Imperia (NETHERLANDS)
Posted: 11 Jun 2024, 07:07
Imperia - Secret Passion (2011)
Year : 2011
Style : Symphonic Metal , Gothic Metal , Female vocals
Country : Netherlands
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 141 mb
Bio:
IMPERIA is an atmospheric metal band who’s sound is especially evident by the distinguished voice of Helena Iren Michaelsen who sings in a variety of styles from deep emotional feelings to extreme operatic expressions and grunts.IMPERIA’s music is full of vivacity, it is heavy, bombastic and orchestral, but it also contains elements of pure metal. The band is a true cross-border unit of musicians originating from different countries: Norway, Finland, Germany and Belgium.The first release of IMPERIA was a cover-song “Lotus Eaters” for a Dead Can Dance tribute album which was released in the spring of 2004. In the summer of 2004 IMPERIA played their first gigs and also recorded their debut album “The Ancient Dance of Qetesh”, which was released in autumn of 2004.In 2005 the band recorded another project of Helena called Angel. The album “A Woman’s Diary – Chapter I” was released by Black Lotus Records in the spring of 2005. Though the style of the album was very varied and less metal the band succeeded to demonstrate their versatility and musicianship.Towards the end of 2005 IMPERIA had written enough new material for the second full length. The band teamed up with the German Massacre Records. The second IMPERIA album was titled as “Queen of Light” and it was released in the early 2007.To support the album IMPERIA toured European festivals like TUSKA in Finland, Battle Of Metal in Germany and Magic Circle Festival II in Germany. Imperia was also featured on the MCM festival DVD with two live-tracks.In the autumn of 2010 IMPERIA started recording their third album titled as “Secret Passion”. The recordings took place in different studios and countries this time. “Secret Passion” was released in 2011 and it received excellent reviews in the metal press. The band played gigs in several countries and festivals like Metal Female Voices XI in Belgium and Magic Circle Festival in Helsinki.In 2014 preparations of the next album started to take place. In April 2015 IMPERIA entered the Spacelab studio in Germany once more and recorded 13 tracks for the new album. The title “Tears Of Silence” was chosen as a title for the new album. This time band went for a more straight forward approach with the song material. The songs are straight epic metal songs combined with folk-elements, huge orchestrations and very varied. You can also hear a lot of acoustic instruments next to traditional metal this time. There are flutes and whistles, bagpipes, bozouki, acoustic guitars, violins and also a Russian choir on the album. Vocal-wise Helena goes beyond the usual and you can even hear heavy grunts on some songs. The album is full of emotions and musical styles, a true musical adventure!
Album:
Imperia are a band that I found to be quite interesting. I actually liked their last album so much that I felt the need to review this too. Reviewer ratings are lower, but they're by different people so it's hard to judge the true value of this album when placed side-by-side with Queen of Light. My opinion at any rate is that this album is woefully underrated, and it therefore falls to me to present it in a good light.The first track really makes an impression on me. It gives more than the last album does, throws more at achieving an epic performance. The guitars are heavier and more prominent, the vocals even better than last time around. It doesn't sound like a big change, but coupled with the catchy nature of the song they really impress me. I was worried that maybe Touch of Your Hand might just be a one-off, but those elements continue for the whole album.There are softer moments as well (much of the title track is slow and light, for example, as is Hold On), but whenever the guitars are there they generate a much heavier feeling than they did on the last album. The drums are also more noticeable, and even if the keyboards are left more to sit back and watch I find myself enthralled. This is really what I wanted to hear, and it delivers everything I could have asked for. The melodies aren't sacrificed at all, they're just created in a different way, a way that I personally find to be more entertaining.Who cares if this is an hour long, I don't want to miss out on any of those sixty minutes. Nothing is worth missing or better left out of the mix, it is all completely compelling. Even the weird witchy vocals that would usually be off-putting featured in Suicide are done to a very high standard and they are indeed likable. Admittedly I'd rather the operatic vocals and the plain ones Helena uses across the rest of the album were present here too, but a bit of variety never killed anyone. Besides, they seem to be some sort of trademark for her.For those that care about the lyrics above all else, you may be disappointed. They're a bit cheesy and unoriginal on more than one occasion, but I can't say that I care about what Helena's singing when she does it as well as she does. Her voice is seriously spellbinding, she could probably sing me into jumping off of a cliff if she did it like she does on Secret Passion.Reproducing something to rival this would not be easy by any means, but Imperia have it in them to do it. How on Earth this album merited such low scores is beyond me, but I think it might well be the best gothic metal album I've ever heard.
