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It is the time of total darkness. Everything seems lifeless or full of aching depression. Whether it's the darkened atmosphere or the feeling of coldness, you know you're about to experience a Black Metal album. Hailing not from Norway, but Germany, and sharing some of the same musical elements as their brethren to the north, we find Imperium Dekadenz and their third album, Procella Vadens.

Imperium Dekadenz was formed in 2005 around a core of two musicians. Once they realized they had more than just a studio project, a live line-up was put together. Since then the band has released ...Und Die Welt Ward Kalt Und Leer and Dämmerung der Szenarien, both on the Perverted Taste label. With album number three, Procella Vadens, Imperium Dekadenz has made the move to Seasons of Mist Records.

Procella Vadens is not a move forward, musically, rather a continuation along the path Imperium Dekadenz have been following since their debut. They employ acoustic guitars and keyboards, both designed to provide ambiance, along with extensive dark riffs and harmonies and gloomy melodies. Sound quality remains good. Lyrically, Imperium Dekadenz concern themselves with inner turbulence expressed through metaphors about life and its surroundings.

Unfortunately, the band doesn't sink its teeth into the listener enough to let you feel their true nature. Aside from sharing the melodies and atmospheric music with the Norwegian Black Metal scene, Imperium Dekadenz simply doesn't have the songs on Procella Vadens to make this an impressive record. They make attempts to let the atmosphere take center stage but each songs starts and ends with guitars and drums. There are certainly some excellent sounds emanating from Procella Vadens, enough to remind you of old school acts like Emperor and Immortal. Yet despite their efforts, something to make you want to listen over and over is definitely missing. Ambiance and atmosphere are not enough. The flowing melodies and painful growls are good, but ultimately the songs all sound the same. Guitar riffs, drum fills and melodies are repeated throughout the album.

The acoustic and atmospheric passages are the stars of Procella Vadens. This can be heard on "A La Nuit Tombante," "Wenn Der Sturm Beginnt" and many others, including the best song on the album, "A Million Moons."

Imperium Dekadenz has the means for making amazing music following the atmospheric route. If they don't turn up the songwriting, however, they will just be another Black Metal band that once had potential.