IMPIOUS: New Album Details Revealed

Metal Blade Records has set a January 29, 2007 European release date for the new album from Swedish death/thrashers IMPIOUS, entitled "Holy Murder Masquerade".

Commented guitarist Valle Adzic: "The album was mainly recorded at my own Studio Deadline. Only drums were recorded at Studio Mega. Simply because when it was time for recording the drums, my studio wasn't quite finished."

The new album is different to its predecessor, 2004's "Hellucinate". "We had one goal: To make the songs more simple and memorable," Valle said. "We wanted more songs that people can easily sing along with on concerts. When we were done with the album, we realized we had a little bit more melodies than before, and the average tempo was a bit slower. But it still sounds like IMPIOUS… just a little bit more IMPIOUS than before."

"Holy Murder Masquerade" is a concept album, a real bloody one indeed. "We hired this Italian guy Andrea Cavaletto who does horror comics for a living," Valle explained. "The whole booklet is made like a comic book, with the lyrics inserted in those speech balloons just like in an ordinary comic book. We also hired professional voice actors to bring life to the characters. The story is about this guy, Trent, who is a true servant of God. At least according to his own sick mind. He's soon to complete his work and the listener/reader gets to follow him as he arrives at his final destination. There are a lot of deaths, violence, blood, etc... It's a brutal story indeed.

"I actually came up with the comic idea after reading a review where it said the music was very good, but not original. That got me thinking… I didn't want to change our music, so what was there more to change? Well, the lyrical part! And from that moment everything just came to me. Why not make a concept album where the listener can follow the whole story both sonically, lyrically and even visually?? So we did! It took us thousands and thousands hours of work, but we did it! This way you get a whole new experience, and you definitely miss out on very much if you just download the album on the Internet.

"When we recorded the title track, 'Holy Murder Masquerade', we felt that the song needed some screaming vocals. So we contacted longtime friend Thomas Backelin from LORD BELIAL, and he was happy to do it."

The cover was created by Justin Kamerer, who has previously worked with SLAYER, SLIPKNOT, MUDVAYNE and BLACK SABBATH, among others.

"Holy Murder Masquerade" track listing:

01. The Confession
02. Bound To Bleed (For A Sacred Need)
03. T.P.S.
04. Bloodcraft
05. Holy Murder Masquerade
06. Death On Floor 44
07. Slaughtertown Report
08. Three Of One
09. Everlasting Punishment
10. Purified By Fire
11. Dark Closure