Line Up:
Helena Iren Michaelsen - Vocals (2003-present) (ex-Angel, ex-Trail of Tears, ex-Sahara Dust, ex-Black Horizon, ex-Black Widow)
Jan "Örkki" Yrlund - Guitars (2003-present) (Prestige, Satyrian, ex-Angel, ex-Danse Macabre, ex-Ancient Rites, ex-Claymore, ex-Lacrimosa, ex-Two Witches)
Gerry Verstreken - Bass (2003-present) (ex-Angel, ex-Beyond the Labyrinth, ex-Chemical Breath, ex-Nightqueen, ex-Manic Movement, ex-Excess of Cruelty)
Steve Wolz - Drums
Tracklist:
01. Touch Of Your Hand 04:34
02. Secret Passion 05:28
03. Fragile 03:42
04. Out Of Sight 04:11
05. Let Down 05:57
06. Violence 04:44
07. Like Rain 04:33
08. Suicide 04:11
09. Hold On 04:09
10. Greed 05:28
11. Missing It All 05:27
12. My Sleeping Angel 03:41
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
Year : 2011
Style : Symphonic Metal , Gothic Metal , Female vocals
Country : Netherlands
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans
Size : 141 mb
Bio:
IMPERIA is an atmospheric metal band who’s sound is especially evident by the distinguished voice of Helena Iren Michaelsen who sings in a variety of styles from deep emotional feelings to extreme operatic expressions and grunts.IMPERIA’s music is full of vivacity, it is heavy, bombastic and orchestral, but it also contains elements of pure metal. The band is a true cross-border unit of musicians originating from different countries: Norway, Finland, Germany and Belgium.The first release of IMPERIA was a cover-song “Lotus Eaters” for a Dead Can Dance tribute album which was released in the spring of 2004. In the summer of 2004 IMPERIA played their first gigs and also recorded their debut album “The Ancient Dance of Qetesh”, which was released in autumn of 2004.In 2005 the band recorded another project of Helena called Angel. The album “A Woman’s Diary – Chapter I” was released by Black Lotus Records in the spring of 2005. Though the style of the album was very varied and less metal the band succeeded to demonstrate their versatility and musicianship.Towards the end of 2005 IMPERIA had written enough new material for the second full length. The band teamed up with the German Massacre Records. The second IMPERIA album was titled as “Queen of Light” and it was released in the early 2007.To support the album IMPERIA toured European festivals like TUSKA in Finland, Battle Of Metal in Germany and Magic Circle Festival II in Germany. Imperia was also featured on the MCM festival DVD with two live-tracks.In the autumn of 2010 IMPERIA started recording their third album titled as “Secret Passion”. The recordings took place in different studios and countries this time. “Secret Passion” was released in 2011 and it received excellent reviews in the metal press. The band played gigs in several countries and festivals like Metal Female Voices XI in Belgium and Magic Circle Festival in Helsinki.In 2014 preparations of the next album started to take place. In April 2015 IMPERIA entered the Spacelab studio in Germany once more and recorded 13 tracks for the new album. The title “Tears Of Silence” was chosen as a title for the new album. This time band went for a more straight forward approach with the song material. The songs are straight epic metal songs combined with folk-elements, huge orchestrations and very varied. You can also hear a lot of acoustic instruments next to traditional metal this time. There are flutes and whistles, bagpipes, bozouki, acoustic guitars, violins and also a Russian choir on the album. Vocal-wise Helena goes beyond the usual and you can even hear heavy grunts on some songs. The album is full of emotions and musical styles, a true musical adventure!
Album:
Imperia are a band that I found to be quite interesting. I actually liked their last album so much that I felt the need to review this too. Reviewer ratings are lower, but they're by different people so it's hard to judge the true value of this album when placed side-by-side with Queen of Light. My opinion at any rate is that this album is woefully underrated, and it therefore falls to me to present it in a good light.The first track really makes an impression on me. It gives more than the last album does, throws more at achieving an epic performance. The guitars are heavier and more prominent, the vocals even better than last time around. It doesn't sound like a big change, but coupled with the catchy nature of the song they really impress me. I was worried that maybe Touch of Your Hand might just be a one-off, but those elements continue for the whole album.There are softer moments as well (much of the title track is slow and light, for example, as is Hold On), but whenever the guitars are there they generate a much heavier feeling than they did on the last album. The drums are also more noticeable, and even if the keyboards are left more to sit back and watch I find myself enthralled. This is really what I wanted to hear, and it delivers everything I could have asked for. The melodies aren't sacrificed at all, they're just created in a different way, a way that I personally find to be more entertaining.Who cares if this is an hour long, I don't want to miss out on any of those sixty minutes. Nothing is worth missing or better left out of the mix, it is all completely compelling. Even the weird witchy vocals that would usually be off-putting featured in Suicide are done to a very high standard and they are indeed likable. Admittedly I'd rather the operatic vocals and the plain ones Helena uses across the rest of the album were present here too, but a bit of variety never killed anyone. Besides, they seem to be some sort of trademark for her.For those that care about the lyrics above all else, you may be disappointed. They're a bit cheesy and unoriginal on more than one occasion, but I can't say that I care about what Helena's singing when she does it as well as she does. Her voice is seriously spellbinding, she could probably sing me into jumping off of a cliff if she did it like she does on Secret Passion.Reproducing something to rival this would not be easy by any means, but Imperia have it in them to do it. How on Earth this album merited such low scores is beyond me, but I think it might well be the best gothic metal album I've ever heard.
Line Up:
Helena Iren Michaelsen - Vocals (2003-present) (ex-Angel, ex-Trail of Tears, ex-Sahara Dust, ex-Black Horizon, ex-Black Widow)
Jan "Örkki" Yrlund - Guitars (2003-present) (Prestige, Satyrian, ex-Angel, ex-Danse Macabre, ex-Ancient Rites, ex-Claymore, ex-Lacrimosa, ex-Two Witches)
Gerry Verstreken - Bass (2003-present) (ex-Angel, ex-Beyond the Labyrinth, ex-Chemical Breath, ex-Nightqueen, ex-Manic Movement, ex-Excess of Cruelty)
Steve Wolz - Drums
Tracklist:
01. Touch Of Your Hand 04:34
02. Secret Passion 05:28
03. Fragile 03:42
04. Out Of Sight 04:11
05. Let Down 05:57
06. Violence 04:44
07. Like Rain 04:33
08. Suicide 04:11
09. Hold On 04:09
10. Greed 05:28
11. Missing It All 05:27
12. My Sleeping Angel 03:41
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
