John Leven (Europe) makes his debut as a leadguitarist on the new Impera CD “Empire Of Sin” John also co-wrote the track he is playing on.

Brand new interview with Tommy Denander from Radio Prime.

Impera släpper sitt tredje album den 23 januari. Nippe tog ett snack med Tommy Denander och fick dessutom premiärspela låten “End Of The World”

Classic Rock Magazine Review by Dave Ling.

http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/

Mats Vassfjord and J.K. Impera are special guests at the IMPERA special on Dist FM´s Open Mic Show airing Sunday 13th, Monday 14th and Wednesday 15th of october, the show starts at 21.00 all three days. Don´t miss it.

www.distfm.se

Pre order “Pieces Of Eden” now at:
http://cdon.se/musik/impera/pieces_of_eden-25157957

Escape Music is proud to announce the release of the second Impera album Pieces of Eden, due for release in Europe October 18.

Track List:

1. Beast Within
2. These Chains
3. All Alone
4. Smalltown Blues
5. Since You´ve Been Gone
6. Goodbye
7. Easy Come
8. You And I
9. This Is War
10.  Fire And The Flame

Impera is:

Matti Alfonzetti – vocals (Jagged Edge, Scott Gorham, Skintrade, Road To Ruin, Red White & Blues)
Tommy Denander –guitar (Radioactive, Houston, Voices Of Rock)
J.K. Impera – drums (Bruce Kulick, Graham Bonnet, Vinnie Vincent, John Corabi, Brian Robertson)
Mats Vassfjord – bass (Vinnie Vincent, John Corabi, Scaar, Grand Design)

Produced by:

Johan “Impera” Kihlberg / Mixed and co-produced by: Lars Chriss / Mastered by: Mike Lind.

After an explosive 2012 Album “Legacy of Life” Impera are back with an even stronger album than before! When “Legacy of Life” hit the streets back in October 2012 everyone was so excited with this fresh sound these four guys had injected into the melodic rock industry, well just wait till you her “Pieces of Eden”, this is an album that will blow your mind.

The song Goodbye is a cover originally featured on KISS Paul Stanley 1978. Lars Chriss from Lion’s Share plays guest guitar on the song, as does Bob Kulick (all solos on the track).

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First IMPERA show ever! Väsby Rock Festival.

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We’re working hard on perfecting our music for our new Album!

New interview with J.K. at:

http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/content/view/2767/1/

Article from the latest issue of Classic Rock:s AOR magazine.

www.classicrockmagazine.com

Impera will attend Väsby Rock Festival August 3rd 2013 together with U.D.O, Corroded, H.e.a.t, Freak Kitchen among others.

More info at: www.vasbyrockfestival.se

Advert for the Legacy Of Life:

Escape Music Ad 2 – Oct 2012

Legacy Of Life

by YngwieViking at 30 October 2012, 2:10 AM

Despite the absolute will of mastermind JK Impera and / or the record company to introduce and marketed IMPERA, as a real band and not a one-shot all-star super-group, we all know that they belong to a well known but endangered species classified under the brand of the numerous studio-project with an ephemeral destiny. The guys involved are among the busiest Swedish players, especially the incredibly talented guitar player / composer / producer Mr. Tommy “I’m Everywhere” Denander, so the chances to find them on tour one of those days , or to see another album with the same line-up, are very thin (even if I’ll definitely pray for it) and it’s a shame: Because I think it’s a terrific collection of songs and a first rate recommended album…And it’s finally a really impressive all-star super group…Yes it is .

The whole and complete pedigree of each musician involved, would have used up too much space here, so after some complaints, I will make it shorter. But if I can choose some great albums related with IMPERA’s members I will say: 2000’s PRISONER “Blind” (Z Records) & Alfonzetti “Ready” (MTM)

Stylistically the album could easily stand the analogy with those two almost classic perfect discs, AOR but with a quite sharper heavier edge and maybe a little less originality. But it can be compared to those, by bringing the same fluency, some obvious hooks and by providing many enlightened performances…This album is flawless from start to the finish but I think “Kiss Of Death”, “Sunset Rider” & “More Than Meets The Eye” are the best tracks. Matti Alfonzetti is giving his very best, singing perfectly, and it’s easy to see why he’s still considered among the best vocalists out of Sweden but also elsewhere. His voice is always rich warm and he shares with Steve Overland of FM, the same soulful rendition and also the “juicy mid-frequency” fluid intonation. His ex-colleague from ROAD TO RUIN, Lars Chriss (LIONS’ SHARE) is responsible for a dynamic production with an adequate punchy sound…With a bass / drums couple that is fully efficient, technically impeccable that is working perfectly in the same purpose: giving a strong backbone for guitar wiz Denander and his six string magic, in fact it’s the perfect playground to deliver some smoking , stunning and always welcome skillful lead-breaks.

