Impera

Apr 22, 2026 - 07:08
0 0
Impera

MOS:CENTURY, dash style (MOS:DASH)

← Previous revision Revision as of 01:36, 22 April 2026
Line 61: Line 61:


==Music and themes==
==Music and themes==
Musically, ''Impera'' has been described as [[hard rock]],{{cite web|first=Adrien|last=Begrand|url=https://www.popmatters.com/ghost-impera-album-review|title=Ghost's 'Impera' Is a Morbidly Exhilarating Soundtrack to Dark Times|website=[[PopMatters]]|date=11 March 2022|access-date=11 March 2022|language=en}} [[arena rock]],{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Everley|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/ghost-impera-album-review|title=Ghost's Impera album is the 80s arena rock banger to end 80s arena rock bangers|website=[[Metal Hammer]]|via=[[Loudersound]]|date=6 March 2022|access-date=6 March 2022|language=en}} [[glam metal]],{{cite web|first=Joe|last=Daly|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/every-ghost-album-ranked-from-worst-to-best|title=Every Ghost album ranked from worst to best|website=[[Metal Hammer]]|via=[[Loudersound]]|date=10 March 2022|access-date=17 March 2022}} [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], and [[pop rock]].{{cite web|first=James|last=McMahon|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/ghost-impera-album-review-3178131|title=Ghost – 'Impera' review: Swedish metallers go bigger than ever|website=[[NME]]|date=10 March 2022|access-date=11 March 2022|language=en}} The album's sound has been described as 1980s-style [[Pop music|pop]] and [[Rock music|rock]]{{cite web|first=William|last=Nesbitt|url=https://www.therockpit.net/2022/ghost-impera-album-review/|title=Ghost – 'Impera' – Album Review|website=The Rock Pit|date=13 March 2022|access-date=16 March 2022|language=en}} and has been compared to [[ABBA]], [[Boston (band)|Boston]], [[Dio (band)|Dio]], [[Bon Jovi]], and [[Def Leppard]].{{cite web|first=Thom|last=Jurek|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/impera-mw0003655260|title=Impera - Ghost|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|access-date=11 March 2022}} The album is themed mainly on "the rise and fall of empires". It is described to take place hundreds of years forward from the 14th century [[Black Death|Europe Black Plague]] era of Ghost's previous album, ''Prequelle''.
Musically, ''Impera'' has been described as [[hard rock]],{{cite web|first=Adrien|last=Begrand|url=https://www.popmatters.com/ghost-impera-album-review|title=Ghost's 'Impera' Is a Morbidly Exhilarating Soundtrack to Dark Times|website=[[PopMatters]]|date=11 March 2022|access-date=11 March 2022|language=en}} [[arena rock]],{{cite web|first=Dave|last=Everley|url=https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/ghost-impera-album-review|title=Ghost's Impera album is the 80s arena rock banger to end 80s arena rock bangers|website=[[Metal Hammer]]|via=[[Loudersound]]|date=6 March 2022|access-date=6 March 2022|language=en}} [[glam metal]],{{cite web|first=Joe|last=Daly|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/every-ghost-album-ranked-from-worst-to-best|title=Every Ghost album ranked from worst to best|website=[[Metal Hammer]]|via=[[Loudersound]]|date=10 March 2022|access-date=17 March 2022}} [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], and [[pop rock]].{{cite web|first=James|last=McMahon|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/ghost-impera-album-review-3178131|title=Ghost – 'Impera' review: Swedish metallers go bigger than ever|website=[[NME]]|date=10 March 2022|access-date=11 March 2022|language=en}} The album's sound has been described as 1980s-style [[Pop music|pop]] and [[Rock music|rock]]{{cite web|first=William|last=Nesbitt|url=https://www.therockpit.net/2022/ghost-impera-album-review/|title=Ghost – 'Impera' – Album Review|website=The Rock Pit|date=13 March 2022|access-date=16 March 2022|language=en}} and has been compared to [[ABBA]], [[Boston (band)|Boston]], [[Dio (band)|Dio]], [[Bon Jovi]], and [[Def Leppard]].{{cite web|first=Thom|last=Jurek|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/impera-mw0003655260|title=Impera - Ghost|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|access-date=11 March 2022}} The album is themed mainly on "the rise and fall of empires". It is described to take place hundreds of years forward from the 14th-century [[Black Death|Europe Black Plague]] era of Ghost's previous album, ''Prequelle''.


