“The future, much like the world around us, has undergone a significant transformation and is no longer what it once was.”
The New York City-based trio Imperial Triumphant has consistently pushed the boundaries of conventional music. With their unique blend of avant-garde blackened death metal, the band has carved out a niche for themselves, captivating fans who crave something more complex and intriguing. Founded by guitarist and vocalist Zachary Ezrin twenty years ago, Imperial Triumphant continues to draw inspiration from the city’s ever-changing landscape.
From the city’s seedy underbelly in the 1970s and 1980s to the current era of cultural and economic growth, New York City serves as a constant source of inspiration for Imperial Triumphant. Their highly anticipated album, Goldstar, is a testament to the band’s ability to find inspiration in the city’s diverse and ever-changing environment. 
“We drew inspiration from various aspects of the city, including the darker side of 42nd Street in the 1970s, the construction of the Chrysler Building in 1929, and the iconic cigarette commercials of the 1960s,” Ezrin explains in an interview with Metal Injection. “The city is a treasure trove of inspiration, and we have yet to exhaust its creative potential.”
With influences ranging from art and architecture to the films of Fritz Lang and Stanley Kubrick, Goldstar is a masterful blend of elegance and epic brutality. The album’s accessibility belies its complexity, making it the band’s most approachable work to date.
Clocking in at 36 minutes, with only one track exceeding seven minutes, Goldstar is a testament to the band’s ability to craft concise, high-impact songs. The album’s creation was influenced by the band’s extensive touring schedule, which included performances alongside Behemoth and Carcass, as well as notable festival appearances.
“Imposing time constraints on ourselves forced us to be more creative and cut out any unnecessary elements,” Ezrin explains. “This approach resulted in a more straightforward and punchy sound, which is reflected in the album’s overall dynamic and engaging nature.”
“It’s a fun challenge as a band to push ourselves and try new things,” Ezrin adds. “We’re not interested in simply rehashing the same ideas; instead, we strive to create something unique and captivating with each new album.”
The album features a diverse range of tracks, including the eclectic “Gomorrah Nouveaux” and “Pleasuredome”, as well as the intense 47-second grindcore-inspired “NEWYORKCITY”, which features Yoshiko Ohara of Bloody Panda. This track showcases the band’s ability to blend different styles and create something unique.
“We were the last band to record at Colin Marston‘s Menegroth Studio in Queens,” Ezrin recalls. “We had to work efficiently, recording the entire album in just five days due to a subsequent tour offer with Abbath.”
“We’re a well-rehearsed band, and working with Colin was a pleasure,” Ezrin explains. “He understands our vision, and we were able to work efficiently, often completing tracks in just two or three takes.”
The album is peppered with Easter eggs, including references to A Clockwork Orange and Barry Lyndon. Ezrin notes that “nothing is off the table” when it comes to influences, and the band wears its inspirations on its sleeve.
“We’re not trying to hide our influences; instead, we’re embracing them and incorporating them into our unique sound,” Ezrin explains. “The album is a snapshot of the band, and we’ve put a lot of thought into the tracklisting and the overall flow of the record to create a dynamic and engaging listening experience.”
The band’s music is not just about the songs themselves, but about the journey they take the listener on. Ezrin draws a parallel to the Dark Souls video game series, where the story is not explicitly told, but rather left for the player to discover.
“I love that approach, where the listener has to engage with the music on a deeper level to uncover its meaning,” Ezrin says. “Our fans are smart, and they’ll draw their own conclusions about our songs. I find it more interesting when people come to me with their own interpretations, rather than me spelling it out for them.”
The band’s recent collaborations with high-profile musicians, including Dave Lombardo and Tomas Haake, have added a new layer of depth to their sound. Goldstar is a testament to the band’s willingness to push boundaries and explore new creative avenues.
While the songs on Goldstar may be more accessible, Ezrin cautions that the album is not without its challenges. The best experiences, he notes, are often the ones that require effort and dedication to fully appreciate.
“It’s more interesting to not spell everything out for the listener,” Ezrin explains, drawing a parallel to the Dark Souls series. “I love that the story is hidden, and you have to figure it out for yourself. It’s interactive, and it makes the experience more engaging and rewarding.”
“Our goal with Goldstar is to create a more forgiving and palatable avant-death experience, while still offering a rich and complex sound that rewards close listening and attention,” Ezrin concludes. “We want to give the listener a unique and captivating experience, one that will stay with them long after the music ends.”
Imperial Triumphant‘s new record Goldstar is out on March 21. Get it here.
