Ghost Impera (Vinyl LP) * * *

Grammy-winning Swedish theatrical rock outfit Ghost, one of the most esteemed and celebrated bands in the world today, return with their fifth psalm, Impera, fronted by the newly anointed Papa Emeritus IV. Produced by Klas Åhlund and mixed by Andy Wallace, its dozen songs take on themes of isolation and demigod worship, as well as colonization of both space and mind. And all with the infectious hooky brand of rock their fans have grown accustomed to.

Impera finds Ghost transported hundreds of years forward from the 14th century Europe Black Plague era of its previous album, 2018's Best Rock Album, the Grammy-nominated Prequelle. The result is the most ambitious and lyrically incisive entry in the Ghost canon: Over the course of Impera's song cycle, empires rise and fall, would-be messiahs ply their hype (financial and spiritual alike), prophecies are foretold as the skies fill with celestial bodies divine and man-made...All in all, the most current and topical Ghost subject matter to date is set against a hypnotic and darkly colorful melodic backdrop making Impera a listen like no other, yet still quintessentially Ghost.

Impera is heralded by the sublime and haunting lead single "Call Me Little Sunshine." The album will also feature "Hunter's Moon," Ghost's fourth consecutive Active Rock No.1 radio single, as heard over the end credits of the horror smash Halloween Kills. Gatefold jacket packaging with an accompanying 28-page illustrated booklet.