Grammy-winning Swedish metal collective Ghost delivers another intriguing project with their fifth studio album, IMPERA.
A
fter nearly four years,βImperiumβ
IMPERA commences with the instrumental track, βImperium.β Musically, itβs ear-catching, setting the tone for an album with some big, dare I say, beefy moments. βImperiumβ captures the spirit of metal while also exhibiting finesse and tremendous musicianship. Itβs a fine preface to the high-energy, first full-length record,
βKaisarion.β βKaisarionβ is fast, loud, dark, and unapologetic. For Ghost, the goal is to highlight and combat the utter stupidity that exist within the world. βKaisarion, a prophecy told / Weβre building our empire from the ashes of old,β Tobias Forge asserts, continuing, βKaisarion, the fruit of the womb / Our brotherhood of good faith sealed an apostate witchβs doom.β Woo! Forge highlights Hypatia, an important female mathematician who was murdered by Christian zealots. He takes ample opportunities to take shots at Christianity, including β(Hypatia) Far away from the stench of the Heavensβ and βItβs the continence of bishops with their choirboys en-suit.β Hell of a way to start an album!
Got to love the rhythmic piano ostinato that kicks off and fuels
βSpillways.β βSpillwaysβ is a grandiose record through and through β powerful metal to the core. This is a metal record that is a clear throwback. Pummeling drums, ripe guitars (sometimes harmonized), and an anchoring bass line truly stand out here in all their glory. Furthermore, the chorus is catchy, even if we donβt associate spillways with, well, being catchy:
βItβs the cruel beast that you feed
Itβs your burning yearning need to bleed
Through the spillways
Through the spillways (of your soul).β
The lyrics are dark, pessimistic, and poetic. We wouldnβt have it any other way!
βCall Me Little Sunshineβ
βCall Me Little Sunshineβ arrived as an advanced single from IMPERA. I enjoyed it moderately prior to the release but have a deeper appreciation hearing it in the context of the album. Ghost continues to present music in a more maximal sense, something that makes IMPERA a clear contrast to their previous album,
Prequelle. Like βSpillwaysβ that precedes, I appreciate how catchy this record is, specifically the pre-chorus (βYou will never walk alone /You can always reach me / You will never ever walk aloneβ) and chorus sections (β(Call me) Little Sunshine / (Call me) Call me Mephistophelesβ). Also, shout out to the pipe organ which just makes everything better, particularly metal!
Following the second single in the IMPERA tracklist is the first single,
βHunterβs Moon.β βUnder a headstone, sister / Iβm dying to see you, my friend.β Well, thatβs morbid! What is a hunterβs moon? Well, it is a full moon that appears during the month of October, per Universe Today. Is βHunterβs Moonβ the deepest cut from the Ghost catalog? No, itβs straightforward all in all. Still, itβs enjoyable and easily gets stuck in the head. Furthermore, the music is #winning.
βSearchlights / Looking for the watcher in the sky.β
βWatcher in the Sky,β the second-longest record on IMPERA, commences in an unsettling fashion. After initially sounding enigmatic, a groove and firmly planted minor key settle in. A driving number, the guitars are rhythmic, aggressive, and jagged. Even being rough around the edges, Tobias Forget continues to impress with how melodic his approach is. I love the tunefulness of the verses as well as another memorable chorus. Lyrically, there are intriguing moments, including the bridge, sure to piss off the most devout:
βFor the light of our savior (savior)
His Machiavellian grace (Machiavellian grace)
And in the sheene of his splendour (splendour)
There is a better place, letβs go.β
βDominionβ
βDominionβ marks the second instrumental of IMPERA. The orchestration is gorgeous, featuring rich brass. Like opener
βImperium,β itβs incredibly ear-catching and a fitting preface. Preface to what?
