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Imperial

This Grave Is My Poem
2005
Pluto

Imperial - This Grave Is My Poem (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Erin Jackson
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Pluto Records (Logo)

Published on April 12th 2005

I have to admit: when I first picked up this CD, I smirked at some of the song titles. “'In Ashes I Leave,' 'Pain and Perfection,' 'Wipe Away the Tears,'” I read bemusedly to a group of friends who had gathered around to see the latest CDs I received to review. “'This Grave Is My Poem,'” I said, holding my hand to my heart; “Oh, poor emo boys.”

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Imperial isn’t anything like what I expected. For starters, they’re not an emo band; they’re a metalcore band. Whoops.

Lyrically, the music is simple: full of one-liners you would expect to find carved into a high school desk by a brooding loner; “in ashes I leave to find my peace,” and “trapped here without a hope” are typical snippets. But this band isn’t about lyrics; reading the liner notes will quickly tell you that, as well as be an exercise in futility if you hope to find some deep hidden meaning in the hard-to-decipher delivery. It’s just not there.

What makes Imperial special – or at least the quality they are hoping to use to garner an audience -- is that their two vocalists (Brandon Pangle and Dale Dupee ) have “a dual vocal attack [that] sets them apart from most of their peers.” However, and sadly, they clash. The hardcore and heavy vocalist is overused, much to the detriment of the songs. You’ll find yourself tiring of it, clutching on to the short moments where the vocalist with a hint of melody is present. Ultimately, they are too few and far between, which makes Imperial’s This Grave Is my Poem the kind of CD that will quickly grate on your nerves.

Imperial is selling a particular brand of feeling – of emotion – and when a band focuses on vocal delivery, not melodies, that takes the listener to the proverbial place inside their heads, they have to be strong, compelling, and say something relevant. In the case of this CD, that element is largely missing.






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    Posted by Sally_Field on 2005-05-04 07:22:27

    This is a solid metalcore album.

    It's no American Hi-Fi, though......................

    Posted by rellish91 on 2005-04-29 14:44:13

    this shit is pretty good fuck all you who are too fucking elite to like something this catchy..

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 16, 2005 at 4:55 PM (EDT)

    "what the fuck happened to straightforward punk rock?"

    It's just as much of a paradox, and just as stupid and trite.

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 15, 2005 at 6:13 PM (EDT)

    i was refferring to jesses comment not the reviewer

    Posted by Sally_Field on 2005-04-15 00:28:26

    why is every other new album review a metalcore review? i hate metalcore. what the fuck happened to straightforward punk rock? you know, where the band attempts at some catchy melody? where is it?

    I don't know. Where are usernames that reference the Clash?

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 14, 2005 at 6:34 PM (EDT)

    "jesse. just curious. but do u even like one metalcore. i mean name one metal core band that u like. otherwise i dont know why u were supposed to review this because we all know ull hate it."

    Geez, I love it when people read. Jesse didn't even review this.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at 11:08 PM (EDT)

    any metalcore*

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at 11:07 PM (EDT)

    jesse. just curious. but do u even like one metalcore. i mean name one metal core band that u like. otherwise i dont know why u were supposed to review this because we all know ull hate it.

    Posted by CallingLondon on 2005-04-13 22:36:47
    My Score:

    why is every other new album review a metalcore review? i hate metalcore. what the fuck happened to straightforward punk rock? you know, where the band attempts at some catchy melody? where is it?

    Posted by Conduit on 2005-04-13 03:37:55

    Doesn't really matter, but both singers scream.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 6:26 PM (EDT)

    Um, no, the album wouldn't be more of their poem. If it was, then they wouldn't have had to call the album "This grave..."

    Jesus, were you born in a fucking cave?

    Posted by sickboi on 2005-04-12 14:18:48

    Wouldn't "this record" be more of "their poem"? Fuck this band for having yet another boring-ass, cliche' sound.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 1:39 PM (EDT)

    Not the person, the name.

    -Chinatown

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 1:39 PM (EDT)

    I love Erin Jackson.

    -Chinatown

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 12:36 PM (EDT)

    your suprised that a metal band would have that album title and song titles? jesus christ. that is the style that emo ripped off from metal. what are you, 13?

    Posted by Jesse on 2005-04-12 12:09:15

    I was supposed to review this. It's trash.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 6:53 AM (EDT)

    Steaming turd of an album title.

    Strewtho.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 3:18 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    OMG AN EMO METALCORE BAND WITH TWO VOCALISTS???????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ????????????????????????????
    earth shattering

    Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-04-12 01:41:33

    you shouldnt have been surprised...emo lyrics and metalcore lyrics are basically the same shitty lyrics

    - jones the bones

    - stevejones8770@yahoo.com

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 at 12:39 AM (EDT)

    Good review of a not-so-good album - OC

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-04-12 00:21:26

    I would've guessed they were metalcore from the song titles. Hell, even the album title makes me think metalcore.

    Posted by inagreendase on 2005-04-12 00:05:27
    My Score:

    Eh, for mosh metalcore, it isn't all that terrible. Nothing I would willingly buy or put on the stereo, but it's not ear-splitting.

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