Imperium Delirium is a staggering testament to how far modern deathcore can go. Both monstrously heavy and thrillingly cinematic, Bryce Butler’s lightning-fast footwork rivals the virtuosity of Meshuggah and Gojira whilst Ben Duerr’s vocals are flawlessly ferocious. Stylistically, this album moves through orchestrated passages with orchestral choirs, synths, and theatrical breakdowns all meticulously placed to create a full sensory assault that remains exhilarating throughout. The opener Prepare To Die throws everything at you within the first three minutes with frantic drums, a meaty breakdown and orchestral flourishes. Infinity of Horrors continues the onslaught with Duerr unloading tortured verses at cartoonish speeds, alternating between guttural lows and shrieking highs amidst swirling piano arpeggios in a twisted carnival of chaos. Mechanical Chaos showcases Butler’s versatility with stop-start rhythms and complex polyrhythmic footwork, whilst the vocals receive glitchy stutters and delays, adding further chaos to the dystopia.

Thematically the album tackles humankind’s capacity for mass killing through the relentless cyles of war, empire and genocide. Huge emotional territory delivered with unapologetic intensity, this record rips you up, breaks you down, and launches you back into chaos with incredible songcraft and memorable hooks. This is purpose-driven, artful brutality. The grand orchestration and breathless song structure add up to something far beyond ordinary deathcore, delightfully overblown, but grounded in professionalism. It’s a celebration of how expansive and theatrical extreme metal can be: cinematic, monstrous, and deeply creative, weaving in classic thrash shredding, groove metal heft, symphonic grandeur and more, pulling from every corner of metal history without ever once letting up the intensity.