While the IMPERA’s guys to show the world: How, without reinventing the wheel or breaking the rules / conventions, the true melodic Hard Rock should be done. “Legacy of Life” is a more than a cordially suggested purchase, because finally there is only one way to Rock.

7/10

www.metal-temple.com

IMPERA – Legacy Of Life

If you have taken an interest in melodic hard rock and specially the Scandivian kind, then at least a couple of the names in Impera should ring a bell. This lot hails from Sweden, but at least two of the members have international status.

The most well known member has to be guitarist Tommy Denander. Normally a session player, Denander has worked with countless of artists such as Toto and Paul Stanley and is involved in the new found career of Robin Beck and her hubby James Christian’s band House Of Lords. Lead singer Matti Alfonzetti should not need a big introduction, but for those who don’t know, he has been in bands such as Jagged Edge, Skintrade, his own Alfonzett project and has recently released an album with Red White & Blues. Bass player Mats Vassfjord is a member of both Grand Design and Laney’s Legion. Originally, though, the plan was to include former Mötley Crüe / Union singer John Corabi in this project, but due to schedules that wouldn’t mix, it didn’t work out and Alfonzetti was recruited instead. A very good choice, indeed.

But this band is the brainchild of drummer J.K. Impera (aka Johan Kihlberg). JK’s earlier activities doesn’t so much includes bands as such, more than some session work with people like Brian Robertson and Graham Bonnet, but more of a different kind. JK was the president of Kiss Army Sweden up until 1999 and I guess if you recognize his name, it’s probably from there…

It has taken JK almost 30 years to get his musical adventures started, but when he finally did, he did it with a bang. Apparently it took just one song, the album’s fantastic first single “Turn My Heart Into Stone”, with its catchy melody and Zep-riffing, to land him a record contract with English label Escape. But there’s more to this album than just that one song. “Kiss Of Death” (yes, that title has been used a million of times, but who cares!) goes into AOR territory, but with a 70′s kind of feel, “Break The Law” is an awesome melodic hard rocker that goes back to the 80′s, “Show Me The Money” has a magnificent groove and “Dead End Street” ends the album perfectly with a brilliant hook and some cool 80′s rock riffing. However, there are two tracks that stands out a bit here. The album’s only filler, in my book is “Shoot Me Down”, an up tempo rocker. It’s a good song, but unfortunately, it doesn’t stick like the rest. The other one is “Tell Me”, my favourite track on this CD. It has an infectious groove and a chorus that just won’t leave my brain. Not that I would want it to.

Production here was held by JK and Lars Chriss (Lion’s Share), who also mixed it. And the album sounds really good. When a band includes such amazing musicians, It’s really nice to be able to actually hear what they are doing. I’m also a fan of the mastering here. I love it when I can blast a CD real loud without my ears falling to pieces.

A great debut album, indeed. Musically it touches AOR territory at times, but this is pure melodic hard rock with a 70′s foundation, where the guitars speaks much louder than the keyboards and both bass and drums really pounds hard. In fact, I don’t think I have ever heard Tommy Denander, whose work mostly holds AOR, rock this hard before. Also, Anlfonzetti’s astonishing vocals isn’t at all AOR, but has more of a clean raspiness to it. All this makes for very melodic hard rock, but the cheese is nowhere to be found.

As I already stated, Impera’s record company signed them after hearing just one song and it turns out that they asked for the option for another album even before this album was finished. Isn’t it nice when quality wins? Because if I would describe this album in just one word, it would be quality!

