Devastating & brutal Metal band...
Imperial is a french Metal band formed end 1992 by Qojau and Skrow. The band starts to play primitive Death/Thrash-Metal songs. The line-up is : Qojau on guitar and vocal, Skrow on drums and Julien on guitar. During this period, the band has no band name.
In 1993, Julien quits the band. Qojau and Skrow continues to make songs in duo and choose IMPERIAL for band name. Skrow stops to play drums for guitar and starts to sing on songs. The drums parts are played by a drum machine "The Boss".
In 1994, IMPERIAL duo makes 3 concerts and records 5 tracks for the first demo tape "War Spirit". The musical style sounds more extreme and original, and the band uses more Black-Metal influences. Now Skrow makes all vocal performances. The demo is really appreciate in the underground.
In 1995, IMPERIAL record the same day 6 new songs for their second demo tape "The Red Moon" + a new edition of the "War Spirit" demo. The band has now his own musical style, still influenced by all extreme and primitive Metal scene. Skrow starts to write and sing lyrics in french ("Lumière Noire" is the first IMPERIAL song in french), and plays bass on rehearsals.
In 1996, IMPERIAL record their third demo tape "Chapitre Trois : Men Of God". The 8 songs are more technical, 3 songs are singing in french and Skrow plays keyboards parts during all the session. The demo comes the favorite tape of IMPERIAL maniacs. During 1994 to 1996, IMPERIAL realise that their 3 demo tapes have been distributed to 900 copies in Europe and U.S.A..
In 1997 the band decides to record 5 new songs in studio for making a promotional tape destined to labels. These 5 songs are all singing in french.After to have received this "Promo Tape '97", Osmose Productions take the decision to sign IMPERIAL for 2 albums and 1 MCD. The first album "Aux Crépuscules" is recording in 1997, still by the duo Qojau (guitar/drums programming) and Skrow (vocals/bass), and out in 1998. The 5 songs of the "Promo Tape '97" are include on the album. On the LP version, the song "La Femme Brûlée" is replaced by "Eux" (2 songs from the "Chapitre 3 : Men Of God" demo tape).
IMPERIAL make an unique concert in February 1998 (the first since 4 years, and ever the last IMPERIAL concert at this day). For this concert, IMPERIAL line up is Qojau on guitar, Skrow on vocals, Jérôme on bass and Stéphane on drums. Problems inside the band come at the same period...problems cancelling a previous european tour with CANNIBAL CORPSE + some dates with IMMORTAL.Still in 1998, Frank joins IMPERIAL in studio for playing drums on the "Thrasheurs 13" MCD's recording.
In 1999, IMPERIAL recording their second album "Malmort". Richard joins the band for playing drums parts. For this album, IMPERIAL choose a more raw sound which routs people and 'zines reviewers. Osmose decide to out relutanctly the album (because more and more disagreements between IMPERIAL & Osmose).
In 2000, the IMPERIAL duo records "Desert", a BULLDOZER cover for a split EP with japanese gods SABBAT "The BULLDOZER Armageddon 1" on the italian label Warlord Records.
In 2001, IMPERIAL records a SABBAT cover "Reek Of Cremation" for the "Sabbatical Worldwide Harmageddon" tribute LP to SABBAT on Live Recording Attacks brasilian label. The complete 1995 session of "The Red Moon" demo tape with "War Spirit" tracks is re-edited by Moon Soon Records (Skrow's label) on demo tape with remastered songs, colored cover and limited to 100 copies.
In 2002/2003, for the IMPERIAL's 10 th anniversary, a 7"EP called "Moonblood (ten years of IMPERIAL)" is edited by the italian label Dream Evil Records. The EP contains 4 unrealised tracks from 1992 to 2000, and is limited in red vynil to 333 copies.
In 2004, a compilation of demo & promo tapes + unreleased personnal band recordings, is released first on CD by the peruvian label Magistellus Infernal, strictly limited to 100 copies*; A re-issue is released on tape in 2005, by the bolivian label Rawblackult Productions, limited to 666 copies.
In 2008, Imperial is back and record 7 new devastating songs for their new demo "Noir", available now in free download only !!!
Discography :
- 1994 : "War Spirit" - demo tape 1994 1995 : "The Red Moon" - demo tape 1995 1996 : "Chapitre Trois : Men Of God" - demo tape 1996 1997 : "Promo Tape '97" - demo tape 1997 1998 : "Aux Crépuscules" - CD / LP - Osmose Productions (Fr.) 1998 : "Thrasheurs 13" - MCD - Osmose Productions (Fr.) 1999 : "Malmort" - CD - Osmose Productions (Fr.) 2001 : "The Red Moon" - demo tape, extended edition contains the complete "The Red Moon" demo session - Moon soon records (Fr.) 2002 : "Moonblood (ten years of IMPERIAL)" - 4 unreleased tracks from 1992 to 2000 - 7"EP - Dream Evil Records (It.) 2003 : "Aggressors...Not Followers" - compilation of rare & unreleased material - CD - Magistellus Infernal (Per.) 2004 : "Aggressors...Not Followers" - K7 - Rawblackult Productions (Bol.) 2008 : "Noir" - E-demo 2008 - click here to download the complete and FREE .rar archive with MP3 tracks (encoded 320kbs) + cover + lyrics
appearences on :
- 1998 : Etre Ou Ne Pas Etre - compil tape 2000 : SABBAT / IMPERIAL : "The BULLDOZER Armageddon (Vol.1)" - split 7"EP - Warlord Records (It.) 2001 : Sabbatical Worldwide Harmageddon - A Homage to SABBAT : v/a - LP - Live Recordings Attack !!! (Bra.)