Dangerdog Music Reviews :: © 1999 - 2023 Craig S Hartranft :: All Rights Reserved
No part of this this website, including design and music reviews,
may be reproduced in any form or by any means without
the prior written permission of the publisher.
- New Music Reviews
- |
- Archives
- |
- News
- |
- Submissions
- |
- About
- |
- |
New Music Reviews, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Progressive Rock, Progressive Metal, AOR, Alternative Rock, Alternative Metal
Recent Reviews
September 2023
- Rockett Love: Galactic Circus
- Kerrigan: Bloodmoon
- Taz: Shipwrecked, Vol 2
- Taz: Wake Up & Sweat, Vol 1
- Ronnie Romero: Too Many Lies, Too Many Masters
- The Flower Kings: Look At You Now
- Vega: Battlelines
- Blackbird Angels: Solsorte
- Primal Fear: Code Red
- Eclipse: Megalomanium
- Seventh Wonder: Mercy Falls (Reissue 2008/2023)
- Seventh Wonder: The Great Escape (Reissue 2010/2023)
August 2023
- Hurricane: Reconnected
- U.D.O.: Touchdown
- Streetlight: Ignition
- Sarayasign: The Lion's Road
- Neal Morse: The Dreamer - Joseph - Part One
- Rian: Wings
- Icon Of Sin: Legends
- Lancer: Tempest
- King Kobra: We Are Warriors
- Dark Sky: Signs Of The Time
- Hell In The Club: F.U.B.A.R.
- Kent Hilli: Nothing Left To Lose
July 2023
- Turkish Delight: Volume Two
- Winterstorm: Everfrost
- Scream Maker: Land Of Fire
- James Robledo: Broken Soul
- Houston: Relaunch III
- All For Metal: Legends
- Withering Scorn: Prophets Of Demise
- Bloodbound: Tales From The North
- Kikimora: For A Broken Dime
- Degreed: Public Address
June 2023
- Night Legion: Fight Or Fall
- Midnite City: In At The Deep End
- Pyramaze: Bloodlines
- Shakra: Invincible
- Vypera: Race Of Time
- Stardust: Kingdom Of Illusion
- Pride Of Lions: Dream Higher
- Joel Hoekstra's 13: Crash Of Life
- The Defiants: Drive
- Ray Alder: II
- Art Nation: Inception
- False Memories: Hybrid Ego System
Impera: Legacy of Life
Impera: Legacy of Life
Melodic Hard Rock/Metal
3.5/5.0
Website
Facebook
Escape Music
by Craig Hartranft, 10.11.2012
Impera is the creation of drummer J. K. Impera, formed with a collection of seasoned rock veterans including Tommy Denander on guitar, Matti Alfonzetti on vocals, and Mats Vassfjord on bass. The fact that Tommy Denander is in this outfit should suggest more than a little interest for hard rock fans; he's one of best session guitarists going.
Impera: there's something growing on his head.
Fundamentally, what Impera and company give you on their debut album, Legacy of Life, is melodic hard rock with a notable metal edge. From the start, musicianship is not in question; these guys can play and play well. For instance, Denander's guitar fireworks as terrific as expected. The surprise may be, the relatively unknown, vocalist Matti Alfonzetti, who is natural rock singer.
Also, you cannot dispute Impera's song craftsmanship: these are tight, melodic, and hard rocking arrangements, which still allow enough room for each musician to flex. Conversely, they also have a true European melodic hard rock familiarity. Sort of that feeling that says, 'been there, heard that before.' And sometimes the songs aren't all that gripping. After three spins, I can only point to three songs that turned my head and enlightened my ears: Kiss of Death, Show Me the Money, and More Than Meets the Eye. The first two had catchy hooks, and the third, Denander roaring in his solo. Again, this is not to say that Legacy of Life is dull or average, but possibly conventional with some genuine sparks flying across the album. In the end, the greatest strength of this album is likely the players more than the tunes.
Tweet
In Short
Impera's Legacy of Life is a good, if not conventional, melodic hard rock debut from a band with a huge amount of talent.
Find A Review
Alphabetical Index
Album of the Week
Formed in 1999 by singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Erik Martensson, Sweden's Eclipse is well into their third decade of making music. In the recent past, their recordings and reputation have ... [ Read More ]