Jon Wilmenius (8/10)

etainmentnewsreviews.wordpress.com

Guitarist Tommy Denander of Impera, whose members have played with a veritable who’s who of Hard Rock, including Paul Stanley (Kiss), Bruce Kullick (ex-Kiss), Vinnie Vincent (ex-Kiss, Vinnie Vincent Invasion), Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy) and Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy), and who also feature Red White and Blues vocalist Matti Alfonzetti (ex Jagged Edge), talks about the band’s formation and their new album “Legacy of Life”, with two tracks from the new release.

Rich Davenport’s Rock Show – Impera Interview

Impera joined the last “haute tension” airplays with Impera

cd of the week

www.radiocoteaux.com

Here is a photo of J.K. And the latest issue of Sweden Rock Magazine taken today during Mats & J.K:s promotion tour in Miami. Florida. After the tour they will attend the Kiss Kruise II to the Bahamas.

POWER PLAY MAGAZINE

Impera – Legacy Of Life

It’s becoming an increasingly rare event for something to impress me straight out of the box these days, but after just one listen to ‘Legacy Of Life’ the debut from Sweden’s Impera (not to be confused with similarly named Dutch gothic metaller’s Imperia) I found myself reaching for the replay button with an unseemly haste usually reserved for guaranteed crowd pleasers like Magnum! A four piece put together by drummer JK Impera about three years ago, there are a couple of names that will no doubt heighten anticipation levels before you’ve even heard a note – the first is journeyman guitarist Tommy Denander, the second is equally well travelled vocalist Matti Alfonzetti. I understand that vocal duties were originally gonna be handled by one time The Scream / Motley Crue man John Corabi until scheduling conflicts proved too much of an obstacle, but Alfonzetti has certainly made this his own. Co-writing most of the songs with Denander and co-producer Johan Kohlberg (the other co-producer and the guy responsible for a stellar mix is Lion’s Share man Lars Criss), between them they’ve given Impera a dynamic, classic hard rock feel yet overlaid it with melodies that wouldn’t feel out of place in any top notch AOR acts repertoire. In some respects it reminds me of Denander’s Prisoner project mixed in with touches of Giant, Whitesnake and Burning Rain and then finished off with a Journeyesque flourish. As I said earlier, it’s Alfonzetti’s bluesy vocal roar that commands the emotional high ground from the first notes of simmering opener ‘’Turn My Heart To Stone’ to the closing strains of ‘Dead End Street’, yet this is far from a one man show. Denander is uniformly excellent throughout, his pumping riffs and spiralling solo’s building an impressive platform for Alfonzetti; the tight rhythms of JK Impera and bassist Mats Vassfjord (Grand Design, Vinnie Vincent) underpinning the whole structure perfectly. I’ll readily admit that bluesy hard rock is probably what got me into this business in the first place, but rarely in recent years have I heard anything remotely new (as in a band that’s previously unproven) sound as fresh or invigorating as Impera.

Dave Cocket

Ad in the last number of Sweden Rock Magazine.

Interview in the last issue of Sweden Rock Magazine.

www.swedenrockmagazine.com

Buckle up and get ready. The band you always wanted to experience actually exists. The perfect amalgamation of everything that makes rock ‘n’ roll with the punches. You wanted the best, well you’ve got it. The whole package. A guitar player who, seemingly effortlessly, delivers stunning solos and riffs of that classic, timeless grit you thought were killed off by grunge. Pounding bass that will put you through the wall. Blistering drumming that’s as solid as it is technically challenging. And on top of all that, add a vocalist that sings circles around the competition. There’s no keyboard player, no nonsense, no fuzz – just rock and roll! To twist things around even further, the band is the brainchild of drummer J.K Impera who acts as the commander in chief in this state of rock.

 
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“Legacy Of Life” is the first attempt of this band assembled by a quartet of KISS fanatics – as the Press release states – but the music stands out as not that KISS-related. The talented musicians rounding this release have all been playing with known names in the music business, from Vinnie Vincent and TOTO to JAGGED EDGE and Graham Bonnet, and the expectations logically rise high in regards to what “Legacy Of Life” is all about. Crank it up and roll on with the music, ok?

