Full circle. That could have been a fitting title for Impera’s new live album. Because after living most of his life with Kiss (just take a look at the album’s art-work) – as a fan, the president of Kiss Army Sweden and even knowing the members personally – it doesn’t get much more full circle than to get to open up for Kiss for Impera’s founder Johan Kihlberg. This gig was recorded at Scandinavium, Gothenburg – hence the title – and judging by the pictures it looks like the place was pretty much full when Impera went on, something that’s not all that usual. To record a gig like this for personal reasons is a no-brainer but as live-albums today aren’t exactly commercially functional, it’s great that they decided to share this experience with the rest of us.
The line-up that released the three first Impera records is long gone, only Kihlberg, who has switched from drums to rhythm guitar and bassist Mats Vassfjord is left. Otherwise we have lead guitarist Lars Chriss, as big a part of Impera as Kihlberg, and singer Jonny Lindqvist who both was on the last studio album Spirit Of Alchemy (2022) and new drummer Magnus Ulfstedt (ex Eclipse). Since the recording is from an opening spot, it’s a short album we get here – only seven live tracks – but we’re also treated with a completely new song which is only available on the CD/DVD release.
With that said why not go the other way around and start off with the new track “Fighter”, the album’s second single and the main soundtrack song to the movie “Black Hills”. Written by Therion’s Thomas Vikström and Heikki Harju, it’s a slow and heavy number with a dark and ominous atmosphere – and to be honest not what I had expected as it differs some to what we’re used from the band. First of all, it doesn’t contain a direct and hit-catchy refrain and therefore takes a few spins to stick. But have patience because it will pay off because the song is brilliant. It’s built on a poundy and edgy beat with a mastodon riff and when the mellow yet distinct vocal-melody sticks it never leaves. I do hope they will include it on the next record too.
For the live-bit the opening with the last album’s opener “Nothing Will Last” works like a charm and the cinematic and symphonic middle-section that sounds like a bombastic and dramatic movie-score works even better on the live album than on the studio album. It must have been really cool to experience in the venue. The “Makin’ Love” (Kiss) borrowed riff to the fast tracked “Lost Your Life To Rock ‘n’ Roll” hits like a fist on the jaw and the whole song comes across as a real live-killer. One of two songs not taken from the latest album is the slow, pumping and headbang-friendly melodic metal cruncher “That’s The Way Life Goes”, originally sung by Nils-Patrik Johansson (Lion’s Share). It holds a catchy as damn refrain and Lindqvist makes it his own here. It’s awesome and I prefer this to the studio version.
On one hand I would have loved to hear a song or two from the first era of the band performed by this line-up but at the same time, this is a new, more metal-laden incarnation of Impera and that’s what they want to show off and hand on heart, with a short set they did right thing to go for the heavier and more edgy tunes that was on the latest album. The classic Heavy Metal stomper “When Souls Collide” with its in-your-face refrain, the early 80’s influenced metal-banger “All About You”, the other “old” track “Fear” originally sung by Mick Divine (Seven) with its poppier verse melodies and Melodic Rock catchy refrain, here heavied up quite a bit and the closing “In Heaven” with its more laid-back and sparse verses and a punchy and robust refrain are all ball-busting live-killers prefect for the stage.
First of all, two things. One – I wish I was there to watch this. Two – I also wish they would record a headlining show because there are so many older tracks, like “Just A Conversation”, “Why Does She Care” or “Thunder In Your Heart” to name but a few, that I would love to hear this version of the band sink their teeth into. That said, as a live album, this record sounds fabulous. Sure, there are probably some fix-ups here and there – all live-albums have those – but the album really sounds live even though the production is crystal-clear. The audience is heard but not overdone like on so many live albums and you really get the feeling of a band playing. Highly recommended in a time when live-albums aren’t exactly the hottest thing in the world – and don’t miss the DVD whatever you do.
8/10
More Impera reviews:
Legacy Of Life
Pieces Of Eden
Empire Of Sin
Age Of Discovery
Spirit Of Alchemy
Tracklist:
1. Nothing Will Last
2. Lost Your Life To Rock ‘n’ Roll
3. That’s The Way That Life Goes
4. When Souls Collide
5. All About You
6. Fear
7. In Heaven
8. Fighter
CD & Festival reviews 