The cover art by Zbigniew Bielak is a reference to a photograph of English [[occultist]] [[Aleister Crowley]].
The cover art by Zbigniew Bielak is a reference to a photograph of English [[occultist]] [[Aleister Crowley]].
Line 73: Line 73:
''Impera'' debuted at number one in five countries, including in the band's native country Sweden, and charted in the top 40 of multiple charts worldwide.{{Cite web |title=Ghost Tops Charts Across The World With New Album 'Impera' |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/ghost_tops_charts_across_the_world_with_new_album_impera.html |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=www.ultimate-guitar.com}}
''Impera'' debuted at number one in five countries, including in the band's native country Sweden, and charted in the top 40 of multiple charts worldwide.{{Cite web |title=Ghost Tops Charts Across The World With New Album 'Impera' |url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/ghost_tops_charts_across_the_world_with_new_album_impera.html |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=www.ultimate-guitar.com}}


In the United States, ''Impera'' debuted at number two on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, behind [[Lil Durk]]'s ''[[7220]]'', selling 70,000 units in its first week, of which 62,500 were physical [[album sales]]. At the time, it was Ghost's highest charting album in the U.S., surpassing ''Prequelle''{{'}}s position of number three, as well as earning the largest physical album sales week of 2022 in the U.S.{{Cite web |last=Childers |first=Chad |title=Ghost's 'Impera' Logs Biggest Album Sales Week of 2022, Places Second on Billboard 200 Album Chart |url=https://loudwire.com/ghosts-impera-biggest-album-sales-week-2022-no-2-billboard-200-album-chart/ |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=Loudwire|date=21 March 2022 }} It also charted at number 2 in the UK, becoming Ghost's highest charting album there, behind [[Rex Orange County]]'s ''[[Who Cares? (album)|Who Cares?]]''{{Cite web |last=Alderslade |first=Merlin |date=18 March 2022 |title=Confirmed: Impera is Ghost's highest ever charting album in the UK |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/confirmed-impera-is-ghosts-highest-ever-charting-album-in-the-uk |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=loudersound}}
In the United States, ''Impera'' debuted at number two on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart, behind [[Lil Durk]]'s ''[[7220]]'', selling 70,000 units in its first week, of which 62,500 were physical [[album sales]]. At the time, it was Ghost's highest charting album in the U.S., surpassing ''Prequelle''{{'}}s position of number three, as well as earning the largest physical album sales week of 2022 in the U.S.{{Cite web |last=Childers |first=Chad |title=Ghost's 'Impera' Logs Biggest Album Sales Week of 2022, Places Second on Billboard 200 Album Chart |url=https://loudwire.com/ghosts-impera-biggest-album-sales-week-2022-no-2-billboard-200-album-chart/ |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=Loudwire|date=21 March 2022 }} It also charted at number 2 in the UK, becoming Ghost's highest charting album there, behind [[Rex Orange County]]'s ''[[Who Cares? (album)|Who Cares?]]''{{Cite web |last=Alderslade |first=Merlin |date=18 March 2022 |title=Confirmed: Impera is Ghost's highest ever charting album in the UK |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/confirmed-impera-is-ghosts-highest-ever-charting-album-in-the-uk |access-date=26 March 2022 |website=loudersound}}


==Reception==
==Reception==
Line 107: Line 107:
Manus Hopkins of ''[[Exclaim!]]'' called the album "more thematically interesting and more musically complex album than its predecessor" but was less positive towards the band's departure from themes of devil-worshiping and a more evil image. James Hickie of ''[[Kerrang!]]'' stated that "''Impera'' is among Ghost's very best and sure to push them even closer to those heavenly heights." According to Dave Everley of ''[[Metal Hammer]]'', "Ghost have turned in a modern metal classic with an arena rock heart. It turns out the devil doesn't have all the best tunes. Tobias Forge does."
Manus Hopkins of ''[[Exclaim!]]'' called the album "more thematically interesting and more musically complex album than its predecessor" but was less positive towards the band's departure from themes of devil-worshiping and a more evil image. James Hickie of ''[[Kerrang!]]'' stated that "''Impera'' is among Ghost's very best and sure to push them even closer to those heavenly heights." According to Dave Everley of ''[[Metal Hammer]]'', "Ghost have turned in a modern metal classic with an arena rock heart. It turns out the devil doesn't have all the best tunes. Tobias Forge does."


