MARCH 7th, 2022
GHOST: IMPERA
Review by: Char Tupper

Sweden's own, Grammy-award winning band, Ghost, is set to release their latest masterpiece, "IMPERA" on March 11th, 2022. The newest installment to their discography, and their continual growth in the music scene, like headlining stadium arenas around the world, performing the cover "Enter Sandman" on Metallic's 40th anniversary release of the Black Album, plus one of their new singles, being featured in the credits for the latest Halloween movie release in late 2021. Ghost continues to rise above with its melodic edge, while keeping to darker lyrical tones, and is certainly one of thee most celebrated European rock acts in the world today. Let us sit down, and partake in the listening of the new release, Impera.

The opening track, "Imperium" is the intro to the record, starting with an acoustic guitar lead, while building up with drums and the electric guitar. Very soothing and relaxing, while the tempo continues to build. The intro comes to an end, and as quickly as it ends, the tempo quickly becomes a more rock fused song with fast paced drums and guitar with Papa Emeritus IV on vocals, as many know, doing away with Cardinal Copia from the previous release. The first two tracks after the intro, "Kaisarion" and "Spillways", make me feel like I am flashing back to early rock days, with a Ghost edge, which Ghost can easily get away with, while most metal acts these days, ranging in musical diversity this much, you would be saying goodbye to your major fanbase, while Ghost manages to grow and expand with every release. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to these tracks, they made me feel nostalgic and upbeat, especailly during these harder times of covid, war, you name it, it is nice to have music to feel positive about. "Call Me Little Sunshine", I feel jumps back to a more earlier Ghost sound, with the traditional rhythm and musical composition of Ghost songs. That being said, I do still feel this song is unique that it feels almost like a "Ghost ballad" of sorts, that the melody never gets heavy and fast paced, it keeps to a simpler beat, but a sound die-hard fans can stand behind. As for the song, "Hunter's Moon", this track was released first from this record, as it is the featured track for the movie release of Halloween back in late 2021. This song to me, screams "Ghost", as it has all the key notes, a catchy melody, classic vocals, and styling of the track is their true sound. Nothing wrong with having songs that have a formula to them, as these are the songs that the die hard fans yearn for, like myself, as they bring me back to why I fell in love with the band,in the first place. I enjoyed the heavy side of "Watcher in the Sky", while maintaining a catchy melody, it stuck to a more heavy note of faster guitars and heavy drum beats, which appealed to my more traditional music tastes that I enjoy on a daily basis, while songs like "Darkness at the Heart of my Love", I also liked for its more unique "ballad-like" style, with a Ghost twist keeping it a bit more upbeat then a typical ballad from the 80's.  The lyrical themes of the record continue to stay along the darker side within a biblical sense, while also contributing aspects of current world events like politics of rising and falling empires, foretold prophecies, and various others.

Overall, the new record is a new refreshing release from Ghost, I truly enjoyed the variety of melodies and song structures spread out throughout the album, not a single song repeats itself , the diversity was wonderful to hear, as like I said earlier, not a lot of bands explore such a range all within one record. This album has something for everyone, the rocker, the heavy metaller, and everyone in-between, don't miss your chance to get lost in the intoxicating feeling of their infectious melodies and dark undertones. You will not be disappointed with Ghost and their recent creative endeavour called "Impera."

Pre Order "Impera" Here:
https://found.ee/ghost_impera_album

Ghost Official Wesbites:
https://ghost-official.com/
https://www.facebook.com/thebandghost/
https://www.instagram.com/thebandghost/?hl=en
https://twitter.com/thebandghost?lang=en

TUNE IN HERE FOR GHOST'S OWN
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