Impera

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Impera
Ghost - Impera.jpg
Studio album by
Ghost
Released11 March 2022 (2022-03-11)
RecordedJanuary 2020–February 2021
Genre
Length46:21
LabelLoma Vista
ProducerKlas Åhlund
Ghost chronology
Seven Inches of Satanic Panic
(2019) 		Impera
(2022)
Singles from Impera
  1. "Hunter's Moon"
    Released: 30 September 2021
  2. "Call Me Little Sunshine"
    Released: 20 January 2022
  3. "Twenties"
    Released: 2 March 2022

Impera (stylized in all-caps as IMPERA) is the fifth studio album by the Swedish rock band Ghost. It was released on 11 March 2022 and was produced by Klas Åhlund.

Background and release[edit]

In an interview with radio station KLAQ, frontman Tobias Forge stated that he came up with the concept of Impera in 2013 after reading the book The Rule of Empires: Those Who Built Them, Those Who Endured Them, and Why They Always Fall by Timothy Parsons.[1] In June 2019, Forge stated that the band would be doing a tour in U.S. in September and October in support of their fourth album Prequelle before returning to Europe. The band then entered the studio in January 2020 to begin working on their fifth album, and planned to release it by late summer that year. However, Forge stated that they would wait to until after the U.S. presidential election to release the album, concerning the event would draw public's attention the most.[2]

In March 2020, during their final show supporting their 2018 album Prequelle in Mexico City, Ghost introduced a new character Papa Emeritus IV.[1][3][4] He is expected to play a role in their fifth album and its accompanied tour.[4]

The COVID-19 pandemic delayed the release of the album, and in October 2020, Forge revealed that the album was intended to be released in the winter.[5] It was further delayed, however.

On 30 September 2021, the band released a single, "Hunter's Moon", which is featured on the soundtrack of the 2021 slasher film Halloween Kills.[6][7] On 20 January 2022, the band announced their fifth studio album, Impera, was finally set to release on 11 March 2022, and released what would be the second single, "Call Me Little Sunshine", as "Hunter's Moon" will also appear on the album.[7][8][9][10][11] On 2 March 2022, the band released the next single from the album, "Twenties".[12]

A download of the studio version of the song "Kaisarion" was made available with a preorder of a special edition CD of Impera.[13]

Recording[edit]

While it was originally planned for the band to record the album in 2020 and release it in early 2021,[2] the band ended up waiting until January 2021 to enter the studio and record the album.[3] Recording lasted six weeks and mixing/mastering took two to three weeks.[3] The album was produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace,[1][11] who also did the same for the band's 2015 album, Meliora.[14]

Music and themes[edit]

Musically the album has been described as hard rock,[15] arena rock,[16] heavy metal,[15] and pop rock.[17] Impera is themed mainly on "the rise and fall of empires".[1][10] It is described to take place hundreds of years forward from the 14th century Europe Black Plague era of Ghost's previous album, Prequelle.[1]

The cover art by Zbigniew Bielak is a reference to English occultist Aleister Crowley.[8][9]

Promotion[edit]

In January 2022, the band kicked off a North American co-headline tour with Volbeat called the Imperatour.[11][18] During the first show in Reno, the band performed "Kaisarion", the second song of the album, for the first time,[19] as well as introduced new steampunk-inspired costumes for the Nameless Ghouls.[20] They will also headline the UK and European legs of the tour starting in April 2022.[11][21][22]

Reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic85/100[23]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[24]
Blabbermouth.net8/10[25]
Classic Rock[26]
Exclaim!7/10[27]
Kerrang!4/5[28]
Metal Hammer[16]
Metal Injection9/10[29]
Metal Sucks[30]
NME[17]
PopMatters8/10[15]

Impera received critical acclaim from critics upon its release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 85, which indicates "universal acclaim", based on 6 reviews.[23]

Track listing[edit]

Impera track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Imperium"Tobias Forge1:40
2."Kaisarion"Forge, Joakim Berg5:02
3."Spillways"Forge, Salem Al Fakir, Vincent Pontare3:16
4."Call Me Little Sunshine"Forge, Max Grahn4:44
5."Hunter's Moon"Forge, Grahn3:16
6."Watcher in the Sky"Forge, Al Fakir, Pontare5:48
7."Dominion"Forge, Al Fakir, Pontare1:22
8."Twenties"Forge, Al Fakir, Pontare3:46
9."Darkness at the Heart of My Love"Forge, Al Fakir, Pontare4:58
10."Griftwood"Forge, Peter Svensson, Klas Åhlund5:16
11."Bite of Passage"Forge0:31
12."Respite on the Spitalfields"Forge, Berg6:42
Total length:46:21

Personnel[edit]

Ghost[edit]

Additional personnel[edit]

  • Fredrik Åkesson – guitars[31]
  • Hux Nettermalm – drums
  • Martin Hederos – piano, organ
  • Alva Åkesson – choir (8)
  • Elvira Nettermalm – choir (8)
  • Inez Johansson – choir (8)
  • Lita Åhlund – choir (8)
  • Minou Forge – choir (8)
  • Olivia Boman – choir (8)
  • Anna Mosten – choir (9, 12)
  • Estherlivia – choir (9, 12)
  • Ida Gratte – choir (9, 12)
  • Ida Johansson – choir (9, 12)
  • Jade Ell – choir (9, 12)
  • Johanna Eriksson Sanmark – choir (9, 12)

