Album review: IMPERA – Empire Of Sin

IMPERA - Empire Of Sin

Escape Music www.escape-music.com [Release date 26.01.15]

This is the third album from Impera since 2012 when they released their debut album. They were formed around drummer JK Impera (Bruce Kulick/Graham Bonnet), who is joined by guitarist Tommy Denander (who has played on hundreds of albums including Alice Cooper, Paul Stanley), vocalist Matti Alfonzetti (once of Jagged Edge and now in Red, White & Blues) and bassist Matts Vassfjord (Grand Design).

On this album they have found their sound, namely hard rock/melodic metal and at times reminiscent of Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath on a song like ‘The Beast Is Dead’. ‘Don’t Stop’ is a beast of a melodic hard rock tune, with a cracking chorus and crunching guitar riffs and solos.

Matti Alfonzetti suits the music really well, be it on the slower ‘Darling’ or the big metal beast that is ‘Evil (Become A Believer)’, a tune that would sound great in a live setting. Europe bassist John Leven pops up (playing guitar) on ‘Thunder In Your Heart’, which he also co-wrote. Again, good solid hard rocking and fits well in the album’s overall sound.

Overall their best album to date, as it has a more cohesive sound and some strong songs. Their previous albums were perfectly listenable, just lacked too many songs to make you keep playing them again and again, which they have cracked on this album.  ****

Review by Jason Ritchie


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