ALBUM REVIEW: Imperial Skies (Remastered) – Chapters

Circa 2010 British metalcore was really hitting its stride with the likes of SYLOSIS and VIATROPHY proudly leading the charge. Another band who were in the mix was young upstarts CHAPTERS who spawned from members of HANG THE BASTARD. They released their debut album The Imperial Skies back in 2013 and despite continual touring and maintaining a social media presence they seemingly decided to cease writing any follow-up material. The band have now found it an appropriate time to issue a remastered edition of their debut effort which is now available via self release. Will this help bring back feelings of nostalgia and potentially open a door to new listeners?

I Will Reign Forever doesn’t entertain trivialities such as tentative, brooding intros and launches headfirst straight into wild sweeping riffs and ferocious drumming. Caustic growls join the party as the guitar work chops and changes through various stylings. Usually after listening to the first track you have a vague idea of what may unfold as the album progresses but the unpredictable pacing and shifts in tone throw that notion right out of the nearest window. The kitchen sink isn’t out of the question at this stage.

The Siren continues the established intensity with a darker, sinister atmosphere and aggressive vocal bursts. The tempo possesses an alluring buoyant quality that will have your head bobbing along to the infectious beat. Rapid fire drum segments and swift shredding are introduced as the song builds momentum. This trickles over into March Of The Puritan-Arising as CHAPTERS start to switch into a higher gear. Melody seeps into the mix to coincide with the commanding vocal presence and mind boggling instrumental proficiency. A soothing symphony takes the edge off the layers of chaos.

The Ecliptic Circle follows in a similar vain as an almost extended interlude. Silky vocals courtesy of Sian Sanderson wash over the track to add an extra element of tranquillity to proceedings. The Imperial Skies negates this in immediate fashion by diving into thunderous drumming and potent riffing. Flourishes of intricacy and quirky time signatures accompany the dramatic prose. CHAPTERS intend to go out with a bang as the their namesake kicks in with swathes of impressive technicality. This piece ebbs and flows majestically evoking a spectrum of emotions, keeping you gripped to see what will be revealed next. One last flurry of fret melting, explosive solo work assists in providing the exclamation point on a very impressive release.

In some senses CHAPTERS were ahead of their time. With the tech/progressive scene now booming this could be the ideal time to propel themselves back into the spotlight. It is a shame that they didn’t springboard onto greater things post its initial release as it possesses all the potential to stand up against even the stiffest of competition. If you didn’t have the pleasure of acquainting yourself with Imperial Skies the first time round then you’re in for a treat.

Rating: 8/10

The Imperial Skies (Remastered) is out now via self-release.

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