Having really stretched its legs into the realm of science fiction more often in recent years, black metal has done quite well exploring the vast expanses of space with the topics and approaches to such a theme nothing short of what we should expect from one of the sounds in metal that are far from afraid to shake things up in the right instances. Many have done their best to bring quality to cosmic black metal with the more atmospheric approaches finding success, but it’s with bands like Imperialist that the other end of the interstellar cosmos is given plenty of justice. Barely two years after the standout album that was “Zenith”, Imperialist returns with an EP that is but the herald of further conquest to come.

Already, without having to even listen to a single moment of what “Quantum” has in store, just seeing the name of Imperialist is more than enough assurance that this EP is cosmic black metal of a particularly fierce breeds that is no less than magnificently stacked in terms of quality, power, and breakneck speed. “Zenith” saw Imperialist really come into their own even after an already potent performance that came from 2018’s “Cipher”, but “Quantum” looks back such that its steps forward are made with even more confidence and power. These five tracks of otherworldly annihilation see Imperialist looking back on their roots as a black metal act with their experience since those early days quickly coming forth to make for what’s arguably the band’s most aggressive creation to date by a significant margin, but never once are the more modern melodic aspects of Imperialist’s sound left behind. It’s such that “Quantum” stands incredibly tall despite being the shortest piece from Imperialist but never once is its magnificence brought into question for so much as a microsecond. Not so much as a moment is wasted in the crafting of this work as Imperialist shows us yet again that they are well-travelled explorers who find solace in the chaos between stars with their particular brand of black metal of the sort that’s always getting better with this EP but the latest in a string of offensives that are nothing to estimate for they harness the dark energies of the universe to bring their terrible craft unto one unsuspecting world after another.

While there is never anything wrong with seeing some quality atmospheric black metal taken to the endless reaches of space, there’s nothing that can compare when a band comes around to usher in extradimensional war and bloodshed on a scale and to a degree that we rarely get to witness. This is surely but a taste of what’s to come from Imperialist in the future as they ramp up for their third full-length offering, yet it must not be forgotten no matter what it is that comes next: “Quantum” has set the stage in such a fashion that is no less than magnificent to behold for all of its glory!

“Quantum” releases on December 15th via Transcending Obscurity Records!

LISTEN to advanced tracks from “Quantum” on Bandcamp here.

LIKE Imperialist on Facebook here.