The extermination sect from Germany is back with its fourth studio album, once again pushing hard against all the boundaries that define Black Metal.
Everything about German Black Metal entity Imha Tarikat has always been real, the anger, the despair, the hatred, the bursts of energy, the eternal longing, and also the boundless passion both on record and live on stage that borders on physical self-destruction. On their fourth album, titled Confessing Darkness, such an innovative creature is once again pushing hard against all the boundaries that define the Black Metal genre without ever losing the essential connection to the harsh style. Recorded and mixed by Michael Zech at The Church of Sound Studio, mastered by Victor Santura at Woodshed Studio, and with a sinister artwork by Sofia Buratti of Silvatica Illustration and layout by Łukasz Jaszak, the follow-up to their 2022 opus Hearts Unchained – At War with a Passionless World delivers even more of the band’s raw energy than before, with a relentless pushing and unstoppable drive forward characterizing their sound, as well as a deep emotional intelligence that fully utilizes the ability of Black Metal to express every feeling ranging from purest love to darkest hatred, from severe depression to outbursts of joy, all masterfully crafted by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Kerem Yilmaz (aka Ruhsuz Cellât), while also featuring guest drummer Jerome Reil (of bands like Destroy Them, Exumer, and The Very End).
The absolutely atmospheric intro Aufbruch, which means “departure” in English, will open the gates of the netherworld for Kerem to strike us all with Wicked Shrine, where he barks rabidly while also firing wicked riffs and bass lines, supported by the Stygian beats and fills by Jerome. Then leaning towards the more recent creations by the mighty Behemoth we have Another Failed Ritual, with the project’s Blackened Death Metal side lurking in the shadows ready to prey on us, whereas Kerem extracts strident, mesmerizing sounds from his guitar in Voices of Bitter Epiphany, exploding into a feast of Black Metal led by Jerome’s pounding drums. In Excellent Grief the dauntless Kerem continues to distill his venomous vocalizations and riffage, keeping the album as harsh and sinister as it can be; and the title-track Confessing Darkness brings forward Imha Tarikat’s most unrelenting version, with Kerem bursting his lungs screaming in anguish and despair.
Chamber of Sin is another song where Jerome shows no mercy for his drums, blasting sheer heaviness while Kerem continues to drag us to pitch black darkness with his riffs and vociferations. Then we face Horns in the Smoke, which carries a beautiful name for an onrush of Melodic Black Metal where Jerome’s beats and fills walk hand in hand with Kerem’s harsh roars. Memoria Dei (Profanity and Devil) also presents a classy name, albeit not as exciting as the rest of the album (despite its pleasant pace), while Pitch Black Reflection, the second to last song of the album, is a brutal, austere explosion of Black Metal tailored for lovers of the style, with Kerem sounding infernal with both his riffs and cryptic vocal lines. Finally, The Day I Died (Reborn into Flames) closes Kerem’s Black Metal mass in great fashion, with all violence, darkness and hatred flowing from all instruments living up to the legacy of the genre.
Taking the aforementioned personal confessions several steps further as it is all true, Imha Tarikat have matured as Confessing Darkness clearly demonstrates, overflowing conviction and strength while also marking a milestone in the rise of the band. Fans of the music by Empyriam, Anaal Nathrakh, Agrypnie, Groza, Vemod, and Wolves In The Throne Room, among others, will surely appreciate the Stygian sounds found in Confessing Darkness, and you can also get in touch with Kerem Yilmaz and his Imha Tarikat by following the project on Facebook and on Instagram, and support it by streaming all of their creations on Spotify and obviously by purchasing Confessing Darkness by clicking HERE. Love, hate, happiness, sadness, light, darkness, and of course an endless dosage of first-class modern-day Black Metal are the main ingredients in Confessing Darkness, an album that will drag you to the project’s somber lair and keep feeding on your soul for all eternity, proving once again why Imha Tarikat have become a synonym to contemporary Black Metal all across our decaying world.
Best moments of the album: Wicked Shrine, Confessing Darkness and Pitch Black Reflection.
Worst moments of the album: Memoria Dei (Profanity and Devil).
Released in 2025 Prophecy Productions
Track listing
1. Intro – Aufbruch 1:10
2. Wicked Shrine 3:17
3. Another Failed Ritual 4:48
4. Voices of Bitter Epiphany 4:13
5. Excellent Grief 4:46
6. Confessing Darkness 7:45
7. Chamber of Sin 6:56
8. Horns in the Smoke 4:10
9. Memoria Dei (Profanity and Devil) 4:57
10. Pitch Black Reflection 4:20
11. The Day I Died (Reborn into Flames) 4:26
Bonus track
12. The Sun Goes Down (Thin Lizzy cover) 6:19
Band members
Kerem Yilmaz – vocals, guitars, bass
Guest musicians
Jerome Reil – drums (session)
Marvin Giehr – vocals on “Pitch Black Reflection”, rhythm guitar on “Wicked Shrine” and “The Day I Died”
Barth Resch – vocals on “The Sun Goes Down”
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 