‘Imperial April’ is the self-titled debut album from the power-pop four-piece band from Ōtautahi Christchurch, fronted by vocalist and guitarist Victoria Knopp.

Imperial April have been steadily releasing singles since 2020, including a sweet, indie-pop cover of Victoria by The Dance Exponents, and a Christmas-themed EP.

‘Imperial April’ mostly leans towards bouncy ’90s alt/grunge-rock, while including many pop tones with glorious harmonies, twisty chord progressions, and in the case of Release Me disco-drum beats, shiny synths and a killer chorus hook. They get gritty too, and I Didn’t Go channels hard rock with a heavy riff and excellent intricate guitar solo.

The album takes a break from the higher-velocity approach with Boredom Pays and Baby Blue – the first a fuzzy, delicate ballad, the second a classic pop song with beautiful melodies, soaring vocals and cinematic backing. Both songs are picks for album highlight.

Thematically the album looks inward with lyrics indicating self-reflection, anxiety and fears, contrasting with the upbeat, bright music – listen to the chorus of opener Peachy to hear Knopp’s uplifting vocals taking it to another level.

As a musical entity Imperial April are incredibly tight, with great performances from all involved, as they anchor writer, producer and frontwoman Victoria Knopp’s versatile vocal work. With 12 enjoyable tracks ‘Imperial April’ is an accomplished album of strong songs, and a good length to showcase the band’s tonal range and style shifts. Hard to believe it’s their debut album.