After reading very positive critics about Imperanon, the new band signed under Nuclear Blast, I was eager to hear it for myself. Imperanon was formed in 1999 by 15 year old kids from Finland. Now in 2004, the kids have grown to young men. After listening a lot to Children of Bodom, Dark Tranquillity and a good lump of Stratovarius, they released Stained.

The album starts with Blade, which reminded me directly to Children of Bodom. Also the rest of the tracks have a big C.o.B. level in them. Luckily I must confess that this is not a second Norther, who seriously never heard of the word RIPPING. Imperanon have a nice own touch and feeling in their music which makes it quite impressive. Power metal riffs with screaming vocals and roaring guitar interludes are holding the music together. The melodic parts do resemble Children of Bodom and I’m a little bit disappointed that Imperanon hides their faces behind something already done. It’s a whirlpool nowadays with bands from the north that look too much like Children of Bodom and In Flames. The title track of the album is a mid tempo banger and is delivered with a colourful sauce of roaring guitar and synth solo’s. The next track Prisoner In Me is a very decent track that listens away easily. That’s also how the album ends… Decent.

How can I draw a conclusion? Imperanon have not proven to me that they are the hype, which is said in the bigger media. What they do have proven is that they are all very good in what they do and that I liked their album. It’s a decent album with not too much identity in it, but just enough to keep me satisfied. If it’s just the fine black metal riffs, which are sprouting occasionally, or the roaring guitar and synth solo’s, I don’t know. What I know is that people, who like decent melodic death metal, certainly should look for this album. You won’t be disappointed! One funny fact though… Their vocalist’s name is Aleksi. Coincidence or a clone

Track List:

1: Blade
2: Memories To Dust
3: Stained
4: Prisoner In Me
5: Sold
6: Hollow Man
7: Rythm Of Pain
8: Shadowsouls
9: Vein (I Bleed)
10: The End

Line Up:

Vocals/Guitars – Aleksi Sihvonen
Guitar – Lauri Koskenniemi
Bass – Eki Nurmikari
Keys – Aleksi Virta
Drums – Jaakko Nylund