ALBUM REVIEW: Imperatrix Sanguinis – Blood Countess
The UK black metal scene is absolutely rude health, with a bountiful crop of brilliant bands and bespoke events like Fortress Festivals and the upcoming inaugural Tynebound. It’s testament to the fact our little island can go toe to toe with the heavyweight black metal scenes. Amidst this crop of bands flying the flag for British black metal is BLOOD COUNTESS. 2022’s debut Occulta Tenebris ferociously announced the Elizabeth Bathory-themed outfit to the world. In the years since, their stock has only continued to rise, leaving ample opportunity for second album Imperatrix Sanguinis to capitalise on the momentum.
Whereas much of our scene basks in the natural beauty of our isle and rich tomes of our collective history, BLOOD COUNTESS are raw, cold and utterly ferocious. Encapsulating the primal and misanthropic musical tones of black metal’s infamous second wave, Imperatrix Sanguinis is an utter monster of a record.
Cold. Raw. Primal. Chains of Misdeed opens the album in foreboding fashion as an ominous howl from The Cuntess ignites a rolling bombardment of blastbeats and tremolo riffing. From there, the track twists and contorts at breakneck speed and the sinister way in which the band, spearheaded by their vocalist’s piercing shrieks, ensnare you is top class. A menacing start indeed.
As Imperatrix Sanguinis continues to unfold, we’re treated to a near 40 minute blast of cold and merciless black metal. Sadistic Marchioness is an early album highlight with some really killer hooky riffs that combine with The Cuntess‘ shrieks effortlessly well, not sounding out of place on a DARKENED NOCTURN SLAUGHTERCULT record. Elsewhere, A Humiliating Plea for the Glorification of Erotic Suffering – a shoe-in for song-title of the year – swings and swaggers with come classic 90s-inspired riffing, and a vintage heavy metal solo is a slick touch, and The Scavenger’s Daughter holds nothing back as it batters you with blastbeats over the course of its near four minute runtime.
Aside from Shackles Of Sin, which serves as nothing more than an atmosphere-provoking interlude to reflect the band’s sole and only theme of Elizabeth Bathory, Imperatrix Sanguinis is utterly relentless in its delivery. Whether it’s Purge of Trenčín‘s execution of relentless aural hellfire or Schadenfreude, a track which captures that signature 90s black metal sound expertly well and has enough bite to draw plenty of grimace. Despite how far black metal has stretched its creative potential in the decades since its inception, it is refreshing to experience a good vintage. And for the sound and aesthetical style BLOOD COUNTESS present, there is still very much a seat at the table.
With Imperatrix Sanguinis, BLOOD COUNTESS have delivered a worthy successor to their breakout 2022 debut. Building upon the foundations of its predecessor and keeping their sound razor sharp, Imperatrix Sanguinis is a vicious and frenzied listening experience, one that captures that primal essence of what makes black metal so evocative in the first place.
Rating: 8/10
Imperatrix Sanguinis is out now Dominance of Darkness Records.
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