyone, other than themselves, and they achieve this gloriously.

Fabricating Bliss gets things off to a great start, and Imperium never really lets up after that. There are peaks, such as the three chapter Patterns of Force collection of tunes, but as an album there aren’t honestly any troughs; it is consistently impressive throughout.

When it comes to death metal I pretty much enjoy all facets of the sub-genre, and all its off-shoots. However, as an old school soldier myself from back in the 80’s, I do hold a place close to my filthy, rotting heart for straightforward, kick you in the nuts and beat you when you’re down death metal, and this is what Internal Bleeding give us with Imperium.

With that in mind, don’t be mistaken for thinking that this is a throwback to the sound and style of what has come before. Of course, ALL death metal takes a little here and there, from what has gone before, and this album is no different. The fact of the matter though, is that Imperium is a fresh and exciting new album from an older band. The trials and tribulations of their past is laced into the lyrics and themes of the songs contained within, as well as incorporated into the album’s artwork, and this has served them well.

Imperium mixes up the pace throughout its running times, with faster numbers interspersed with some really laid back, and thoroughly groove-laden, moments. I can tell you right now, there are tunes here that will absolutely destroy in a live situation; so prepare to hit that pit and slam the hell out of it. Good times from start to finish, are the order of the day here, from a band that I honestly hope will get the attention they deserve; Imperium warrants every ounce of it.

9/10

Tracklist:

1. Fabricating Bliss
2. The Visitant
3. The Pageantry of Savagery
4. Patterns of Force: Part I. The Discovery
5. Patterns of Force: Part II.Plague Agenda
6. Patterns of Force: Part III. Aftermath
7. Placate the Ancients
8. (In the) Absence of Soul
9. Castigo Corpus Meum

Imperium is released by Unique Leader on September 30th and can be purchased here, or at the link below.