Imperial Age - 2022 - New World

(46:47; Atlantean Records)

Track list:
1. Windborn 3:45
2. Legend of the Free 4:13
3. The Way Is the Aim 4:03
4. To the Edge of the Known 3:58
5. The Wheel 3:40
6. Shackles of Gold 4:05
7. Distant Shores 4:51
8. Call of the Towers 18:12

Line-up:
Alexander Osipov - vocals
Jane Odintsova - vocals
Anna Moiseeva - vocals
Pavel Maryashin - guitars
Smitry Belf - bass
Max Talion - drums
with:
Ignaty Timofeev - french horn
Anastasia Yalovetskaya - violin
Dallathar - cello
Diana Akhmetova - trumpet
Oleg Ivanov - trombone
Yulia Simonova - vocals
Marina Suslova - vocals
Anna Belova - vocals
Nino Nizharadze - vocals
Maria Grednikova - vocals
Valeria Mylnikova - vocals
Maksim Larin - vocals
Ivan Lyibmov - vocals
Sergey Terentyev - vocals
Ilya Salman - vocals
Petr Safrshkin - vocals


UK based band Imperial Age has been a productive entity for a decade and a bit by now, operating out of Russia for many years and then relocating, eventually ending up with the UK as their chosen base of operations fairly recently. They have released new material every few years, and have four studio albums to their name at this point. The album "New World" dates back to 2022, and is the most recent studio album by the band. The album was released through the label Atlantean Records, which appears to be a label set up by the band themselves.

On the previous two albums by Imperial Age the style they have focused on has been symphonic metal, with a bit of folk metal tendencies becoming more apparent on their second album. This tendency has been given greater emphasis on this latest album of their, but as an additional feature and an expansion of their style rather than as a defining aspect of the album as such. The main secondary orientation throughout have typically been power metal, which continues to be a factor also on this album.

While some of the compositions are more purebred blends of power metal and symphonic metal, with a strictly defined and dominant role for both of these traditions, other songs expands the boundaries of the landscapes explored a bit more. We have songs where the symphonic elements are toned down a bit, other songs where the power metal gives way to a more galloping execution more in line with classic era power metal, with a few detours into a more traditional heavy metal foundation for the symphonic metal excursions too.

Much the same is the case for the aforementioned folk music presence, which in some cases aren't all that audible, in other cases are restricted to m ore of a harmony or otherwise subtle supporting presence, but on a few occasions the band takes on a more full fledged folk-oriented metal expression here, and combines it with the symphonic metal that is such a defining feature of this band.

The vocals have been a big feature of the band on the previous two albums of theirs, and continue to be a marked presence this time around too. Most of the songs alternates between having singular lead vocalists and plural lead vocalists, but also with space and room for a more choir style backing vocal presence. The boundaries between the latter two aspects will obviously be a bit on the hazy side of matters, but at least as far as my own perception is concerned there were occasions where I felt the layered vocals were given a more distinct lead role and other occasions where my impression was that they had more of a supporting role. The band is also using layered vocals alongside a surge in the instrumental intensity to create powerful and majestic surges that comes with a bit of a bombastic grandiosity as a natural and logical feature. With the massive, concluding epic 'Call of the Towers' being a most appropriate high point and conclusion for the album in general and for the more bombastic parts of this album in particular.

The mix and production is of high quality once again, and my impression is that the sound aesthetics this time around has been given a bit more of a contemporary and smooth finish. This sounds like an album that was made in 2022, with a fresh and compelling quality that probably will make it the most accessible of the albums this band has released so far. While I find their previous album just a little bit more interesting myself, everything I hear on this latest album of their indicates that this one will have a broader impact.

If you tend to find symphonic metal to be an interesting style to explore, then this Russian formed and now UK based band is one that merits an inspection, and this latest studio album of theirs is probably the best place to start due to the more broadly appealing sound on this production.And for those who find the inclusion of a liberal amount of power metal tendencies and a little bit of folk music details into this symphonic metal context to be a positive expansion, I'd say that this album is something of a required listen.

Olav M. Björnsen, September 2023

Links:
https://imperial-age.com/
https://atlantean-records.com/