Imperial
is a french Metal band formed end 1992 by
Qojau and Skrow. The band starts to play
primitive Death/Thrash-Metal songs. The
line-up is : Qojau on guitar and vocal, Skrow
on drums and Julien on guitar. During this
period, the band has no band name.
In
1993, Julien quits the band. Qojau and Skrow
continues to make songs in duo and choose
IMPERIAL for band name. Skrow stops to play
drums for guitar and starts to sing on songs.
The drums parts are played by a drum machine
"The Boss".
In
1994, IMPERIAL duo makes 3 concerts and
records 5 tracks for the first demo tape
"War Spirit". The musical style
sounds more extreme and original, and the band
uses more Black-Metal influences. Now Skrow
makes all vocal performances. The demo is
really appreciate in the underground.
In
1995, IMPERIAL record the same day 6 new songs
for their second demo tape "The Red
Moon" + a new edition of the "War
Spirit" demo. The band has now his own
musical style, still influenced by all extreme
and primitive Metal scene. Skrow starts to
write and sing lyrics in french ("Lumière
Noire" is the first IMPERIAL song in
french), and plays bass on rehearsals.
In 1996,
IMPERIAL record their third demo tape
"Chapitre Trois : Men Of God". The 8
songs are more technical, 3 songs are singing
in french and Skrow plays keyboards parts
during all the session. The demo comes the
favorite tape of IMPERIAL maniacs. During 1994
to 1996, IMPERIAL realise that their 3 demo
tapes have been distributed to 900 copies in
Europe and U.S.A..
In 1997 the
band decides to record 5 new songs in studio
for making a promotional tape destined to
labels. These 5 songs are all singing in
french.After to have received this "Promo
Tape '97", Osmose Productions take the
decision to sign IMPERIAL for 2 albums and 1
MCD. The first album "Aux Crépuscules"
is recording in 1997, still by the duo Qojau
(guitar/drums programming) and Skrow
(vocals/bass), and out in 1998. The 5 songs of
the "Promo Tape '97" are include on
the album. On the LP version, the song
"La Femme Brûlée" is replaced by
"Eux" (2 songs from the
"Chapitre 3 : Men Of God" demo
tape).
IMPERIAL make
an unique concert in February 1998 (the first
since 4 years, and ever the last IMPERIAL
concert at this day). For this concert,
IMPERIAL line up is Qojau on guitar, Skrow on
vocals, Jérôme on bass and Stéphane on
drums. Problems inside the band come at the
same period...problems cancelling a previous
european tour with CANNIBAL CORPSE + some
dates with IMMORTAL.Still in 1998, Frank joins
IMPERIAL in studio for playing drums on the
"Thrasheurs 13" MCD's recording.
In 1999,
IMPERIAL recording their second album
"Malmort". Richard joins the band
for playing drums parts. For this album,
IMPERIAL choose a more raw sound which routs
people and 'zines reviewers. Osmose decide to
out relutanctly the album (because more and
more disagreements between IMPERIAL &
Osmose).
In 2000, the
IMPERIAL duo records "Desert", a
BULLDOZER cover for a split EP with japanese
gods SABBAT "The BULLDOZER Armageddon
1" on the italian label Warlord Records.
In 2001,
IMPERIAL records a SABBAT cover "Reek Of
Cremation" for the "Sabbatical
Worldwide Harmageddon" tribute LP to
SABBAT on Live Recording Attacks brasilian
label. The complete 1995 session of "The
Red Moon" demo tape with "War
Spirit" tracks is re-edited by Moon Soon
Records (Skrow's label) on demo tape with
remastered songs, colored cover and limited to
100 copies.
In 2002/2003,
for the IMPERIAL's 10th
anniversary, a 7"EP called
"Moonblood (ten years of IMPERIAL)"
is edited by the italian label Dream Evil
Records. The EP contains 4 unrealised tracks
from 1992 to 2000, and is limited in red vynil
to 333 copies.
In 2004, a
compilation of demo & promo tapes +
unreleased personnal band recordings, is
released first on CD by the peruvian label
Magistellus Infernal, strictly limited to 100
copies*; A re-issue is released on tape in
2005, by the bolivian label Rawblackult
Productions, limited to 666 copies.
In 2008,
Imperial is back and record 7 new devastating
songs for their new demo "Noir"
