Steve Blanco, the bassist and keyboardist for the New York-based experimental metal band Imperial Triumphant, has announced the release of a solo album titled ‘Imprints of Man.’ The recording, which consists of piano reinterpretations of his band’s catalog, is scheduled for a worldwide release on November 15, 2025, through Century Media Records.

The announcement on September 12 clarifies that the album is a solo endeavor by Blanco and not a new studio album from the full Imperial Triumphant band. The project arrives during a period of notable activity for the group. ‘Imprints of Man’ marks the second release associated with the band in 2025, following the full-length studio album ‘Goldstar,’ which was released in March of the same year. This release schedule positions the solo work as a companion piece to the band’s primary output, offering a different perspective on its established compositions.

‘Merkurius Gilded’: The Lead Single

In conjunction with the album announcement, a lead single has been made available on streaming services: a piano arrangement of the song ‘Merkurius Gilded.’ The solo piano track has a duration of seven minutes.

The original version of ‘Merkurius Gilded’ appeared on Imperial Triumphant’s 2022 studio album, ‘Spirit of Ecstasy.’ That recording was distinguished by a guest performance on soprano saxophone by the musician Kenny G, an inclusion that drew attention for its cross-genre nature.

Blanco’s new arrangement for solo piano recontextualizes the composition by removing all other instrumentation. The piece is built upon a foundation of complex, often dissonant, harmonic structures that are characteristic of the band’s work. The arrangement unfolds through sections of varying tempo and dynamic intensity.

It begins with deliberate, sparsely placed chords that establish a somber mood before progressing into more fluid, arpeggiated passages. The performance navigates intricate melodic lines and dense chord voicings, highlighting the composition’s underlying framework, which draws from both twentieth-century classical music and avant-garde jazz traditions.

This single-instrument presentation isolates the harmonic and melodic content from the sonic density of the full-band version, exposing the song’s core compositional architecture.

‘Imprints of Man’: Thematic Curation

‘Imprints of Man’ was co-produced by Steve Blanco and his bandmate, Imperial Triumphant vocalist and guitarist Zachary Ezrin. The album was recorded in November 2023 at GB’s Juke Joint, a studio in the band’s native New York City.

The tracklist for the album comprises six reinterpretations of Imperial Triumphant songs and one classical piece, Johann Sebastian Bach’s ‘F# Minor Fugue.’ The selected works span a decade of the band’s recorded output, from their 2012 debut to their 2022 full-length album. This curation functions as a historical survey of the band’s musical evolution, reinterpreted through a single instrumental lens.

The inclusion of Johann Sebastian Bach’s ‘F# Minor Fugue’ as the album’s closing track places the band’s compositions in direct dialogue with a foundational work of Western counterpoint. This juxtaposition suggests a conceptual link between the structural complexity of the baroque fugue and the intricate, layered arrangements of Imperial Triumphant’s own music.

The Trajectory of Imperial Triumphant

Imperial Triumphant was formed in New York City in 2005 by vocalist and guitarist Zachary Ezrin. The band’s early work, including the debut album ‘Abominamentvm’ (2012) and its follow-up ‘Abyssal Gods’ (2015), established a sound rooted in dissonant and technically complex forms of extreme metal.

The band’s current and long-standing lineup was solidified with the addition of drummer Kenny Grohowski in 2012 and bassist/keyboardist Steve Blanco around 2014. The 2018 album ‘Vile Luxury’ marked a significant point in the group’s development. On this record, the band began to more explicitly integrate avant-garde jazz harmonies and improvisation into its sound, while also adopting a thematic focus on the architectural and social dichotomies of New York City, particularly the juxtaposition of extreme wealth and urban decay.

In 2019, Imperial Triumphant signed with Century Media Records, a German label that is now part of Sony Music Entertainment. Their subsequent albums on the label—‘Alphaville’ (2020), ‘Spirit of Ecstasy’ (2022), and ‘Goldstar’ (2025)—continued this trajectory. These records expanded the band’s sonic palette through the use of guest musicians from jazz and classical backgrounds and further developed a distinct visual identity inspired by the Art Deco movement of the early twentieth century.

The 2025 Album: ‘Goldstar’

Released in March 2025, ‘Goldstar’ is the band’s third full-length album for Century Media and their sixth studio LP overall. The album represents a further refinement of the avant-garde metal and jazz fusion that has become the band’s signature.

The album expands on the band’s thematic exploration of New York City, presenting a futuristic vision of the metropolis scarred by technological overreach and gilded decay. The lyrics delve into themes of transhumanism, artificial intelligence, and the dehumanizing effects of a society obsessed with progress at any cost.

This narrative is conveyed through a soundscape that is both chaotic and grandiose, characterized by dense, dissonant guitar work, intricate polyrhythmic drumming, and the prominent use of a brass section.

Critics praised ‘Goldstar’ for its ambition and technical precision, citing it as a challenging but rewarding work that solidifies the band’s position at the forefront of experimental metal. The band is scheduled to support the album with a full European tour in October 2025.

Profile of the Artist: Steve Blanco

Within Imperial Triumphant, Steve Blanco contributes bass, keyboards, piano, and vocals. His musical background extends beyond his work with the band. A multi-instrumentalist who began with trumpet and drums, he later focused on piano and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in piano performance from the Purchase Conservatory of Music.

Separate from his role in the metal scene, Blanco has an established career as a jazz musician. He leads the Steve Blanco Trio and has released several albums in the jazz idiom, including ‘Contact’ (2006) and ‘Piano Warrior’ (2009).

As a conservatory-trained pianist with a professional background in jazz, Blanco applies this expertise within the context of an experimental metal band. ‘Imprints of Man’ therefore represents a confluence of these two parallel musical careers, utilizing his foundational training to deconstruct and reinterpret the compositions he co-creates with Imperial Triumphant.

Release Formats and the Jazz From Hell Festival

‘Imprints of Man’ has been made available for pre-order in two formats: a digital download and an exclusive 12-inch vinyl LP in classic black. The initial announcements did not include a compact disc version of the album. This targeted release strategy, focusing on digital and vinyl formats, suggests the album is positioned as a studio piece for the band’s dedicated following and for collectors of physical media.

In a significant live music announcement, the band will headline the inaugural Jazz From Hell Festival on December 12, 2025. The event is scheduled to take place at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. The festival will feature a special headlining performance from Imperial Triumphant, who will be collaborating with the Goldstar Metropole Orchestra.

The curated lineup also includes performances by La Suspendida, Kilter, and a returning Jerseyband, showcasing a range of artists who blend jazz, avant-garde, and heavy music. This festival appears to be a major undertaking for the band, distinct from Steve Blanco’s solo work or the band’s previously announced European tour. It serves to further cement their role as curators and central figures in New York’s experimental music scene.

Conclusion

The year 2025 marks a period of significant artistic assertion for Imperial Triumphant and its members. The release of Steve Blanco’s solo piano album, ‘Imprints of Man,’ offers a stark, introspective counterpoint to the chaotic grandeur of the band’s full-length studio album, ‘Goldstar.’

While the band supports ‘Goldstar’ with an extensive European tour, Blanco’s project deconstructs their complex compositions to their harmonic foundations, revealing the conservatory-trained pianist at the heart of the band’s avant-garde sound.

This dual output culminates in the curated Jazz From Hell Festival in December, an event that cements the band’s status as central figures in New York’s experimental music scene. Together, these projects illustrate a multifaceted artistic vision, showcasing both the band’s collaborative power and the individual virtuosity that fuels it.