Krieg is one of the prominent American bands founded by Imperial in 1995 in New Jersey. “Krieg” means “war” in German. Imperial is considered one of the most significant figures in American black metal history, akin to legendary figures like Count Grishnackh in Norway and Kanwulf in Germany. In 1996, Lord Imperial released a demo titled *Battlegod* through a low-quality label, which included two tracks and lasted about nine minutes. *Battlegod* was a strong starting point for Krieg.
The first album, *Rise of the Imperial Hordes*, was recorded by Imperial and took about two years to prepare. It can confidently be said that it was one of the top albums of 1998. This is evidenced by the fact that it was re-released twice as a bonus by Battle Kommand Records in 2000 and 2005. Lord Imperial’s work was entirely in the raw black metal style, and it’s said that his success was inspired by the band Darkthrone, which was producing some of the best black metal tracks at the time.
Imperial takes pride in his first collaborative effort, a split release featuring four bands from the USA, France, and Greece: Eternal Majesty, Krieg, Macabre Omen, and the renowned Judas Iscariot. This split significantly boosted Krieg’s fame. The second demo, *Forgotten Secrets*, included four tracks and ran for eighteen minutes. It was undeniably stronger and more beautiful than the previous demo and was released in the same year.
Krieg was making good progress, and Imperial brought to life another split idea, this time with Kult Ov Azazel. This split consisted of five tracks from Kult Ov Azazel and six from Krieg, forming a solid collection. Imperial then collaborated again with Judas Iscariot on another split titled *To the Coming Age of Intolerance*, where Judas Iscariot included a cover of *Winterheart* by the great band Crimson Evenfall.
Following this, an EP titled *The Church*, a compilation of Krieg’s recordings from the previous two years, was released in late 2001 and received an overwhelmingly positive response. However, the label was displeased due to its illegal distribution, though online reviews suggested otherwise. *Songs for Resistance* was a demo I mentioned in a previous post from 2007, with minor changes made to the tracks by No Colours Records. Originally, *Songs for Resistance* was recorded and released in 2002, featuring beautiful lyrics.
*Tormenting Necrometal* was the next demo, released in the same year. *Destruction Ritual*, Krieg’s second album, was nearly ready in 2001 but was released in late 2002 due to various issues and demo-related problems. This album shook the Western black metal scene. Listening to it, you can feel the atmosphere Lord Imperial crafted in every track. The true essence of raw black metal shines through in his work. Lord Imperial’s voice, combined with the beautiful rhythms of each track, delivers immense pleasure to the listener. From the chaotic vocals to the irregular rhythms and the deep bass, it’s captivating. While it can feel repetitive at times, *Destruction Ritual* is exceptional!
After this successful album, Krieg performed live in Clifton, featuring Butcher from Maniac Butcher, SM Daemon (who had recently joined Imperial and the band as lead guitarist), Wrath from Averse Sefira on rhythm guitar, and Imperial on vocals. This concert, later regarded as one of the best in the American underground scene, was recorded and released as an album. The cover of *Satanic Blood* by Von was particularly well-received. This concert was a great honor for Imperial.
Following this, Imperial began working on a stronger album, which took two years to complete. During this period, he released several splits with prominent bands. The first was with Antaeus, recorded during a concert, followed by a successful collaboration with Finland’s Satanic Warmaster, which was re-released 2–3 times. *4 Spears in God’s Ribs* was the next split, featuring four notable bands: Nazxul from Australia, Necroplasma from Peru, Goat Semen from Sweden, and Krieg. This collaboration was outstanding, with some of the best tracks recorded. The next split was with local band Open Grave, released three weeks later. Four months after that, a major split with Finland’s Azaghal was released, which was very strong.
Finally, *The Black House*, Krieg’s fourth album, hit the market in mid-2004. This album was different, showcasing new approaches in Imperial’s music, including the use of violin, backing vocals, and even another vocalist named L’Hiver. The album features 13 beautiful tracks, each unique in its own way. Track 11 includes violin played by Phaedrus. In track 12, Imperial has no role, with vocals by L’Hiver, and track 10 features backing vocals by Aazaron. Drums were played by Thron, and guitars by Phaedrus. Track 13, *Coronation*, is a composite track made from several pieces of music. The album also incorporates elements of hardcore and heavy metal, as well as influences from Darkthrone, with translated lyrics from the band. You can hear traces of pre-1994 black metal, reminiscent of Graveland and Darken’s familiar style. Imperial deserves praise for creating this work.
After the successful *The Black House*, a split between two black and death metal bands, Krieg and Nunslaughter, was released, featuring two tracks from Nunslaughter and one from Krieg. *Patrick Bateman*, released in mid-2004, was a demo dubbed the “Spirit of America” and consisted of five parts. Later that year, Imperial collaborated with the Portuguese band Morte Incandescente, releasing a split with nine tracks by the end of 2004. In 2005, Imperial released a new album, *Sono Lo Scherno*, which mostly included older material from 1998 and the band’s early days, including the successful track *Power of Darkness*. This album has a unique atmosphere, ideal for any black metal fan. According to Imperial, it transports listeners to a special, melancholic, and cold space that helps them understand his writings. These writings are personal memories for Imperial, and the strange screams paired with simple guitar rhythms draw listeners into the depths of his vision.
A few months later, Nachtmystium and Krieg joined forces for a new project called *Daze West*, a highly successful split featuring four tracks, including two covers from Motörhead and The Stooges in the heavy and speed metal styles. Krieg’s final album, *Blue Miasma*, was released in 2006 with full force, featuring collaborations with members from Nachtmystium, Gestapo 666, Nyktalgia, and Forest of Impaled. This album was built with fresh ideas and a more melodic approach. A product of five major bands, it was a success and an honor to work with No Colours Records. Lasting about an hour, its 13 flawless tracks marked the end of Krieg’s musical journey.
A split with the French band Bael was a good collaboration, with tracks produced together gaining fans’ attention. Much of this album was promotional or, more accurately, non-commercial. In any case, Krieg remains an underground American band and, like similar groups, couldn’t continue its earlier underground work. However, we’ll likely hear new material from Lord Imperial’s upcoming projects. For now, Krieg’s future is uncertain, and it’s unclear whether they’ll work on a new album. The only confirmed project is a split with the Canadian band Lust, set to be released next month. *Nihilism is Liberation* (NIL) is the name of Lord Imperial’s new project.
Written on August 1, 2007, by Deineath
