I wasn’t a massive fan of Kaisarion, the lyrics are amazing but it wasn’t my favourite song…until I heard it live. They opened with these two songs and it entirely changed my feelings about it. It just felt so euphoric and charged, it got everyone so hyped up. It was insane.

A Ghost song in major key may be a weird concept, but I love the contrast with the vocals happily singing about stoning an "apostate witch" to death - and this referring to Hypatia, an ancient philosopher who was killed in part for being a paganist woman during the rise of catholicism in the Roman Empire. This Imperium + Kaisarion combo just makes you feel all happy and confident in this new rising empire that definitely won't fall after making the same mistakes as the ones that came before!

When I first heard this song, I had trouble with the major key "happy" feeling too, but it fits the album so damn well. This is the beginning of a new empire, full of hope and energy, looking forward to the future. It took me a while to warm up to this one, but it has became one of my favorites to just jam.

This was the very first of Ghost's song I have heard. It was the opening song at a show I was taken to by my song, and I was changed. Completely. I couldn't fathom what I was seeing. Papa. The Ghouls, and the effing music. It just grabbed onto my soul and hasn't let go.

I freaking love Kaisarion! It and Imperium are great at hyping you up. It's understandable why Ghost has used them as the opening for their recent concerts. Trust me, these songs are amazing live. But when it comes to Ghost, don't be fooled when their songs sound happy. When you look at the lyrics, it becomes clear that there's still bite to them.

These 2 tracks were one hell of a show opener on the tour. Everyone was hyped! It's Tobias who does the high note on the record but one of the Ghoulettes does it live. I really like Hunter's Moon but it does feel different to the rest of the album. It was written for the Halloween Kills film which is why. Just in case you notice it feels different!

I’m glad you’re finally here. I think I’m most excited for you to reach the album closer “Respite On The Spitalfields”. It’s the heaviest and the grooviest from this album.

Quick fact about this album: Fredrik Åkesson from Opeth had a pretty heavy hand in helping with the guitars on this album. Also, before getting into this song a bit more, I wanted to take a moment to laugh/appreciate what you were saying at the beginning trying to identify a few select songs you love listening to, suddenly finding yourself naming every songs. Same, dude. Same. Anyway, regarding Kaisarion in particular, this is probably my favorite on the album. While it might sound happy on the surface level, it's lyrics are probably the most pointed and damning about organized Christianity yet from Ghost. I think I mentioned a long time ago on a video, that their image is more than just a gimmick, that it's theater with purpose. This is a big one for that. Several of these songs are going to be impossible to discuss without getting into politics, just as a warning, haha... For starters it makes a pretty direct reference about the "bishops with their choir boys en suite" But the 'main character' of this song is Hypatia (you can hear the choir start repeating her name over and over in the chorus). She was a high profile academic in ancient Greece. She was persecuted by people in the name of Christianity, accusing her of being a Satanist. I believe they were also motivated by the fact that she was a woman who was intelligent, a bad pairing I suppose. So they took her to a building known as the Kaisarion and murdered her. Its pretty graphic, as it involved tearing her to pieces, cut out her eyeballs, and so forth. Its brutal. The chorus is basically littered with lambasting a lot of evil Christianity has engaged in over the years, and I suppose the song could potentially operate as a bit of a feminist anthem as well. Continuing on the topic of Christianity's history of oppressing women is the line: "It is the noise of the righteous dogma that hides the handmaid's tail." The next big ones politically speaking will be Twenties and Griftwood. I won't spoil too much about those, but Twenties might be my #2 fave off the album now. When I first heard it, I wasn't so sure and it took some time for me to come around on it. But now, man... Its just so good.

No then you start with the covers and b sides mate.. Also dive into the lore of ghost with the ghost series.. Theres plenty of footage👌

Just like the last album had a theme around the Black Death and mortality, the theme of this album is the rise and fall of empires. The major key here is all about the optimism of the founding of a new empire - the Catholic Church, in the context of this song. A lot of the lyrics here have to do with the destruction of the Caeserion (Kaiserion in German), which was a library, temple, and place of learning in Alexandria, Egypt, and was destroyed and burned by a mob of early Christians. When the Caesarion was destroyed, they also murdered Hypatia of Alexandria (sometimes now called the Martyr of Math), because she was doing the "men's work" of both studying and teaching mathematics, logic, and philosophy. At the time, she was also unmarried, and pregnant, which was perfectly acceptable in her culture, but not to the men who killed her. Those chanting monks in the chorus are repeating her name: Hypatia. One of the first of many women killed by the Church for being intelligent and independent. If you check out the full lyrics, they're pretty savage.

