Apoch's Metal Review - Sanguis Imperem: In Glory We March Towards Our Doom CD Review

Discography	Discography covers all information available up to day of review and is updated if future albums are reviewed.
Full-Length(s):	*In Glory We March Towards Our Doom (2011)*
EP(s):	The Stagnation of Centuries (2008)
Split(s):	Imperial Impurity (2010)
Demo(s):	MMVII (2007)

Review

California based Sanguis Imperem formed back in 2005, and since then has been slowly working towards their debut full-length effort. Having signed with Hell's Headbangers, the band went into the studio and recorded their debut full-length effort, In Glory We March Towards Our Doom. With the group's recent split release and The Stagnation of Centuries EP released in 2008 earning some good reviewed throughout the net, it's easy to walk into this album expecting a solid Death Metal performance. But, does Sanguis Imperem deliver on that critical praise?

Similar to the underground nature of the band's new home, In Glory We March Towards Our Doom carries with it that rawer audio quality many would expect of a band lurking in the shadows. The guitars have a rather traditional sounding distortion to them for the Death Metal scene, and it works well for the varying paces of the music the group plays. The drums also stand strong in the mix with a mid-level volume to the cymbols that don't take anything away from the other instruments, strong snares that sound thick and natural while the bass kicks have a rather loud thud to them that helps the also louder bass guitar to add a bit of a bludgeoning sense to the music, all behind a strong performance of rhaspy wails and deep gutturals. The only problem here is that everything seems to just be at a mid range for the volume, and never really stands out too well. This leads many powerful songs to just sound a little weaker then they should. It's also quite ironic at the start of the release given that "Nil Igitur Est Mors Ad Nos" starts things off sounding like a Middle Eastern acoustic piece that seems louder then anything else on the mix with random cymbols going off in the back prior to the track picking up with vocals, electric guitars and drums around the half way point. This introduction really starts to establish an epic atmosphere for the geographical sound the band is bringing in, and with that acoustic element the song feels rich and vibrant for it's Egyptian slavery-fueled depressive and hopeless vibes the music gives off.

There are some really strong tracks here like the powerfully crushing "The Scourge of Men" and it's fruious pace and dismal atmosphere. But, it's about this point where the album does start to feel a little less then impressive. That crushing atmosphere and desolate environment that accompanies it often slows down and feels more like a Doom Metal influence to the mix, but due to no real bite from the music unless it's coming at you in a furious pace, though sometimes even that doesn't help, it just sounds like strong Death Metal that's nothing too unique. Even the faster material comes off largely as blast beats and fast paced guitar work. But, one of the positive elements about this release is that the music seems to feel like it's flowing naturally between one song to another at the point where you sometimes don't even realize it's another song playing.

All of that is not to say this album is bad. While the faster material can start to feel a little repetitive as it goes along, and the slower material doesn't feel to strong, the music is still pretty heavy in it's own right and brings a great deal of intensity with it. "Praeternatural Order" does have some similarities to other faster tracks that focus on blastbeats here, but you just can't deny that there's a good deal of intimidating atmosphere and attitude behind the music. While your head may not bang along, there's still enough solid Death Metal aggression and driving riffs to make it a track you'll come back to in the long run. There's also "Pathetic Obsecrations" that, again, doesn't sound too unique compared to others on here, but the track does seem to have a bit of that more epic edge to it that "Nil Igitur Est Mors Ad Nos" had hidden withtin the blastbeat style drumming and furious guitar work.

It's hard to sit down and say this isn't as strong an album or experience you could have, even if you really want it to be. The music on here is really crushing at times, the atmosphere is desolate and burdening, and there's a lot of potential to be found here. But, Sanguis Imperem just don't really offer much that stands out too unique from one song to another other then the slower Doom Metal-ish passages that hit here and there like during "The Crucifilth." Overall, it's a punishing release, but one you'll start to grow weary of a few tracks in, especially when the music's heavier edge doesn't pack a good enough bite to really get you to headbang along with the material. In Glory We March Towards Our Doom is an ok release that's enjoyable for what it is and worth checking out.

Digital review copy of this release provided by:
Hell's Headbangers.

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