Technical[edit]

Release history[edit]

Release dates and formats for Impera
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
Various 11 March 2022
Loma Vista [32]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e "Ghost's Tobias Forge Reveals Concept For Band's Upcoming Album". Blabbermouth.net. 30 October 2021. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ a b Obeirne, Oran (16 June 2019). "Feature Interview: Ghost – "I would say by early 2021, you can expect the next chapter of the Ghost story." Tobias Forge". overdrive. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Ghost To Enter Studio In January; New Album Tentatively Due In Late 2021". Blabbermouth.net. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  4. ^ a b Skinner, Tom (4 March 2020). "Ghost introduce new character Papa Emeritus IV at final 'Prequelle' show". NME. Retrieved 21 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Neilstein, Vince (8 October 2020). "Ghost: New Album Coming This Winter". MetalSucks. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Ghost Is Back With First New Single In Two Years, 'Hunter's Moon'". Blabbermouth.net. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
  7. ^ a b Shutler, Ali (20 January 2022). "Ghost announce new album 'Impera', Share 'Call me Little Sunshine'". NME. Retrieved 20 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. ^ a b "Ghost Debut New Song "Call Me Little Sunshine," Announce Upcoming Album 'Impera'". Revolver Magazine. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  9. ^ a b Owen, Matt (20 January 2022). "Ghost announce 5th studio album, Impera, debut haunting new single, Call Me Little Sunshine". Guitar World. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  10. ^ a b "Ghost Reveal Details For New Album "Impera", Premiere "Call Me Little Sunshine" Music Video". The PRP. 19 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2022.
  11. ^ a b c d Stickler, Jon (20 January 2022). "Ghost Set March Release For Fifth Album 'Impera', Share New Track Call Me Little Sunshine". Stereoboard. Retrieved 20 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ Rhombus, Emperor (2 March 2022). "Ghost Release Surprisingly Chuggy New Single "Twenties"". MetalSucks. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  13. ^ "IMPERA 2022 Arena Tour Edition CD with Exclusive Tour Poster & Instant Download of "Kaisarion"". Loma Vista - a recording company. Retrieved 2022-02-21.
  14. ^ "Ghost: 'Meliora' Cover Artwork, Track Listing Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 20 January 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  15. ^ a b c Begrand, Adrien (11 March 2022). "Ghost's 'Impera' Is a Morbidly Exhilarating Soundtrack to Dark Times". PopMatters. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  16. ^ a b Everley, Dave (6 March 2022). "Ghost's Impera album is the 80s arena rock banger to end 80s arena rock bangers". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 6 March 2022 – via Loudersound.
  17. ^ a b McMahon, James (10 March 2022). "Ghost – 'Impera' review: Swedish metallers go bigger than ever". NME. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  18. ^ Childers, Chad (20 September 2021). "Ghost + Volbeat Announce 2022 U.S. Co-Headline Tour Dates". Loudwire. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  19. ^ "Ghost Debuts New Song 'Kaisarion' At First Show Of U.S. Tour With Volbeat (Video)". Blabbermouth.net. 26 January 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  20. ^ Ruskell, Nick (26 January 2022). "Ghost: "You have to destroy to rebuild, but that doesn't mean you have to level everything into gravel"". Kerrang!. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
  21. ^ Skinner, Tom (23 November 2021). "Ghost announce UK and European tour for 2022". NME. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  22. ^ Johnson, Laura (23 November 2021). "Ghost To Bring Imperatour To UK And Europe In Spring 2022 - Stereoboard". Stereoboard. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Impera by Ghost Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  24. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Impera - Ghost". Allmusic. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  25. ^ Lawson, Dom. "CD Reviews - Impera Ghost". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  26. ^ Beaumont, Mark (10 March 2022). "Ghost's Impera: large doses of schlock but marginally more meaty". Classic Rock. Retrieved 11 March 2022 – via Loudersound.
  27. ^ Hopkins, Manus (11 March 2022). "Ghost Give Up Satan for Arena-Sized Ambition on 'Impera'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  28. ^ Hickie, James (9 March 2022). "The big review: Ghost – Impera". Kerrang!. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  29. ^ Blum, Jordan (7 March 2022). "Album Review: Ghost Impera". Metal Injection. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Album Review: GHOST Impera". Metal Sucks. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  31. ^ Laing, Rob (26 January 2022). "Ghost hired Opeth's Fredrik Åkesson to play guitar on their new album: "He's the sort of person who plays five hours every day"". MusicRadar. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  32. ^ Impera release formats:
    1. "Ghost - Impera Limited Edition Metallic Gold Cassette". Loma Vista | Official Store. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
    2. "Ghost - Impera Standard CD". Loma Vista | Official Store. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
    3. "Ghost - Impera Digital Album". Loma Vista | Official Store. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
    4. "Ghost - Impera Limited Edition Metallic Gold Colored Vinyl w/ Vinyl Slipmat & Booklet". Loma Vista | Official Store. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
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