Sanguis Imperem

Not to sound like a broken record, or a fully functional black metal one, but it's so refreshing, and necessary, to have labels like Hell's Headbangers as a known home for quality metal. It's nice to see the logo and know it's going to be quality ― the particular brand of quality that California's Sanguis Imperem (what is that, Latin? Excellent!) serve up on this excellently titled debut full-length being a sludgy, grinding romp through blackened death. It has more of a serious death metal vibe than the label's more hellacious black-thrash bands, but the atmosphere is always more Incantation and Immolation than Suffocation, Sanguis Imperem delivering an atmosphere via the tunes and just enough of a raw, sloppy feel to keep the energy levels high. With just enough touches of other subgenres, this is a great death metal album.