Reviews

  Lord Impaler is a black metal band hailing us from Kastoria, a beautiful town in the North-West part of Greece. The reason I mention this, in the very beginning of this presentation, is because if you had the chance to listen to this promo CD now, you would have the impression that we are dealing with a band originating from the cold northern countries or Norway in particular, if you prefer. Their music could be described as monolithic, old school and old fashioned Norwegian black metal with frozen riffs and a really primitive, raw and aggressive atmosphere. The growls are very nice and whilst listening to them I had this image of a vulture stalking its prey. That's how I think the vocalist felt and interpreted the songs. The compositions have a short duration and I think the guys know well what they are doing cause this kind of music needs sharpness and tightness, so there is no need for boring and endless repetitions of the same riffs. One more thing that I liked is the use of keyboards, which is important but without having the front role. I mean they are obvious, but they don't dominate the music. I'm sure Lord Impaler have more to give to the scene in the future, so keep an eye on them!

Behind The Veil (GR) - May 2005, Reviewer: Christine Parastatidou

  LORD IMPALER comes from Greece and they have been around for the past seven years. The band has released two demos Cd's and this is their latest effort after 2001. The band is dedicated to the most extreme side of metal music, Black metal. The demo begins with a very good intro, with interesting keyboard parts. Even if the production isn't so good, LORD IMPALER achieves to have good enough sound in order to hear all the instruments. Also the band doesn’t play hyper fast so you can hear their musical ideas unfold, properly. Even if I am not the biggest fan of black metal, except some mainstream bands, I found many interesting points in the music of LORD IMPALER, who even if they are a black metal act, use a lot of keyboards and this gives a great atmosphere to the demo. The vocals are typical black metal ones and I am really curious to see them live, to see if they have achieved to transfer the music from the cd to the stage. The fans of black metal should check this release.

4 / 6 - Metal Invader (GR) - June 2005, Reviewer: Antonis Maglaras

  Wow, here we are in Metal Hammer's playground, where little children can be seduced and raped by immoral drunk clerics e.tc, but also by paid columnists of reliable magazines of Heavy Metal horror, deflowering their empty part of the middle-brain with Dimmu Borgir and Cradle of Filth. Here, someone with the nickname Necroabyssuss is pretending to be Dani Filth and someone with the nickname Lord Nebulah is pretending to be P.Allender of Cradle of Filth, they are identical. The CD contains 4 songs, with durations from one and a half to two minutes, the band is quartet, with gothic fonts on the cover, Admire the Cosmos Black and the likes, Extreme Violence and the likes...

Characterization: Sick Death, Noise Making: Powerful - The Dog (GR) - July/August 2005

  After six years of existence and two demo releases, Lord Impaler have ready and release this Promo. In 3 songs (plus one intro), the group gives their view of how unholy black metal is to be played, with many majestic elements and melodies. Not that it is something we haven't heard before, but Lord Impaler are good at what they are doing, and if we must compaire them with another Hellenic band, I could say that Crossover are close to their style.

6 / 10 - Metal Hammer (GR) - September 2005, Reviewer: Markos Sakellariou

  The group moves in the black metal field and presents 4 songs with influences from the classic Norwegian school of Black Metal (they reminded me of the early Gehenna and Dimmu Borgir), as much from the classic Hellenic (Varathron). The songs are mostly mid-tempo, with blasts, enriched with lots of synths that give an epic/romantic perspective, while the vocals, horrid and other-worldly, freeze the blood in your veins. They left me generally good impressions, even if the specific kind of music is not of my taste.

Blackthorn 'zine (GR) - August 2005, Reviewer: Jim "Unholy Sodomizer"

  After many difficulties and delays LORD IMPALER managed to come up with this nice promo. Turning a blind eye to the production and the drum programming which are rather drawbacks their melodic black metal and the romantic synths are really interesting. I heard something about a full length album so we have to wait.

6.5 / 10 - Metal Legacy (GR) - March 2006, Reviewer: Kris G.

  Lord Impaler is a band from Kastoria (the Greek Scandinavia, with all this cold) and they exist six years now. This is their third demo and maybe their best release. It contains three tracks (and one intro), that move in the majestic black metal area. Their music is characterized by frozen, sharp riffs and a very aggressive atmosphere, where the mid-tempo compositions, the blast beats and the typical (but not bad) black metal vocals take us back to old, good, scandinavian paths... The songs are small in duration (about 2,5 - 3 minutes), where they use a lot of keyboards, but without having the first role, and they give an epic / romantic tone in the band's sound. If we were asked to name their music, one phrase would pop in our mind: Primitive, raw and aggressive majestic black metal. They are not pioneers in their sound, but they surely are good at what they are doing, chilling our blood with their compositions.

The Bloodcult 'zine (GR) - Issue 4, Reviewer: +TBS+

  From Kastoria comes this promo release which moves in the black metal field. It contains an intro and three compositions. Even if I am not an expert at all in this music kind, what I have heard 'till now gives me the impression that they have done a nice work in the musical part. With fast rythms, with good use of the keyboards and classic vocals for their style, they present a firm set. The production is clean, for the music genre, and I think that it will not take them long to find a label to sign them.

Hellenic Forces 'zine (GR) - Issue 4, February 2006

  Nobody can’t doubt of the high quality of the greek bands. I believe which nobody’s did it!!! talking about of black metal music I consider that they’re a institution of high class because they’re makin’ from some years ago a excellent metal music and they’re keepin his own metal style doing each metal band a masterpiece and LORD IMPALER has got offer Us with this promo CD a perfect show of greek master sound. It’s contain a excellent quality music, cool riffs, good acomplishment, some synths/piano parts moreless faster sometimes slow parts and will contain a perfect conception of rhythms and harmonies. I’ve saw many bands, but really LORD IMPALER has impressed me. I told you this because their sound is excellent, they has got combine the old greek sound, more inspired to old glories as VARATHRON/NECROMANTIA until the feeling of NAER MATARON. I don’t know why any record label hasn’t got signed to them. When you’re running through their sound, it’s his own kind of play the black metal music. ‘ANTICHRISTIAN HORDES’ it’s the best track here, is contain a dark atmosphere, excellent guitar rhythms and satanic passages. Their vocals parts are perfect too. They do that I reminds to VARATHRON vocals. The dissapointed in this promo were in the short tracks, it only contain 4 rhythm changes. times running: 11 minutes, but who’s care??? This promo is a great work, marvellous and strongly recommended it!!!! all black metallers write now!!!

8.5 / 10 - Headbanger Magazine (Peru) - Issue 8