Imago Mortis

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Imago Mortis
Imago Mortis group photo by Elisa Palha
Country	Brazil
Years active	1995 – present
Genres	Doom metal
Members	Alex "Dumal" Voorhees Bruno Coe Dennis Pombo Rafael Bianzeno André Delacroix

Imago Mortis is a doom metal band from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil formed in 1995.

1 History
2 Music style
3 Line-up
- 3.1 Current members
- 3.2 Former members
4 Discography
5 External link

[edit] History

The band started in 1995 with the demo tape Réquiem and were baptized with the expression in Latin for "Image from Death". The band's logo uses a stylized symbol of Pluto, the Lord of Death and Oblivion in Roman mythology and the planet that represents death in astrology. Also, the Cabalistic Number for “Imago Mortis” is 13, which is the number of death.

In 1998, Imago Mortis released the album Images From the Shady Gallery through Brazilian Megahard Records. The record was well-acclaimed in the musical press as one of the best national releases. This work is marked by the contrasts of sad and dark melodies and a more aggressive and direct appeal.

In 2001, the band participated in the CD William Shakespeare's Hamlet, released by Die Hard Records. Imago Mortis wrote and recorded the track Prayers in the Wind.

VIDA, The Play of Change is the title of the album released in 2002 via Die Hard Records. VIDA consolidated the presence of Imago Mortis in the worldwide heavy metal scenery, being well acclaimed by fans and the press in Brazil, Europe and other countries.

The album VIDA tells the story of a person who discovers to be suffering from a disease called vida (which is the Portuguese word for “life”). The listener is invited to experience this person’s encounter with death. VIDA was based upon studies and interviews realized with terminal patients, as well as in many philosophical and artistic works about the theme. The CD includes also a multimedia track, “The Play of Change”, a game of oracles based on I Ching, the millinery book of change.

After the release of VIDA, Imago Mortis had a major change of band members, caused by serious personal problems, which included the death of some of the members’ family relative. After a period of hiatus, the band finally recomposed made a remarkable Brazilian tour in 2004, The Tour of Change, which came to be the embryonic period for a new formation that would keep the music going on.

In 2006, as the play of change keeps going on, Imago Mortis is releasing the album TRANSCENDENTAL, after a whole year of composing and arranging songs. The album is related to, but not a sequel to, VIDA, and explores the thematic of the afterlife in various aspects and visions.

The album has 11 tracks and a bonus track, which is a remake of the song Bring Out Your Dead, from the first album. The idea on the approach of the thematic is still the same, based on philosophical, artistic and religious visions of the afterlife. The album, though, is not a story-type one like VIDA, and also includes songs about some other themes related to life’s relation with the afterlife. The music keeps showing it’s originality, with and emphasis on the contrasts between doom/sad melodies, traditional heavy riffs and aggressive thrash parts.

As a new element, the album also brings the climax of abstract atmospheres and calm melodies in some of the songs, leading the listener to all kinds of emotions along the album. From the beauty of Searching For a Touch of Divinity, through the evilness in Into the Void and the extreme rage in Sangue e Dor (translated to Blood and Pain), to the gloriousness of Sea of Uncertainty and the emotional peace in the last track, Transcendental.

[edit] Music style

Their music style, entitled Heavy-Doom-Phylosophy, is highly inspired by death. That originates from the perception that comprehending men's mortality is the key to a meaningful life. In music, that thematic is approached not only with a personal vision, but also with elements from philosophy, mythology, art and religion.