October 31st, 2026 - An Impera Slasher

 

Hello, hails, and Happy Halloween my friends... the Meista here pairing another great craft brew with another great album!  I'm going with Ghost's wonderful "Impera" along with a bold, hoppy, and very tasty Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA from the fine folks at New Belgium Brewing Company!  Hell yeah!

Album Info:

• Artist: Ghost
• Title: "Impera"
• Recorded: April 2020 through July 2021 at Atlantis Metronome and Apmamman Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, and Capitol Studios in Hollywood, California
• Release date: March 11th, 2022 (5th studio album by Ghost)
• Record company: Loma Vista
• Production: Klas Åhlund
• Album cover art: Zbigniew Bielak
• Personnel: Tobias Forge aka Papa Emeritus IV (vocals, guitars, bass, and drums) and A Group of Nameless Ghouls (guitars, bass, drums, keyboards)
• Additional musicians: Fredrik Åkesson (guitars), Martin Hederos (piano and organ), and Hux Nettermalm (drums)
• Choir: Lita Åhlund, Alva Åkesson, Olivia Boman, Jade Ell, Estherlivia, Minou Forge, Ida Gratte, Ida Johansson, Inez Johansson, Anna Mosten, Elvira Nettermalm, and Johanna Eriksson Sanmark
• Musical style: Hard rock with elements of heavy metal, glam metal, progressive rock/metal, and pop
• Sound: Dark and dramatic, yet catchy and upbeat, "Impera" is a wonderfully rocking and melodic album with lots of influence from Blue Öyster Cult, Queen, Boston, Dio, Def Leppard, and even a little ABBA!  The music is complex, guitar driven, very 1970s! 
• Major themes: With songs about the rise and ultimate collapse of empires, themes on the album include death, war, destruction, corruption, doom, the occult, Satan, carpe diem, mortality, etc.
• Tracks:

1. "Imperium"
2. "Kaisarion"
3. "Spillways"
4. "Call Me Little Sunshine"
5. "Hunter's Moon"
6. "Watcher In The Sky"
7. "Dominion"
8. "Twenties"
9. "Darkness At The Heart Of My Love"
10. "Griftwood"
11. "Bite Of Passage"
12. "Respite On The Spitalfields"

Brew Info:

• Brewery: New Belgium Brewing Company (Fort Collins, Colorado)
• Website: https://www.newbelgium.com/ 
• Brew: Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA
• Style: Imperial India Pale Ale (IIPA)
• Serving: 12 ounce can
• ABV: 7.5%
• Ingredients: House Ale yeast, Pale and Caramel malts, and Centennial, Pahto, and Citra Incognito hops
• Pour: The Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA pours a slightly cloudy, deep copper-amber hue with a frothy, off-white, 2+ finger head with great retention and lots of sticky, intricate, and layered lacing.
• Nose: The nose is very citrusy, floral, herbal and malty.  There are aromas of tangerine, pink grapefruit, a hint of mango, wildflowers, roasted barley, bitter herbs, herbal tea, caramel, and a hint of booze.
• Taste: The taste of the Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA follows the nose with lots of citrusy, punchy, hop-forward, fruit flavors.  There are big notes of grapefruit juice and tangerine along with more subtle notes of mango, light pineapple, black tea, white pepper, and caramel/toffee.
• Mouthfeel: Medium to full-bodied and moderately carbonated, the Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA's mouthfeel is very crisp and juicy with a dry, slightly boozy, and slightly sweet finish.

Overall pairing: The complex and bold, yet very crushable, very drinkable tastiness of the Voodoo Ranger Slasher IPA is perfect for an evening of rocking to the unique and fun music of Ghost!  The brighter citrus aromas and flavors go great with Papa's vocals, while the more herbal and biting hop notes go great with the richly textured musical passages and themes.  'Nuff said!

Cheers!!  Rock on!!