It’s a nice album, it really is; the base is powerful Hard Rock with a slight look to the Scandinavian/German technical likes and a relevant glimpse of the American groovy legacy. The quartet performs in high level and you should not complain about low level satisfaction in this sector. The songs themselves have it all, too: fast rockers, sentimental moments, shake-your-booty teasers and a total of ten tracks that shall make you feel fine ‘bout being a rock’n’roller in the first place. There are no keyboards parts here but somehow the music gets melodic when the bands attempts so.

The vocals of Alfonzetti are close to perfection. His voice is warm where needed while he can sound Sunset-Boulevard raised if the songs demand so. The guitars are the ace on this disc, though: Denander lays down his (possibly) most inspiring parts in all this time he has become a sought after player and makes me back up and enjoy his signature performance. The rhythm section is another powerful moment here: close to being a metallic duo, the Vassfjord/Impera team reminds you of how heavyhittin’ Hard Rock shall sound in the bass/drums field without any hesitation. The combination of all the above leads to an album that shows no traces of innovation but surely guarantees good time with your friends or a six-pack company.

“Legacy Of Life” may be the first disc IMPERA puts out but sounds quite promising for a full band… if the band decides to move on. Fans of TALISMAN, ECLIPSE, (post-mid-80s) WHITESNAKE, (sleaze-less) SLAUGHTER and VINNIE VINCENT INVASION should track this album down for further entertainment.

Written by Grigoris Chronis Friday, 12 October 2012 09:41

7/10

Some more articles from around the world.

Here is the latest issue of “BURRN” (Japan) .

If you´re a subscriber of Sweden Rock Magazine you will receive IMPERA:s new single “Shadows In Light” in the next issue plus an interview with the band.

Impera “Legacy of Life” Review

A super group consisting a of mix of Melodic Hard Rockers, Classic Rock licks? Okay I’ll bite on this one. Impera’s debut album “Legacy of Life” is another super charged record filled with enough anthems and hooks on first listen to leave an impact. The band is the birth of a project led by J.K Impera adding special vocals by one of today’s most promising Melodic rockers around in Sweden’s Matti Alfonzetti, and bringing the multifaceted skills of Tommy Denander to the forefront. The line up is enticing and so is the music featured here as influences bring shades of Joe Lynn Turner solo records but with added punch lines and edgier guitar tones and rhythms, good stuff indeed.

I have to be honest and positively lead praises of vocalist Matti Alfonzetti, if you haven’t checked him out yet, you are clearly missing out as this man is one of today’s most gifted talents and one who’s career in the scene should begin to take off. Impera offers the listener a double whammy of classic rock ridden filled hooks with all musicians lending a straight and narrow performance. The record kicks things into high gear with the lead track “Turn My Heart To Stone” a blunt chorus leads this tune into a guilty pleasure of melodic proportions.The ball keeps rolling in the same style with “Shoot Me Down” and “Sunset Rider”, plenty of guitar antics alongside Matti’s excellent pipes stamp down a scorching groove. A little Whitesnake inspired wails hint with the next top tune in “Tell Me”.

Although for some the music may seem redundant because the style and tempo remains true to the earlier songs from opening march, for a Hard Rock fan who enjoys plenty of hooks with tight chops there should be nothing here that is a let down. These guys involved in this project are all pros and their experience should shock no one, hence the quality of the songs on record. JK Impera does a bang up on drums as well as putting this group together and apart from his oddball make up in the press photos or onstage; the music is pretty damn solid too. As with everything the genre of Melodic Hard Rock and it’s releases always find an audience and if you’re in that mold don’t limit yourself and check these guys when the album comes out via Escape Music in October.

Ratings Denys 8/10

Written by Denys

myglobalmind.com

CLASSIC ROCK 8 of 10

Named after JK Impera, a drummer who has played with Vinnie Vincent and more, Impera also feature the much-travelled duo of Matti Alfonzetti on vocals and guitarist Tommy Denander. This extremely fine debut from the Swedish four-piece is full of cultured, deeply hummable rock anthems and top quality musicianship.

[8] of [10]

You can pre-order “Legacy Of Life” at:

www.ginza.se

www.cdon.com

Ad from the next issue of Destroyer Magazine.

J.K. Impera during photosession for Sweden Rock Magazine with photographer Michael Johansson.

The Impera is currently working on the Legacy Of Life, which is expected to be released in October.