Ghost IMPERA Review

IIMPERA is the 5th studio recording by Swedish rock band Ghost. Released on March 11, 2022, the albums motif focuses on the rise and fall of empires.

The theme of the album is based on the book by Timothy Parsons: "The Rule of Empires: Those Who Built Them, Those Who Endured Them, and Why They Always Fall." It is about empires that come and go and replaced by other empires. 

Is there a little foreshadowing by Tobia Forge? The last record, "Prequelle" subject was about medieval times and the black death. Covid happened a few years later. It makes you wonder and is a fitting topic to discuss amongst friends, family and peers. 

Ghost reminds me of a mixture of Blue Oyster Cult and Mercyful Fate. They also have metal and rock elements of the 80s. With that being said, it is hard to pinpoint exactly what Ghost sounds like. Yes, they contain these compositions, but they are also so much more. I think the best way to describe their sound is unique. Ghost sounds like Ghost. They have elements that make up the fabric of Ghost just like certain substances make up particular chemical compounds like water. Water is neither hydrogen nor oxygen. 

Sprinkled with a few musical interludes, Impera is a great rock record. Provocative riffs, intriguing melodies, and invigorating arrangements. Also, the thought-provoking concept of falling empires. 

"Imperium" is the first song and sets the scene of the album. It is a bittersweet instrumental full of the majesty of an empire in full bloom. "Kaiserion" has a charismatic rock riff and kicks things off with a great screechy scream from Papa Emeritus. Also, it has an engaging middle section reminiscent of Rush. In an interview with Metal Hammer magazine, Tobias Ford says that the song is about the start of empire. 

That’s the violent start of this new empire. The call to arms. Burn down everything from the past to build something new and burn the books and kill the whore.

Burn the books and kill the whore references Hypatia of Alexandria. Mentioned in the chorus, Hypatia was a famous neo-platonic philosopher in Egypt. She was a teacher and taught students all over the Mediterranean. Basically, a group of Christians killed her for practicing magic, sorcery, and bewitching people with her satanic charms even though she was a philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer. They dragged her into a former pagan temple called the Caesareum of Alexandria/Kaiserion and murdered her there. 

There is a lot more to Hypatia's story. If you are interested, there is a good move called "Agora." Also, there are a few books I recommend:

• Hypatia of Alexandria: Mathematician and Martyr by Michael A. B. Deakin
• Caesar's Temple: The Life and Turbulent Times of Hypatia of Alexandria by Russell Merris
• Hypatia: Her Life and Times by Faith L. Justice

And, for an overview, there is always her Wikipedia page. Now back to Impera! 

"Spillways" has a nice 70s rock vibe with great hooks. The song is about the darkness most people have inside them. Here is a quote from Tobias Forge about the song on Metal Hammer:

This is an elegy of the darkness that most people have inside. When you have a dam, spillways are the run-offs, so the dam won’t overflow. That darkness inside us needs to find its way out.

"Call Me Little Sunshine" has a nice sinister guitar riff that accompanies the song's references to a famous picture of Aleister Crowley that was an inspiration for the album cover. The song also talks about how the devil is always here for you. 

"Hunters Moon" was the first single released and was on the "Halloween Kills" movie soundtrack. 

"Watchers of the Sky" is a heavy rock song with an arena chorus. "Dominion" is a mournful organ dirge and not as optimistic as the inaugural instrumental. The empire is in the throes of unravelling. "Twenties" is the most curious tune on the record. It has some symphonic horns and then kicks in to a rambunctious heavy groove with a bit of an oddball, antithetical chorus. 

"Darkness at the Heart of my Love" is about people being virtuous, but in reality, they are only after money and power. This song has nice arpeggiated guitars and has a Pink Floyd feel to it. Chorus has a good hook and a power ballad, arena rock element to it. "Griftwood" is about people who would do anything to get what they want, has a Def Leppard quality to it. "Rite of Passage" is a spooky, dark interlude. "Respite of the Spittlefields" an examination of the fear around Jack the Ripper has an eerie and gloomy atmosphere, with a unique ending. A sublime closure to the album. The empire has fallen. 

Overall, Impera has heavier and trickier arrangements and melodies. A lot of growth in the songwriting with elements of vintage progressive rock. 

All that is human must retrograde if it does not advance.

Edward Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Band

• Papa Emeritus IV
• A Group of Nameless Ghouls

Additional Musicians

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

Produced by Klas Åhlund.

We hope you enjoyed this album review. Please let us know what you think about this review and your thoughts on Ghost's "Impera" in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you! Also, follow us on Twitter and Facebook for additional updates and discussions.