Imperium

Yes I understand that Suffocation is a more technically proficient band, but Internal Bleeding is far catchier in my opinion. Many brutal death metal elitists would disagree due to the extremely hardcore crossover laden breakdowns and skull bashing slam sections. Many of the aforementioned "elitists" would dismiss all the hardcore influence in this band and in this album in particular. Along with Suffocation, Internal Bleeding pioneered the slam movement, and the best example of that amazingly old school hardcore influenced brutal death metal, chock full of foot stomping, hate-filled breakdowns, can be found in this masterpiece.

Imperium has absolutely everything you could possibly want in an Internal Bleeding or Suffocation album. The instrumentals and vocals complement each other in perfect harmony, along with possibly the best production to be heard in any brutal death/slam album to date. From the beginning of the opening track, "Fabricating Bliss" , to the end of the final track, "Castigo Corpus Meum", you are completely bombarded with the most intense, visceral, white-knuckled savagery that only a band like this can deliver. I am literally listening to this album as I write this review.

The quality of this album is top notch. As I said the production value is flawless, and the vocals are so deliciously old school. The whole package sounds like the perfect breed of Suffocation, Hatebreed, and Obituary. The bass tone is some of the best I ever heard. Never succumbing to or being drowned out by the other elements. The kick drum timing is spot on an delightfully predictable at moments (which is a great thing in my opinion). Not only is this easily the best album of 2014, but I think Imperium will go down in death metal history as one of the catchiest, most memorable, and best written slam albums ever!