βTwenties,β of course, arguably the most unexpected record from the album β UNDERSTATEMENT. That brass from βDominionβ returns on βTwentiesβ easily distinguishing the track from everything else. Iβd argue that this somewhat odd record grows on you. The theme is one of the most intriguing of the LP (questionable leadership, politics, etc.), while βListen up, you motherfuckers / Those Ivy League dopes, they wanna mocks usβ ranks among the most colorful, memorable lines. Another few compelling lines: βIn the Twenties / We be taking no shit from no chulas,β and, βWeβll be grabbing βem all by the hoohaas.β Woo!
βThereβs a darkness at the heart of my love / That runs cold, runs deep.β Darkness and love should be two starkly different things, right?
βDarkness at the Heart of my Loveβ has a strong argument for the crowning achievement of IMPERA. The lyrics are cynical, as to be expected, critical of those who say theyβre filled with love (and God) yet are hypocritical to the nth degree. Anti-Christian themes are commonplace in Ghostβs music, so, if youβre easily offended, look elsewhere. That said, even if youβre a believer like myself, there is something to be said about the points Tobias Forge makes. Furthermore, thereβs a lot to be said about the musicianship β the performance, the melody, the production. Honestly, thereβs something celestial about this hellish cut!
βGriftwoodβ
βSuffering for the Lord is not an easy thingβ¦β Now that is a heavy first lyric that Ghost presents on βGriftwood.β Honestly, it sets the tone for a record where Tobias Forge is critical of βholier than thouβ folks that he clearly sees as hypocrites. Like everything that precedes it, βGriftwoodβ features some clever, βspicyβ lyrics coupled with big, ripe metal/rock music. Even though Forge serves up numerous spiritual references, he doesnβt partake or believe it, much like the people he claims put on a faΓ§ade of sorts. The chorus is notable, particularly the opening line, βYou want to play with the sire?β
The penultimate record, βBite of Passage,β lasts just half a minute β the final instrumental of three. It precedes the longest song of IMPERA,
βRespite on the Spitalfields.β βRespiteβ lasts just short of seven minutes β you could say Tobias Forge has a lot to say! The tempo is more relaxed, but the intensity remains high on this big-time, arena rock record. There are guitar solos featured throughout IMPERA, with this one sounding especially sweet prior to the bridge. Often, the bridge sections are among the most intriguing. Here, Forge mentions Seven Sisters, Saint Jezebel, and perhaps most colorfully, βthe bowels of hell.β Woo! Essentially, Ghost continues to be skeptical about, well, plenty.
Final Thoughts
All in all, Ghost delivers a satisfying new album with IMPERA. Does it eclipse Prequelle? Not necessarily BUT I find the LP to match the quality of the
Grammy-nominated album. What makes IMPERA a worthwhile listen is the dynamic music including excellent melodies, great, passionate vocals, and, perhaps most of all, the theme and lyrics. From my perspective, Ghost never misses a beat on IMPERA.
Gems
: βKaisarion,β βSpillways,β βCall Me Little Sunshine,β βHunterβs Moon,β βWatcher in the Sky,β βDarkness at the Heart of my Loveβ & βRespite on the Spitalfieldsβ
Ghost β’
IMPERA β’
Loma Vista β’
3.11.22
[
: Loma Vista]
3 Comments
C Songs: No Rhyme or Reason, Vol. 2 | Playlist
Β· March 23, 2022 at 12:00 am
[β¦] Woo!
βCall Me Little Sunshineβ arrived as the second advanced single from
IMPERA. IMPERA marks the fifth studio album by
Grammy-winning Swedish metal band,
Ghost, led [β¦]
Lil Durk Takes 7220 to No. 1 | Scanning the Charts
Β· March 23, 2022 at 8:00 am
[β¦] Debuting at a career-high no. 2 is
Ghost, who sees
IMPERA earn honors as the top-selling album of the week as well as the year so [β¦]
BEWARE, These Songs Totally BITE! | Playlist
Β· March 25, 2022 at 12:00 am
[β¦] an instrumental track. Furthermore, βBite of Passage,β the penultimate record from
IMPERA, runs a mere 30 seconds in length. Itβs a fabulous half-minute from the
Grammy-winning [β¦]
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