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New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
November 2024
- Voodoo Circle: Hail To The King
- Lionville: Supernatural
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- Empires Of Eden: Guardians Of Time
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- Seventh Crystal: Entity
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October 2024
- Casandra's Crossing: Garden Of Earthly Delights
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- Frost*: Life In The Wires
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September 2024
- Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
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- Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly
August 2024
- Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
- Paralydium: Universe Calls
- Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
- Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
- All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
- Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
- Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2
Impera: Pieces Of Eden
Impera: Pieces Of Eden
Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
3.5/5.0
Considering the talent and collective musical experiences of the players that are Impera, you might want to throw around words like 'super group' to describe the band. Led by founder and drummer J. K. Impera, he returns with the original line up of Matti Alfonzetti (v), Tommy Denander (g), and Mats Vassfjord (b) for the second effort Pieces Of Eden.
Impera: from last year's photo shoot.
Additionally, with the caliber of this talent, some fans will have some expectation of something on the level of musical genius. As said in the review of last year's Legacy Of Life, one certainly cannot quibble about Impera's musicianship. For instance, guitarist Tommy Denander can deliver more rousing riffs and rip off more great leads in one album, than most players can do in a lifetime. These guys are good. Nuff said.
However, Pieces Of Eden strays little from last year's model, sticking with edgier melodic hard rock, with maybe a twist. My reaction, after several listens, drifted to towards indifference to the music. After the rousing, quite catchy and melodic, Beast Within, I felt Impera dropped the ball. These Chains had a nice hook in the chorus, but after the liveliness of the previous song it simply slumped. As did the next All Alone. The aforementioned twist comes with Smalltown Blue and Since You've Been Gone, both of which turn on an assertive blues groove. (Denander knows, like every good guitarist should, that you can't play rock n roll without being able to play the blues.)
So there I've named my three favorite songs on this album. As for what plays out to the end, while neither dismissing the talent of the players or the skillful arrangements, I can't say anything else really resonated with me. It's more of Impera's heavier edgier melodic hard rock. Just push 'repeat'. Perhaps the best part of any song was waiting for and hearing Denander deliver the goods. Nonetheless, for those who liked Impera's previous album, I believe they will enjoy this one as well.
Impera - Live Vasby Rock Festival
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In Short
With the exception of two songs with a blues groove, Pieces Of Eden is more of Impera's heavier, edgier, melodic hard rock, delivered by a band overflowing with talent.
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