Sanguis Imperem


As a band, Sanguis Imperem are the definition of uncompromising. Formed nearly five years ago in the soulless wasteland of Southern California and as uncommercial as they come (the thought of hearing a track like 'Humanity's Dirge' on even Headbanger's Ball elicits a chuckle), the death metal tyrants have busied themselves spreading the disease far and wide.

Noisecreep caught up with them at a recent black metal festival in New Jersey and found out that, while the members are as uncompromising as their music, they are far from intolerant -- especially when it comes to the more unsavory opinions held by their blackened brethren. We mean, of course the 60-ton pink elephant in the room that is right-wing politics and NS leanings that has plagued the underground black metal scene for years.

R.S. spits, "I doubt that is what they had in mind in Germany back in 1942; I doubt they wanted a bunch of scumbags that do heroin to represent them. But regardless, I mean I don't really pay attention to those type of bands. I'm not into those bands. I just think it's one of those things where it's like a passing trend. On the other end of things, I think a lot of their dodgy politics too are also pretty left-wing. They seem very babyish to me, 'Oh, let's not offend anyone!' For me, death metal is, 'F--- you.'"

Ever since the days of the PMRC, there have been attempts to regulate the amount of 'offensive' material that appears in our music. R.S. isn't impressed.

"Death metal is offensive. We are offensive. I don't think there should be limits to that. If you have a problem with me and don't agree with me, fine. But don't limit it and say, 'You're not allowed to play here, you're not allowed to do this because you've been blacklisted, because of some BS politics, because some religious people that think they are being persecuted.'

"I think that's bulls---. Let them express their opinions like everyone else, and let the masses sort out whether or not they're worth it or not. If there's a place on f---ing earth that you still can express a negative opinion, it should f---ing be here."

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