"Imperium" is a song by thrash metal

Thrash metal

Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...

 band Machine Head

Machine Head (band)

Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...

, from their fifth studio album album Through the Ashes of Empires

Through the Ashes of Empires

-US edition bonus track:*This song did not appear on the original worldwide release, but was added on the US release to make up for the wait for the album...

.

Details

It has gained popularity amongst fans and critics for its musical complexity, with Allmusic citing it as a return to form "...single-handedly eclipsing the previous two and a half albums, while simultaneously recapturing the dark majesty and crushing authority of early Machine Head triumphs..." Lyrically, it is centered around the structure of society (the word "Imperium

Imperium

Imperium is a Latin word which, in a broad sense, translates roughly as 'power to command'. In ancient Rome, different kinds of power or authority were distinguished by different terms. Imperium, referred to the sovereignty of the state over the individual...

" originating from the hierarchical philosophies of ancient Rome

Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....

), and the narrator's attempts to disassociate himself with it. It could also be interpreted as voicing disregard for such music industries as MTV

MTV

MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....

 and other apparently commercially centered musical organizations. Another explanation has been that it refers to Robert Flynn's regret to trying to be nu-metal when it was popular.

The music video

Music video

A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...

 for "Imperium" was directed by Mike Sloat, who would also later direct the videos for "Days Turn Blue to Gray

Days Turn Blue to Gray

"Days Turn Blue to Gray" is a single by American heavy metal band Machine Head.-Details:The title track is taken off of the 2004 album Through the Ashes of Empires. The single was only made available through mail order from Britain or at Machine Head gigs during their 2004 UK tour. "Seasons...

", "Aesthetics of Hate

Aesthetics of Hate

"Aesthetics of Hate" is a song by heavy metal band Machine Head from their sixth studio album The Blackening. Written by Machine Head vocalist and guitarist Robert Flynn, the song is a retaliation to an article written by William Grim. Grim wrote that late guitarist Dimebag Darrell was "an...

", "Now I Lay Thee Down

Now I Lay Thee Down

Now I Lay Thee Down is a single by American heavy metal band Machine Head from their sixth studio album The Blackening. A was made for the song as well...

" and "Halo

Halo (Machine Head song)

Halo is the third single from the album The Blackening by the groove metal band Machine Head. This is the only song on the album to be written by all four band members. It was also featured as one of the metal genre track in The Sims 2: Bon Voyage...

", and features the band performing in various exotic locations including a fiery, red abyss, perhaps symbolizing hell

Hell

In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...

. The video found substantial airplay on Headbangers Ball

Headbangers Ball

Headbangers Ball is a music television program consisting of heavy metal music videos airing on MTV2, MTV Australia, MTV Two , MTV Adria , MTV Brand New, MTV Portugal, MTV Finland, MTV Arabia, MTV Norway, MTV Sweden, MTV Denmark, MTV Greece, MTV Türkiye, MTV...

upon its release.

Personnel

• Robert Flynn
  Robert Flynn
  Robb Flynn is best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the heavy metal band Machine Head...
  
   - lead vocals, guitar
  Guitar
  The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
  
  s,
• Adam Duce - bass guitar
  Bass guitar
  The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
  
  , backing vocals
• Dave McClain - drums
  Drum kit
  A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
  
  
• Phil Demmel - lead guitars