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| Source: Promo |
Imperial Skies have been making leaps and bounds in the Metal scene since their foundation in 2016, dishing out slashers time and again. With each swing of the proverbial blade, the trio have been honing their craft, sharpening the very syllables on which their music is scaffolded until you find yourself losing blood before the first chorus slams into your chest. And man, 'Listen Up!' is out for blood. A lot of it. This is a call to arms.
Its bread and butter - riffs meaty enough to dislodge your teeth from your gums and drums that stab, and stab, and keep stabbing - sandwich a medley of vocal explorations words can only disservice. Yes, it's aggressive in its delivery and brutal by way of its sheer melodic complexity, but lyrically it's hopeful, honest, warm, even. Imperial Skies really have every aspect of the track nailed down.
"Do you even find comfort in love, my friend?"
The guitar lies in wait until that chorus encourages it to flourish, those beats marinate among the boiling riffs until they can't resist puncturing the lyrics in the most complementary fashion possible, and the vocals ensure a thrill with their sheer adaptability. The cleans hold their own against the dirties, the screams fill the spaces against which the singing reclines. Every element grapples with the others in such a balanced, courteous way. Listening is an absolute pleasure.
'Listen Up!' boasts more than just aesthetic brilliance, though. Hearing such huge vocals speaking on something so sensitive is pretty damn cool. Imperial Skies cement themselves as trailblazers of modern Metal in their taking of such an unapologetic step on this track. They really open up your head, and whether that be through cracking your skull with the butt of an electric guitar or weaving their way into your mind with words of emphatic wisdom, you don't see me complaining. In fact, I welcome them.
