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# Grand Manhattanism: An Interview with Zachary Ezrin (Imperial Triumphant)
- URL: https://www.thisdayinmetal.com/grand-manhattanism-an-interview-with-zachary-ezrin-imperial-triumphant/
- Published: 2025-12-14T17:50:27.000Z
- Updated: 2025-12-14T17:50:27.000Z
- Description: Grand Manhattanism: An Interview with Zachary Ezrin (Imperial Triumphant)
- Author: Ed Hackimer
- Tags: Interviews, #interviews, Zachary Ezrin, Imperial Triumphant

**Imperial Triumphant** has been pushing the limits of metal since they formed in New York City in 2005\. By incorporating avant garde, jazz, and experimental sounds into their black metal delivery, the trio has risen to prominence with their last string of releases, culminating with this year’s *Goldstar* which has been praised by critics and fans alike as one of the top metal releases of 2025\. Though frontman and guitarist **Zachary Ezrin** was inspired to pursue black metal by the bands that dominated the Norwegian scene of the early 1990s, **Imperial Triumphant** delivers a brand of the genre that focuses on the group’s hometown: New York City. Or, as they like to put it, they “only play the sounds of New York City as \[they\] hear them.” 

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2025/12/IMG_0687-3.jpg)

After touring all over the world this year, including an opening spot for **Mayhem** on their North American tour, **Imperial Triumphant** played a hometown show at **Le Poisson Rouge** in the heart of Greenwich Village on December 12th. Billed as the **Jazz from Hell Festival,** the concert featured **Kilter** and **Jerseyband** in opening slots, alongside the **Goldstar Metropole Orchestra**, a brass section conglomerated of the players from the two aforementioned bands accompanying **Imperial Triumphant** on stage for their headlining set. Ahead of the festival, I had a chance to speak with **Zachary** about the hometown show and a number of other topics, including:

- being able to play a show in the friendly confines of New York City after touring the world, the band’s writing process for *Goldstar*, recording at the legendary **Menegroth** studio hidden in Woodhaven and being the last ever album made there.
- shooting a video on top of the Chrysler Building, the band’s knowledge of architecture, the black metal elements of New York City, and collaborating with **Dave Lombardo** from **Slayer.**
- the new graphic novel called *Merkurius Gilded* that **Zach** wrote the story for, the juxtaposition of decadence and decay present in the city, and how **Kenny G.** ended up on one of their songs.
- a discussion of **Imperial Triumphant’s** masks and their significance, and a very important mathematical question.

You can view the entire interview **HERE:**

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**Imperial Triumphant** continues to push the boundaries of what metal can be, and with *Goldstar* being their tightest and most streamlined album yet, fans of the band should be very excited for whatever comes next. The **Jazz from Hell Festival** showcased three of the more genre-defying acts present in the metal world today and was an enthralling hometown performance by the masked trio of **Imperial** in front of their rabid local followers. I'd say that if 2025 was any indicator, the trajectory of this band seems destined to go beyond the heights of the top of the **Chrysler Building.** but they've already been there and done that.

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To purchase a copy of *Goldstar*, visit the link below.

[Order Imperial Triumphant's "Goldstar"](https://centurymedia.store/pages/imperial-triumphant-gold-star?ref=thisdayinmetal.com)

In order to secure the graphic novel *Merkurius Gilded*, written by **Zachary Ezrin** and illustrated by **Halil Mete**, visit the group's bandcamp page linked here.

[Order Merkurius Gilded Graphic Novel](https://imperialtriumphant.bandcamp.com/merch/merkurius-gilded-official-graphic-novel?ref=thisdayinmetal.com)

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/db/e2/dbe2ac7e-62ef-4b13-917a-63221a045127/content/images/2025/12/IMG_0692-1.jpg)

Imperial Triumphant live at Le Poisson Rouge on Bleecker Street from 12/12/2025.