Band's List Death Black Preludium (PL) Impending Hostility

Considering that Preludium's homeland is the birthplace of legendary blackened death metal and death metal bands such as Behemoth, Hate and Vader, it is unsurprising that Impending Hostility, the band's third full length release, display a marked similarity to their fellow countrymen.

With martial sounding drums in the background, the album starts off with Legacy of Destinations, and the drums coming into the foreground as the song starts off proper. While the ending of the opening track, Legacy of Destinations, ends abruptly, leaving the listener hanging on the cliff, wondering if there was more, it was quickly made up through the introduction of the following track, Realm of Void which displays what Preludium's Impending Hostility is all about: no mercy, just face-ripping blackened death metal, with the speed and intensity maintaining at this level throughout the album. The closing track, Warfare, is probably one of the few moments where there is a slight slow down in the tempo, and where the speed is lost, Preludium makes up with the heightened intensity levels. It is also the only instrumental track on the album, and while it doesn't feature the usual shredding that instrumental tracks have, the atmosphere dark and heavy, providing a fitting end to the album, with drums that remind the listener of the introduction fading out.

The song structures and execution styles are reminiscent of what Behemoth have done, from the riffing styles down to the vocal styles, with Lukasz's vocals even sounding like a cross between Nergal and Vader's Peter Wiwczarek. However, despite the comparison to Behemoth, drummer Piotr chooses instead to focus on the speed and the intensity of the drumming instead of the variation of styles, unlike Inferno's style of drumming. Guitarists Jan and Lukasz also favour pinch harmonics in their songs, such as on the track Desolation where pinch harmonics were constantly utilised throughout the song.

The album also seems to lean more towards death metal compared to the usual black/death metal bands, featuring a more brutal touch to the songs, and the heavy chugging that is prevalent throughout more prominently displays their leaning towards death metal. If you are looking for black/death metal that leans more towards death metal style riffing and soloing, this record is recommended for you.

However, while this record by itself has no major fault of its own, it does nothing to make itself stand out in the sea of black/death metal bands and albums that have popped out in recent years and it would have certainly been more enjoyable if the band were able to craft out a trademark sound of their own.

Hailing from Poland where a vast number of death metal bands have defined the area’s colossal death metal underground, Preludium has kept up the merit of this genre with its top-notch sound in “Impending Hostility”. This 4-piece legion has brought out its sheer belligerent sound with variety in every element for instance there are different vocal styles that Lukasz has managed to incorporate in the music. Released through Diabolical Conquest, this 9-track release by Preludium has etched its presence in the death/black metal underground.

The album provides an eerie death march kind of start which leads to epic death metal riffs. The music indicates obvious influences of Bolt Thrower, Behemoth and Vader. The album has slow-churners that lured me into this classic album with thick riffing and relentlessly fast as well as mid-tempo drumming and also the closer that starts out with an intro with a middle-eastern feel then blasts into an exceptionally heavy groove followed by melodic parts.

“Impending Hostility” delivers complete rampage with Jan Skowron’s riffs proceeding with a catchy guitar lick and enticing guitar pinches followed by Lukasz’s thick growls and another brilliant pattern of blasts which adds to the brutality of this track. The most fascinating thing about “Impending Hostility” is its straight-forward chunky riffing combined with a strong pattern of death metal blast beats. Especially the snare tone comes out really well which is comparable to Krisiun’s blast beats.

When people are arguing on whether Finnish or Swedish death metal act is better, what most of them overlook are the underrated Polish bands like Preludium. Make sure you guys check out “Impending Hostility” because it is no doubt one of the heaviest releases.