The Black Map #228: Imperium from London!

It’s been emotional. After a week off for bad behaviour it’s time we the sipped some scalding hot coffee and talked about Underground Metal for a few minutes. For the purpose we head from Durham and Mortal Chains to the bright lights and dark corners of our capital city London, where we find a band who are currently living their best life, riding high on the crest of a wave that took them to one of the countries biggest Festivals.

We think it’s safe to assume that Imperium are named after the Machine Head classic of the same name from 2003 belter “Through The Ashes Of Empires” and mastermind Robb Flynn would agree as the band name alone was enough for him to check out their set at Bloodstock Open Air Festival earlier this summer. The band were conceived circa 2015 and growing up on a diet of pre-2000 era Thrash and Groove Metal, the South West London quintet have risen to prominence over the past two years, dropping their first single “Here Comes The Night” in 2020. They swiftly signed with Unearthed Music Management in 2021 and then dropped their debut EP Recorded with producer Oz Craggs (of Feed The Rhino fame) at his Hidden Track Studios in Folkestone in August 2022. That trip to Bloodstock only served to enhance a fierce live reputation with the band having shared stages with Helgrind, Blood Oath and Rituals to name but a few, so expect from them fast paced riffs, fierce groove sections and powerful live performances for ultimate headbanging satisfaction and you won’t be disappointed…