This track is sort of like, the intro to an anime or series, those very happy ones. Like, "take my hand and let's explore the beginning and end of an empire!" Tobias is basically trying to sneak in as much prog and metal as possible into his music while still trying to get a radio-friendly stamp of approval 😂 It sounds very Maiden too!

Man this whole album is such an experience. Since last week when you were finishing Prequelle I went thru Imperia again and man I'm such an emotional mess about it, it got me in the feels so much once more. I guess it was just right time for it again. Happy you're here but sad this journey is coming to the end. But the theme of this one just fits that end so well

Thank you for doing them together. As Tobias plays them when you see Ghost live. And welcome to the best rock album EVER released. I been listening to rock/hard Rock since 1984 and always said that Appetite For Destruction is the only album you need when you're stranded alone on an island. Well, not anymore 😅. Impera is everything you need in your life. You don't believe me? Ok, i give you some facts. Voted Rock Album of the year by American Music Awards. Voted Album of the year by Kerrang. Voted Album of the year by Metal Hammer Voted Album of the year by Loudwire Magazine. And it didn't stop there: Ghost voted artist of the year by Loudwire Magazine So you better strap your ass up on that chair for you sure is up for the ride of your life 🤘!

Believe it or not, that scream at the beginning is Tobias. I always thought they had someone else do it until I saw an interview where he confirmed that it was him. This album is by far the shreddiest and I love it. The concept for this one is the rise and fall of empires. It's funny if you think about it. The concept of the last album was about a plague and it came out before covid and this one came out before the war between Ukraine and Russia. Some might say Ghost's music could be premonitions of what's to come 🤔. They actually have a documentary style skit video up on their channel that pokes fun at that idea lol. It's called Metal Myths: Ghost Pt. 2, I highly recommend you check it out sometime. Also, keep that melody in Imperium in the back of your mind for when you reach the last song. As others have said, the music on this track may be happy but the lyrics definitely are not. I don't know enough about the history behind the lyrics so I'll let them handle the explanation. Finally, just to throw out an idea for that ranking video, one thing you could do is before ranking the albums you could go through each one and maybe say which song was your least favorite and most favorite or the weakest and strongest in your opinion.

As a Ghost Fan since day 1,you ended now at the best Album i have ever heard. And in my opinion,on this album and about the songs,the last will be the best...

This is such a great album. This track in particular gives me such Iron Maiden vibes, like a song that would have come off of one of their later themed albums. You could even imagine Bruce's vocals laid down over this. So good.

People have been shitting on Griftwood but it's absolutely my favorite Ghost song of all time, I'm excited for you to get to it. I really hope you like it as much as I do

From what I've heard, Tobias had the guitarist from Opeth do the guitar solos. This is my favorite album by GHOST!!!!

Kaisarion is such a good show opener. It gets you right in the mood. And yes that's tobias doing the yell at the beginning

I've been looking forward to you getting to Impera. Especially Watcher in the Sky and Darkness at the Heart of My Love!

A lot of people say they hear Rush in Imperium, but to my ears, it's VERY Iron Maiden-sounding.

The major key works a lot for Kaiserion because it goes with the entire theme of the album. The rise and fall of empires. This is the start of this new empire. Full of hope for the future. Unaware of the coming fall. lol

This album features Opeth's Fredrik Åkesson on lead guitar and it's some of the best guitar work we've heard from Ghost thus far. You really hear it in the song Watcher in the Sky. In fact, at one point Tobias had to ask Frederik to "scale down" his leads. Cheers!

i felt the same the first time i heard the song, even thought it didn't fit the style of ghost.. but man, it’s an addictive blast of song!!

