IMHA TARIKAT reveal first video single ‘Wicked Shrine’
& details of new album “Confessing Darkness”
IMHA TARIKAT unleash the video clip ‘Wicked Shrine‘ as the first single taken from the forthcoming album “Confessing Darkness“. The fourth full-length from the German black metal band has been scheduled for release on June 20, 2025.
IMHA TARIKAT comment: “The opening track ‘Wicked Shrine’ pulls you into the relentless darkness of Confessing Darkness, straight from the start”, mastermind Kerem Yilmaz writes. “This song celebrates sheer wickedness in an explosive manner. It marks an ecstatic beginning of a journey that takes a more emotional and self-reflective path as the album unfolds. Well, but sometimes, you just have to mess things up, you know?”
Credit
Video by Fire Burning Productions
Tracklist
1. Intro – Aufbruch
2. Wicked Shrine
3. Another Failed Ritual
4. Voices of Bitter Epiphany
5. Excellent Grief
6. Confessing Darkness
7. Chamber of Sin
8. Horns in the Smoke
9. Memoria Dei (Profanity and Devil)
10. Pitch Black Reflection
11. The Day I Died (Reborn into Flames)
Everything about 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, “Confessing Darkness”, the German black metal innovators are once again pushing hard against all the boundaries that define the genre without ever losing the essential connection to the harsh style. Black metal has always been a much less narrowly defined musical beast than outsiders or jealous gatekeepers have often insinuated.
IMHA TARIKAT have previously made use of all the possibilities that the genre offers while still carving out their own territory. Their dark kingdom is built on two pillars: Musically, a relentless pushing and unstoppable drive forward characterise their sound. “Confessing Darkness” delivers even more of that raw energy than before. The other foundation is a deep emotional intelligence that fully utilises the ability of black metal to express every feeling ranging from purest love to darkest hatred, from severe depression to outbursts of joy. And again, this album takes these personal confessions several steps further as it is all true.
This time around, IMHA TARIKAT‘s lyrical and musical mastermind Kerem Yilmaz aka Ruhsuz Cellât has created the whole album in a studio environment, which benefits the sound. He has also opted mostly for shorter, sharper assaults. The tracks on “Confessing Darkness” come straight to the point and let go when they have spent their devastating power.
IMHA TARIKAT and its black sound were created as an emotional pressure valve for its founder, Kerem Yilmaz. Already the first EP “Kenoboros” left an excellent impression in 2017, while the following demo “Son Mistisizm” (2018) conquered new musical territory. The debut full-length “Kara Ihlas” (2019), the sophomore black metal supernova “Sternenberster” (2020) and “Hearts Unchained – At War with a Passionless World” (2022) are all part of an ever escalating black spiral that reaches a new critical mass with “Confessing Darkness”.
IMHA TARIKAT have matured as “Confessing Darkness” clearly demonstrates. Yet although some of the youthful sonic violence has waned while experience and hard won musical knowledge are waxing, the German black metal outfit has only gained in conviction and strength. Beyond doubt, “Confessing Darkness” marks a milestone in the rise of IMHA TARIKAT.
Band: Imha Tarikat
Album title: Confessing Darkness
Style: Black Metal
Release date: June 20, 2025
Label: Prophecy Productions
Review impact date: May 19, 2025
Line-up
Kerem Yilmaz – vocals, lead guitar
Marvin Giehr – guitar
Jerome Reil – drums
Ricardo Baum – bass
Recording line-up
Kerem Yilmaz – vocals, all guitars, bass, compositions, lyrics
Jerome Reil – drums
Guest musicians
Marvin (Hexer) – vocals on ‘Pitch Black Reflection’
Marvin (Hexer) – rhythm guitar on ‘Wicked Shrine’ & ‘The Day I Died’
Barth (ArsGoatia) – main vocals on ‘The Sun Goes Down’ (bonus track)
Recording by Michael Zech at Church of Sound Studio, Munich (DE)
Mixed by Michael Zech at Church of Sound Studio, Munich (DE)
Mastered by Victor Santura at Woodshed Studio, Landshut (DE)
Cover artwork by Sofia Buratti (Silvatica Illustration)
Layout by Łukasz Jaszak
Links
www.facebook.com/imhatarikat
www.instagram.com/imhatarikat
www.prophecy.de/artists/imha-tarikat
Shoplink
http://lnk.spkr.media/imhatarikat-darkness
Available formats
“Confessing Darkness” is available as a 48 page hardcover CD-artbook, as a Digipak CD, as a marbled transparent red & black vinyl LP, and as black vinyl LP.
Live
30 MAR 2025 Antwerpen (BE) Trix, Samhain Festival
10 MAY 2025 Weyhe (DE) Jugendhaus Trafo, Redemption over Weyhe
11-13 SEPT 2025 Balve (DE) Balver Höhle, Prophecy Fest
