Vampires of Black Imperial Blood
Encyclopedia
Vampires of Black Imperial Blood was Mütiilation
's and The Black Legions first full-length album. It was also the first full-length CD publication from Drakkar Productions
, a French record label freshly established in 1994 by fellow musician Noktu (frontman of Celestia
).
by End All Life Productions
, in a limited pressing of 100 numbered copies. This edition had a slightly different tracklisting, including three bonus tracks. The album was Bootlegged in 2005 by Tragic Empire Records, in an undisclosed amount, with the same tracklisting as the double-LP.
In 2009 Dark Adversary Productions (Australia) did an official reissue of this album with the same tracklisting as the original CD press.
, was instrumental in establishing the reputation of the Black Legions among underground black metal circles. The overall reception of the album was highly polarized with some dismissing it as "forgettable melancholic drivel". Globally, the most notable elements appear to be the "twisted", "demented but catchy riffs" and, most importantly, the "melancholic", "bleak and lugubrious", "depressive atmosphere", that differed from the established Norwegian black metal acts of that time. On the base of this album, Mütiilation is often credited for inventing the "depressive/suicidal black metal" sub-genre, that would spawn acts such as Xasthur
and Shining. However, unlike groups the album influenced, "Vampires..." shows a wider range of dynamics and an unmistakable style of songwriting, especially for that era of the genre.
While the production quality has been acclaimed as "significantly clearer" than on earlier Mütiilation demos, other reviewers described it as a "nonexistent production",
or even an "ultra primitive sound quality (...) making Darkthrone
sound downright hi-fi".
Mütiilation
Mütiilation is a French one-man black metal band that was affiliated with the Black Legions. Since parting from the The Black Legions in 1996, Meyhna'ch has continued to create music under the band's name.-The Beginning and The Black Legions:...
's and The Black Legions first full-length album. It was also the first full-length CD publication from Drakkar Productions
Drakkar Productions
Drakkar Productions is a French record label that has released many recordings of black metal bands throughout the world, on CD, cassette and vinyl. They have usually limited the prints to 1000 copies or less, but some have been known to vary...
, a French record label freshly established in 1994 by fellow musician Noktu (frontman of Celestia
Celestia (band)
Celestia is a black metal band from Avignon, France, formed in 1995 by Noktu. Nowadays Noktu is the only remaining original member.Celestia remained in the demo stage until around 1999 when they released the EP "A Cave Full of Bats" through Drakkar Productions with a line-up consisting of Noktu ...
).
Reissues
Originally limited to 1000 copies, the album was reissued in 1999 as a double-LPLP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
by End All Life Productions
End All Life Productions
End All Life Productions is a French record label that released many black metal albums in the late 1990s and the 2000s.-Catalogue:-External links:* *...
, in a limited pressing of 100 numbered copies. This edition had a slightly different tracklisting, including three bonus tracks. The album was Bootlegged in 2005 by Tragic Empire Records, in an undisclosed amount, with the same tracklisting as the double-LP.
In 2009 Dark Adversary Productions (Australia) did an official reissue of this album with the same tracklisting as the original CD press.
Drakkar Original Pressing/Dark Adversary Pressing
End All Life LP
Critical reception
This album, together with March to the Black HolocaustMarch to the Black Holocaust
March to the Black Holocaust was a split album by Vlad Tepes and Belkètre. It was the only CD released by Belkètre and the first of two by Vlad Tepes...
, was instrumental in establishing the reputation of the Black Legions among underground black metal circles. The overall reception of the album was highly polarized with some dismissing it as "forgettable melancholic drivel". Globally, the most notable elements appear to be the "twisted", "demented but catchy riffs" and, most importantly, the "melancholic", "bleak and lugubrious", "depressive atmosphere", that differed from the established Norwegian black metal acts of that time. On the base of this album, Mütiilation is often credited for inventing the "depressive/suicidal black metal" sub-genre, that would spawn acts such as Xasthur
Xasthur
Xasthur was a Californian one-man black metal band formed in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym "Malefic". Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthur's focus is usually not on paganism, Satanism or anti-Christian...
and Shining. However, unlike groups the album influenced, "Vampires..." shows a wider range of dynamics and an unmistakable style of songwriting, especially for that era of the genre.
While the production quality has been acclaimed as "significantly clearer" than on earlier Mütiilation demos, other reviewers described it as a "nonexistent production",
or even an "ultra primitive sound quality (...) making Darkthrone
Darkthrone
Darkthrone is a Norwegian black metal band. They formed in 1987 as a death metal band, but after embracing the black metal style in 1991, they became a driving force in the Norwegian black metal scene. For most of this period Darkthrone has consisted of just two musicians, Nocturno Culto and...
sound downright hi-fi".
Trivia
- This was the first recording to feature Mørdrëd.
- This album features actual drumming, while on the following Mütiilation releases, Meyhna'ch would rely on a drum machineDrum machineA drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
. - The song "Eternal Empire of Majesty Death" has been covered by the American Black metal band XasthurXasthurXasthur was a Californian one-man black metal band formed in 1995 by Scott Conner, who goes by the pseudonym "Malefic". Although similar in terms of low-fi production and the wearing of corpse paint, musically and lyrically Xasthur's focus is usually not on paganism, Satanism or anti-Christian...
, and is included as a bonus track on the 2004 reissue of A Gate Through Bloodstained MirrorsA Gate Through Bloodstained MirrorsA Gate Through Bloodstained Mirrors is a 2001 demo by the American black metal one-man-band Xasthur. Reviews of that release, first published by Profane Productions as a limited CD-R edition of 150 copies, proved to be positive, comparing the material to old Graveland and Burzum...
.