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Imperial State Electric: All Through The Night
Imperial State Electric All Through The Night CD Album Review

Imperial State Electric: All Through The ...

Classic/Retro/Garage Rock
4.5/5.0

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Psychout Records
Words: Craig Hartranft
Added: 14.09.2016

I'm sure there's more than a few folk that would say Nicke Andersson, Imperial State Electric's founder, guitarist, and vocalist, is either leaving in the past or trying relive pasty glories. He keeps trying to revive and resurrect classic, retro, and garage rock or possibly trying to relive the glory days of his past band The Hellacopters. It's speculation really, but only because his modern version of retro classic rock seems so out of place in today's contemporary musical landscape. Perhaps that's the biggest reason we him and Imperial State Electric to keep grinding out albums. Here's their latest and fifth album, All Through The Night, complete with retro faux Warner Brothers art work.

Imperial State Electric Band Photo

Imperial State Electric

Okay. As usual, All Through The Night is a rock and roll album. In press materials, of the album, Andersson has said, "We play rock 'n' roll music, if it takes four years to make a rock 'n' roll record then you have most likely over analyzed an art form that is more about gut instinct." I like that. Stop overthinking it, and rock out. This definitely gut level, maybe even below the belt, music with immense rhythm groove, large guitars, pulsing bass, and the energetic enthusiasm of garage and punk rocker. Their sound is bare bones and stripped down, to the point. ISE steals vibes from late Sixties pop and rock, Seventies heavier rock dipped in blues and country, and a portion of psychedelic rock founded in both decades.

To some songs of interest. Curiously, ISE adds some symphonic notes to some song, notably the title cut and the closing No Sleeping. Though not unusual for the band, it adds a different character against the other rockers. Both songs have vocal harmonies that remind of that Sixties vibe. Speaking of rockers, the spirited Remove Your Doubt, the bass line driven Over And Over Again, and Get Off The Boo Hoo Train, with it's roaring riffs and pace, deliver the rock n roll goods. A touch of the country vibe comes within Break It Down. Suffice to say, with All Through The Night finds Nicke Andersson and Imperial State Electric in consistent fine form delivering energetic and fundamental classic rock. Recommended.

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The Bottom Line

With All Through The Night finds Nicke Andersson and Imperial State Electric in consistent fine form delivering energetic and fundamental classic rock. Recommended.

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