Johan Kihlberg’s Impera
Age of Discovery

Solo project by Impera drummer Johan Kihlberg is what I am looking closer at this time. Johan Kihlberg felt that he wanted to try his wings a little and work with different people, therefore he mad the album Age of Discovery under the moniker Johan Kihlberg’s Impera – it would appear that he didn’t want to distance himself too far from the main band. Why not just make it another Impera album with some guest vocalists? Perhaps it is due to the other members not really being part of the band, besides the bassist, Lars Chriss is the main man who helps with production and plays the guitar. Among the vocalists I guess the most notable presence is one of my favourite vocalists Michael Sadler, the great voice of Saga.

Onwards doesn’t quite seem to be the direction for this album compared with Kihlberg’s main band, it is quite similar. Melodic rock/hardrock or AOR with some pop influences is how this album can be described. Good variation thanks to the use of several vocalists where most are good, though I have never really been a fan of Nils Patrik Johansson who’s attempts to sound like Dio kind of ruins the second track. Good thing is that the album is kept short with a playing time under forty minutes, and the variation is also a good thing. Another good thing is that the album is quite catchy and easy to take to as well as easy to like, it should appeal to those who likes this kind of music and the fans of Kihlberg’s main band Impera.

Likeable album is how I would like to summarise the impression of this album, it is good with catchy and good songs, excellent production and so on. The second track could have been absolutely brilliant with another vocalist, thanks to the vocalist choice on track two it is the Sadler fronted track eight that rules this album. Said track is quite great and enjoyable, Sadler does a good job on a good song. But to be completely honest I don’t think any of the tracks is a real standout, it feels a bit like a cautious album – like a classic Swedish compromise made to suit everyone and offend no one, not very exciting.

Overall I think this is a good album, I have enjoyed listening to it and I am quite sure that most of you would do so as well. It is a well-made album with a pretty attractive artwork, probably not a bad purchase even though it doesn’t really stand out from the masses and as a critic that is a bit of a big deal. It may work, it may be enjoyable to listen to – but ultimately it will be forgotten long before the music of 2018 is to be summarised.

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