Jordan Blum of ''Metal Injection'' considered the album to be "a tad more accessible and light compared to their first two or three albums—prioritizing welcoming rock over weird metal in most cases—but that's hardly a flaw considering how unified and exciting it is." ''[[MetalSucks|Metal Sucks]]'' compared the album to [[Avatar (band)|Avatar]] and [[King Diamond (band)|King Diamond]] and called it "theatrical, catchy, and evil in the most approachable way." James McMahon of ''[[NME]]'' called the twelve tracks on the album "a truly delicious pop-rock proposition." Adrien Begrand of ''[[PopMatters]]'' considered the lyrics on the song "Twenties" to be too blunt and bring the song "close to a cartoon level." However, Begrand praised the album's "smart riffs and melodies" and considers the album to be what "establishes them as a commercial hard rock force."
Jordan Blum of ''Metal Injection'' considered the album to be "a tad more accessible and light compared to their first two or three albums—prioritizing welcoming rock over weird metal in most cases—but that's hardly a flaw considering how unified and exciting it is." ''[[MetalSucks|Metal Sucks]]'' compared the album to [[Avatar (band)|Avatar]] and [[King Diamond (band)|King Diamond]] and called it "theatrical, catchy, and evil in the most approachable way." James McMahon of ''[[NME]]'' called the twelve tracks on the album "a truly delicious pop-rock proposition." Adrien Begrand of ''[[PopMatters]]'' considered the lyrics on the song "Twenties" to be too blunt and bring the song "close to a cartoon level." However, Begrand praised the album's "smart riffs and melodies" and considers the album to be what "establishes them as a commercial hard rock force."


The single "Call Me Little Sunshine" received a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance|Best Metal Performance]] at the [[65th Annual Grammy Awards]], but lost to "Degradation Rules" by [[Ozzy Osbourne]] and [[Tony Iommi]].{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Taila|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/2023-grammy-nominations-complete-winners-nominees-list|title=2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Winners & Nominees List|website=[[Grammy Awards]]|publisher=[[The Recording Academy]]|date=15 November 2022|access-date=27 May 2024}}
The single "Call Me Little Sunshine" received a nomination for [[Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance|Best Metal Performance]] at the [[65th Annual Grammy Awards]], but lost to "Degradation Rules" by [[Ozzy Osbourne]] and [[Tony Iommi]].{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Taila|url=https://www.grammy.com/news/2023-grammy-nominations-complete-winners-nominees-list|title=2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Winners & Nominees List|website=[[Grammy Awards]]|publisher=[[The Recording Academy]]|date=15 November 2022|access-date=27 May 2024}}
Line 199: Line 199:


===Ghost===
===Ghost===
* [[Tobias Forge|Papa Emeritus IV]] - vocals & bass
* [[Tobias Forge|Papa Emeritus IV]] – vocals & bass
* A Group of Nameless Ghouls
* A Group of Nameless Ghouls


===Additional personnel===
===Additional personnel===
* [[Fredrik Åkesson]] – guitars{{cite news |last1=Laing |first1=Rob |title=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" |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/ghost-opeth-guitars |access-date=10 March 2022 |work=MusicRadar |date=26 January 2022}}
* [[Fredrik Åkesson]] – guitars{{cite news |last1=Laing |first1=Rob |title=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" |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/ghost-opeth-guitars |access-date=10 March 2022 |work=MusicRadar |date=26 January 2022}}
* [[Salem Al Fakir]] - keyboards
* [[Salem Al Fakir]] – keyboards
* Hux Nettermalm – drums
* Hux Nettermalm – drums
* [[Martin Hederos]] – piano, organ
* [[Martin Hederos]] – piano, organ
Read More