Sean Paul - Imperial Blaze

"It's all about going hard and keeping it hot", Sean Paul says about his fourth studio album 'Imperial Blaze', and he wasn't lying. The follow-up to 2005's 'The Trinity', packs a weighty punch thanks to rough-and-ready dancehall beats and dirty MCing.

As recent single 'So Fine' proved, the fire and passion in Paul's heart is far from extinguished in his four year absence, yet this is one of the tamer songs on the record. Spitting his fiery, gruff vocals over clapping snares, tumbling beats and digital bass, Sean has collaborated with the cream of the crop in dancehall production, with Stephan "Di Genius" McGregor providing the majority of the hard-hitting backing tracks throughout the 20-song album.

Interestingly, Sean himself offers one production - the LPs closing 'I Know U Like It', and it rivals a fair share of beats on display elsewhere on the disc. The only downside for his comeback, unfortunately, comes from the token lighter moments, that offer tamer interludes to an otherwise tough and strong selection of cuts. 'Hold My Hand' and 'Straight From My Heart' are forgettable, watered-down commercial reggae, whilst 'Pepperpot' makes poor use of acoustic guitars to little effect.

Having taken four years out of the limelight since his last solo album, was 'Imperial Blaze' worth the wait? Well... it's his finest moment laid to CD, without doubt.