That smile at the for 4:59 said it all. Literally me haha

Dude, you are one of us! I’ve been waiting for the next ghost album since 2010! Keep Rock Alive!! 🤘🏽🖤🔥🙌🏼 ℁

Tobias uses the word Proggy so much I'm sure he'd be very much in agreement with your commentary 😅

That happy vibe is the deception

Great! This song kicks off the album - and the concept of Empires - with a major-key fanfare, but cautionary lyrics about the tragic Hypatia, the Handmaids Tale's and Bishops's with Choir Boys ensuite. Heavy topics. Guitar is next level here, courtesy of Opeth's Fredrik Akesson (a close friend of Tobias'). Though Tobias did all the demos, Fredrik tracked all the guitars.

Opening their concerts with Imperium+Kaisarion is the best so far.

My reaction to Kaisarion was like: "It sounds too happy which is sad but I love it anyway." :DDDD Kaisarion is somehow a killer song for me and I dont know what actually makes me love it but it does. :D But this album is about rises and falls of empires so this opening simply must begin this happy so its on point. :)

That middle section is so like Rush that if i didn’t know it was Ghost, i’d swear it was Rush.

One other thing about this album...it has Fredrik Åkesson from Opeth doing a lot of the guitar work on some songs.

Keep that melody of "Imperium" in mind. It'll come back some time later on the album. 😉

I get you. This album to me is perfect, and this song was the one that I wasn’t able to love it at first. I do now. It’s such a great opener.

This one is featuring on the nhl23 soundtrack.. A big honor for what I think. Each song on that soundtrack, since the early 2000, got acknowledgement year after year 👌

Genuinely shocked by your reaction. This is a superb song. And that's coming from someone who listened to this album expecting to dismiss it like I had the other Ghost albums. This is the song that triggered me into revisiting all of my previous opinions about Ghost. And your problem is a MAJOR key? In 20 years as a musician it's the first time I've heard another musician complain about a great song being in the wrong key.

When you get a chance see the opening show after album was released do it please. Man, starting Ritual with Imperium and grand reveal and starting Kaiserion... I wanna see them live so bad it's unreal

So once you're done with the album, don't forget to do the Chapters! We'd love to see your reaction to those. You got a small taste of one with the beginning of Kiss the Goat, the rest don't disappoint!

Love you got to the latest album! I highly recommend you to watch “live at the ministry”. This live performance was filmed last year and the ghouls and ghoullets are the ones from this past tour. Find the one with the “after party”, it has 2 extra songs including Enter Sandman 🤌🏻🖤

Watcher in the Sky is my favorite song on this album, but the whole album is great!

the whole album is done in 80's rock arena style.. so you'll get plenty of major chords ;)

If you think this is an odd song, wait until Twenties…😅

Impera as a whole was such a grower for me. Like i dont think there was any songs in this album that i fell in love instantly, except Griftwood and even that one got better after each listen. Now, a year later, this is probably my favorite album alongside Infestissumam.

I still have to be in the “mood” for this song, but the high note at the beginning is fire. It’s a gorgeous mix of instrumentation, I’ll say that. This whole album is a good listen through one - and I can’t wait for you to get to Griftwood, and Twenties. Such a crazy song!!

Same, the major key shocked me when I first heard it. Now I'm more used to it. But still wish I could hear a minor key version of this song

Totally agree. I'm also not the biggest fan of the 'happy' songs, which is why 'Impera' is not my favorite album. I absolutely love 'Darkness at the Heart of My Love' and 'Call me Little Sunshine', but other than that, I favour albums 1-4. 'Infestissumam' and 'Prequelle' are more my cup of tea.

More GHOST! This is my Favorite GHOST album currently. Your going to hear New music style never heard before in the history of Rock & Roll. Wow Twenties Hahaha

You have cutest smile ever!

The story of this song is dark even tho it sound more upbeat! It’s amazing in concert!

The detail at 13:49 you wondered if it was a pick scrape, sounds to me like overtone harmonics, like flageolettes, but slide them along the string

The band uses this as an opening you need to watch it on one of the live shows

I've been looking forward to your reaction on this one! My favorite thing is watching people encounter That Scream in Kaisarion for the first time; you definitely didn't disappoint. Major key stuff isn't the biggest draw for me either, so I get what you were saying about the happiness of it being a little off-putting compared to the rest of Ghost's stuff. But I swear, this song will grow on you like you can't even believe. Thanks as always for the reaction!

