Can someone explain to me how Shadow of Intent is unsigned? Especially considering the absolute proliferation of the symphonic/blackened deathcore genre of late? Are the band members complete dicks? Are they independently wealthy? Do they hate labels?

Imperium Delirium is the band’s 5th self-released effort, their third after dropping the Halo video game-inspired themes from their first two efforts, Reclaimer and Primordial. 2019s superb Melancholy really put the band on the map outside Halo-themed music, tackling mental health and depression. However, its follow-up Elegy, despite a few killer tracks, was a bit of a step back, following Whitechapel’s The Valley and Kin into more brooding territory, including vocalist Ben Duerr trying his hand at some semi sung parts. And it didn’t quite work for me.

Well, akin to Whitechapel and thier latest fucking blistering return to form, Hymns in Dissonance earlier this year, Shadow of Intent have stormed back with a return to the far more brutal, techincal and symphonic releases that came earlier, and the end result is arguably the best of thier career, and one that will for sure be at or near the top of the genres best albums. Also, Duerr appears to have given up on the clean vocals singing (other than a couple of narrations and more shouted vocals later on in the album).

Much like “Farewell” opener Elegy with an absolute scorcher of a track, “Prepare to Die”, comes out of the gate hard, with epic choirs and synths, and although Fleshgod Apocalypse‘s Francesco Ferinni no longer helps out, guitarist Chris Wiseman certainly learned something, as his orchestral compositions, as many in the style this year are downright epic. And like “Farewell”, it is one of the best tracks the band has penned.

And Imperium Delirium contains several of those, and the band is absolutely locked in. Now, the singles the band released are all fucking great- not a single weak one, such as “Infinity of Horrors”, “Flying the Black Flag”, “Mechanical Chaos”, and “Feeding the Meatgrinder” (with George ‘Corpsegrinder” Fisher helping out). But they smartly saved the album’s best cuts until the album’s release. As well as the opener, the bludgeoning “They Murdered Sleep” and personal favorite “Vehement Draconian Vengeance” are rife with more simply elite orchestration, savage blackened riffs, and breakdowns. It’s truly say ‘wow’ out loud, jaw-dropping stuff.

Then, the sweeping Middle Eastern start of “The Facets of Propaganda” as well as “No Matter the Cost” and the 7 1/2 minute closing title track show the more restrained, moody side of Elegy, but pull it off a little more successfully (i.e., no singing). Especially the sprawling title track with a perfect blend of blistering blackened orchestration, burly breakdowns, and a perfect closeout. It’s the most varied, lengthy, complete, and involved track the band has penned since the likes of “The Tartarus Impalement” from Reclaimer or “The Diadact’s Will” from Primordial..  The only track I don’t see myself revisiting is the 5-minute instrumental “Apocalypse Canvas”, but the band has always dabbled with instrumentals- at least it’s not 10 minutes like “The Dreaded Mystic Abyss” from Melancholy.

That all said, I’d love the band to revisit their sci-fi video game roots. Could you imagine if they tackled something like Gears of War, Destiny or Mass Effect?????

A lot of challengers to the genre’s throne have surfaced this year and last year; Assemble the Chariots, Worm Shepherd, A Wake in Providence, Kneel Before the Death and mainly Ov Ruin and Sin Deliverance (whose Eternal Lament and Universe of Nightmares were my favorite albums in the style respectively, so far), etc, but Shadow of Intent have firmly shown they are one of the top dogs, and if Lorna Shore even misstep a little on thier upcoming effort, Shadow of Intent will supplant them as the true kings of the style.

[Visit the band's website]

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