Album Review — Ghost

Ghost — Impera

Sometimes I judge a book by its cover. In this case, I judged the band Ghost by their album covers. If you look at the cover of their latest record, “Impera”, you have to think at least they are a metal band and probably a very metal band. Add that to the name of the band and it adds up to Death Metal and I’m just not interested.

Well, there’s a reason you aren’t supposed to judge books or albums by their covers. When I listened to the new Ghost record I was in for a surprise. I had never heard anything by them before and it was totally not what I was expecting.

That isn’t to say that Ghost doesn’t rock. They certainly can and do and quite a few songs. But I was surprised at how diverse they were and how many different types of genres I would hear on the record. At some points they sound like Asia or other 80s prog bands. And others, they sound like an arena rock band. Still others it is more metal and others they are more electronic.

I found the listening experience to be both confusing and interesting. I’m still trying to sort through what I think of the record as each time I listen to it I come away with a different feeling.

The album starts with an instrumental that begins mostly with acoustic guitar and builds to an almost Iron Maiden/Queensryche sounding piece. I get the sense that the guitar player has those kinds of influences but that’s just a guess.

“Kaisarion” is up next which starts very 80s metal but when the vocals come they are very unexpected. I’m expecting a Bruce Dickinson-type vocals but they are very different than I was expecting. It turns out the band is on their fourth different vocalist. I don’t dislike the vocal, but it just doesn’t seem to fit. Otherwise, it’s a good track.

“Spillways” is an album highlight for me. The vocals seems to fit better here. This one reminds me of a little heavier Jimmy Eat World. I’d certainly be up for more Ghost if this is what they sound like.

“Call Me Little Sunshine” is a little darker and a little heavier. It almost has a Dio type quality to it musically. Again, the vocals take some getting used to but it’s a quality track.

“Hunter’s Moon” has some metal elements but that Jimmy Eat World-type sound as well. It’s a strange combination but it works.

“Watcher in the Sky” it’s a little closer to what I was expecting. It’s a little more metal with a catchy chorus.

After a short instrumental, comes “Twenties” that I’ll just say I don’t like at all.

But at the album lowlight comes two of the better tracks on the record. “Darkness At the Heart Of My Love” is a more modern sounding and darker power ballad. I really like the chorus.

“Griftwood” has a similar sound to “Spillways” and finds the band at their best. It’s heavy but catchy and fits the vocals.

After another short instrumental, the album ends with “Respite on the Spitalfields”. It’s a winding track that checks in at almost seven minutes. It kind of covers all the genres that the band touches on throughout the record.

Overall, I do like the record. It’s quite diverse and combines a lot of different genres but when they hit their stride they create some really great songs. I’ll probably go back and check out their previous albums as there is enough here that intrigues me to see what else they have done.

I’m not sure I’d call myself a fan at this point but it’s definitely worth checking out.

85 out of 100

Track Listing

1. Imperium
2. Kaisarion
3. Spillways *
4. Call Me Little Sunshine
5. Hunter’s Moon
6. Watcher In The Sky *
7. Dominion
8. Twenties
9. Darkness At The Heart Of My Love *
10. Griftwood *
11. Bite Of Passage
12. Respite On The Spitalfields

• Best Songs