If you haven't reacted to griftwood yet from this album, you ABSOLUTELY have got to, such a banger!!

Is it just me or if this song looked like something, it would look like the album cover. The album cover just describes the vibe of this song so perfectly.

This album is has won or has been nominated for many awards. Its a great rock album, but my go to for Ghost is still OPUS

Not even gonna lie, I did not like Kaisarion at first, but one day I couldn’t stop singing the pre chorus to myself and forced myself to give it another shot and boy am I glad it did cause once I realized what the lyrics were it blew me tf away. It’s a real grower, smacks you in the face the first time you hear it but afterwards you just keep finding new shit to like about it

Also Mary on a cross has probably gotten a lot of KZfaqrs a lot of views. Ghost choosing that song as the one to showcase as a live video shows how massively popular it’s gotten. Especially with people that aren’t really ghost fans.

I can't wait to see this reviewwwwwwwwwww. 😍

Imho this is the best album so far.

This be me fav'rit Ghost shanty!

This song is probably my favorite ghost song. I'm more into the lyrics tho and to get them you need some context so I recommend googling Hypatia. For those who are too lazy for that, Hypatia was a philosopher who was murdered by a christian mob in building called Kaisarion.

It took me a while to like Kaisarion, honestly. When I first heard it, the happy sound of it kinda put me off, too. Not cause it sounded musically bad, just cause I wasn't really expecting that from Ghost. But based on the theme of the album, it does make sense. That happiness is the false promise at the birth of a new empire. And like another comment said, it's definitely one of their most damning songs about organized religion/Christianity, with the lyrics referring directly to the burning of the Library of Alexandria, as well as the murder of Hypatia which took place in the Caesareum (Kaisarion), which had been converted into a Christian church. Those lyrics are so poignant and have so much bite to them. It's now one of my favourites by Ghost.

The happiest sounding song with the darkest lyrics. Also, I'm not surprised you had mixed feelings because you made the mistake of coming into a new Ghost song with expectations. And by now you should know not to do that. ;)

Good news is you still have a couple eps to run through.

It grows on you. It was ny least favorite on the album at first but is now top 5.

I get the feeling you're really gonna dig the style of Watcher In the Sky.

Imperium sounds like the start of Marillon's "Childshoods End" - Album from the 80's 😋!!!

You say it sounds happy, but I think I'd go with "triumphant." He kinda weaponizes the major key use that way.

What's crazy about this album is that most songs have that happy uplifting sound to them, yet the lyrics are some of the deepest and darkest Tobias has wrote. At first I was torn on this 'Stadium Rock' sounding album, but it's a masterpiece in all reality, and I fucking love it now. They have so many different sounds, I cannot wait to hear what he has in store for us next, because he's teased that Ghost is going for a big change and a good one.

Sounds like a Weird Al Yankovich original song.

I’m still waiting for you to watch the LaurenFx lore video

Sounded a bit too "happy" on my first listen as well but it has grown on me a lot and fits the album so well.

Holy crap 4:32 reaction

Maybe this song will grow on you, I did not enjoy it that much at first either

I know what he means. Its hard to start liking many of the songs on this album, but they grow on you and get better. except some which i dislike for ever it seems

Kaisarion is my least favorite song on this album. I'm not compatible with major keys but I love the rest.

I love a lot of elements of this record! Like progressions/melodies, fantastic production, virtuosity, all awesome details, damn cool key changes/modulations etc. What I'm disappointed in however is all repetition/basic song structures "underneath" all ear candy. Made me get tired of this album really fast. And it's a shame, cause all other elements are so damn great! To much repetition, too predictive

To save myself from disappointment I will predict Twenties will be one of your least favorite Ghost songs lol. I enjoy the song quite a bit but the level of camp in that one is out of control and I also get when people dont love it.

Did you ever watch Phineas and Ferb when you were younger, for me Kaisarion sounds just like that series opening song. This song is too cheesy and happy for me and not one of my favorites from the album. Looking forward to you reacting to the rest!