review: Imperatore - neosymphonic melodic-gothic metal from Australia

Imperatore

The Lionspirit

Rockshots Records

19 December 2025

The proceedings start with a neosymphonic version of Iron Maiden's "Ides of March," the instrumental introduction to the 1981 classic album Killers, the second and final album with Paul Di'Anno (1958-2024) on vocals. Imperatore, on the other hand, is an Australian neosymphonic melodic band featuring midrange and lower-register vocals. Imperatore's singing has a gothic quality. At times, the tone of the voice may remind you of Powerwolf, Danzig, or Volbeat (or even The Doors or Elvis Presley, if you go back far enough), while at other times, the voice is closer to Alice Cooper or 1990s-era Metallica. Vocally, these are simply reference points to explain two things: first, that the music is neosymphonic but the vocals are not operatic, as is sometimes the case in melodic metal; and second, that you should expect solid, pleasant singing without any irritating qualities.

Regarding the gothic influence: male goth vocals can sometimes feel exaggerated or even silly, such as the style of Type O Negative, but Imperatore is much more measured. Their approach is closer to Kamelot's more gothic moments, meaning it is reasonable and well-balanced. If you enjoy male vocals that stay within a natural range without banshee screaming, this album could be a great discovery for you.

Imperatore's debut album was released in 2023, followed by a sophomore effort in 2024, making this their third release. The music here is not "metal fast" or "metal aggressive," but is instead midtempo and anthem-based. It occasionally moves into an uptempo hard rock or classic heavy metal feel, but it never reaches double-bass, thrash-like speeds. In other words, the music is played at a tempo that listeners of all ages can enjoy and appreciate. The guitars focus on big rhythms that serve the song, working with the bass and drums as a single unit to deliver tracks with big grooves. The melodies come primarily from the keyboards and vocals rather than the guitars because this is not guitar-driven music.

Therefore, if you are looking for melodic, neosymphonic heavy metal with midrange singing, I recommend putting this album on your radar. Lyrically, there seems to be a Roman Empire-themed vibe to the record, though I cannot say much more as the information overlords who provided this album gave me the music but not the lyrics. For that reason, while I wholeheartedly recommend the music, I cannot comment on the lyrical depth or specific content, though personal struggle and inner strength appear to be recurring themes throughout.

IMPERATORE - Be A Man (Official Music Video)

IMPERATORE - Shadows Of The Gods (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

IMPERATORE - My Life (Official Music Video)

https://www.facebook.com/imperatoreband