Imperial State Electric

Nicke Andersson, the former leader of Entombed and the Hellacopters, established Imperial State Electric during 2009, yet the venture actually constituted a backup scheme, or perhaps a third option. Once the Hellacopters disbanded in 2008, the seasoned drummer and guitarist first pursued a solo album on which he would play every instrument in the manner of Dave Grohl’s early Foo Fighters recordings, aside from limited guest spots by longtime associates Dregen and Boba Fett, both ex-Hellacopters members, along with Death Breath’s Neil Leyton. At the same moment Andersson formed the separate group Cold Ethyl with guitarist Tobias Egge, bassist Dolf de Borst formerly of the Datsuns, and drummer Thomas Eriksson, an outfit that later morphed into Imperial State Electric. Consequently the Imperial State Electric name appeared on the augmented solo material when it reached stores in March 2010, catching many listeners off guard with its earnest nod to 1970s classic rock, glam, and power pop. The band then toured extensively across Europe, performing for large crowds, before reconvening as a genuine collective to record the follow-up album Pop War, which surfaced in early 2012.