Ghost - Impera (Album review) A Classic Masterpiece

Ghost are a band I have loved for a few years now but with the release of their 5th and newest album Impera, the Swedish rock band have become a massive love of mine. Impera released on 11 March 2022, it was produced by Klas Åhlund who also produced the band's 2015 album, Meliora and I have listened on repeat to it religiously since it came out! 

I cannot wait to see them live in Birmingham on April 15th 2022. This review is being written days before that gig and I will also post a gig review of Ghost soon as possible, there may be delays with this or the ghost gig review coming out here on my blog as I am having a tough time at the moment and as such I am having breaks off social media and with life in general. 

Thanks for your understanding so without further ado, let's get into the review!

The theme of Impera mainly focuses on "the rise and fall of empires" and of course the 20th century. The album received widespread critical acclaim. The release of Impera was preceded by three singles: the first, Hunter's Moon and it also appeared in Halloween Kills and is featured as part of the film's soundtrack; the second single, Call Me Little Sunshine, was released on 20 January 2022 and the third, Twenties, was released on 2 March 2022.

Tracklist:
Imperium - A killer soft catchy instrumental start that leads perfectly into the massively catchy and killer song of Kaisarion. 

Kaisarion - To me this feels like a big stage play song, it's a perfect opening song and it is also so catchy and it's got much like the rest of the album amazing instrumentals, lyrics, riffs and solos. 

Spillways - The piano and very 80's feel to to this track makes it feel familiar but new and brilliant all at the same time. 

Call me little sunshine - A wonderful infectiously catchy song which showcase Ghost basically and was the second track released prior to the album. 

Hunter's Moon - This is GHOST and one of my all time favourite songs!  It’s not your typical metal.  It has elements of prog, hard rock, pop, punk, of so many different things that Forge has up his musical sleeve and that's what makes him and this band shine so many others and make them stand out with their mysterious story and characters too. 

Watcher in the sky - A lot of these songs are so infectiously catchy both lyrically and instrumentally and if this one does not make you want to sing along then something must be wrong. 

Dominion - A great instrumental prelude to Twenties

Twenties - Possibly the most dark element of Ghost on this album is this song, I felt for a while this was a bit weak but I can't skip it, it's the roaring intro, the sinister feel to Papa here as he tells us the tale of the twenties and feels as if he is giving orders over the radio. I can't help but to sing along to the chorus however. 

Darkness at the heart of my love - Slow, loving, lovely and catchy this is Darkness's aim and goal as many of ghost's soft songs in the past have had this same feel, you could take it as a sweet romantic soft gesture or maybe a macabre one too. The snapping of the fingers make this even more special musically for me. 

Griftwood - What start's feels like a bit of Def Leppard but rest assured this song is Ghost's and it kicks ass with again I will repeat myself here a few times during the course of this album BUT IT'S SO CATCHY!!!! 

Bite of passage - Another slow sweet instrumental that leads perfectly into the last track which is.....

Respite on the spitalfields - Here we have the slow but lovely go home track to this stunning album, again you get hit with rocking instrumentals and catchy chorus's with sweet stunning instrumental riffs and solos which also make this song feel very much like a power ballad. As the song closes it feels like Papa is leaving the twenties with this album as he bids goodbye and walks away so it feels in the lyrics or possibly that he is running away with someone or the memory of someone too since "nothing ever lasts forever". It's a lovely piece. 

This album I absolutely love and respect honestly for me this is a Classic Masterpiece. It's hard to find albums where every song hits and this one is a gift that keeps on giving. 

I'd have to give this a 10/10

5 STARS easily!