Imperiet Essentials

Imperiet emerged from the ashes of '70s Swedish punk outfit Ebba Grön with a fresh approach, mixing the newer styles of synth-pop and New Wave with their first love: a forthright punk stance manifested in poetic and political songwriting. Hailed as the biggest rock band of 1985, they unleashed monster hits that steamrolled through the Swedish alternative into the mainstream market. With poppy anthems rubbing shoulders with goosebump-inducing ballads, and literary references meeting surrealism, they created a varied and epic signature sound, all fuelled by Joakim Thåström's aching vocals.