IMPERIAL AGE
THE LEGACY OF ATLANTIS
Album Review by Chris Palmer
9/10
It has been quite some time since I last reviewed an album. A combination of health and life events have prevented me from doing what I love, listening to and reviewing music. The beginning of a new year, however, has enabled me to get myself more organised, mindful and raring to get going… and what better way to start 2019 with the latest offering from Russian Symphonic Metal band Imperial Age.
Hailing from Moscow, this sextet was formed in 2012 and have released two full-length albums between formation and 2016… “Turn The Sun Off!” [2012] and “Warrior Race” [2016]. The latter of which I reviewed for this very website two years ago [https://metalgodstv.com/imperial-age-album-review-warrior-race]. I remember it well and was mightily impressed, awarding it a worthy 9.5/10.
During the early stages of 2018, Imperial Age released its third full-length, “The Legacy Of Atlantis”. Even though it’s almost a year old, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to review this record, but can it reach the heights of its awesome predecessor…?
Clocking in at 48 and a half minutes, “The Legacy Of Atlantis” is a powerful slab of Symphonic Metal Opera. Its nine tracks offer the listener an exhilarating experience with elements of beautiful melodies and heavy, powerful riffs. The music’s so powerful it ignites the soul and can quite easily fit on a Heavy Metal Festival stage, or on stage at a West End Theatre. The operatic elements are utterly amazing. I’m nodding my head to the riffs and experiencing shivers because of the male/female vocal attack!
The album flows perfectly, with each song telling a story while keeping you firmly in its grip and it all starts with “The Awakening”, which sets the path for what’s in store. Third track, “The Monastery”, is an absolute monster of a song, melodic and epic in every way!
Sitting in between the great “Life Eternal” and the slow-moving, yet powerful “Love Eternal” is “Domini Canes”. This fifth number contains a rhythm to die for, while “The Escape” is a Heavy Metal fan’s dream with riffs that’ll send you into a headbanging frenzy! You’ll breeze through the next number before the album closes with the epic “And I Shall Find My Home”.
Oh my goodness, this truly is a cracking album, which provides a display of the amazing abilities of this sextet. Yes, the music’s over-the-top. It’s also bombastic, yet also beautiful in equal measure as Imperial Age take you on an amazing journey, plowing through each song with precision and power. The triple vocal attack from Alexander Osipov, Jane Odintsova and Anna Moiseeva is absolutely spellbinding and works together well with the heavy instruments combined. The rhythm section of Belf [Bass] and Max Talion [Drums] is thunderously brilliant, as is Pavel Maryashin’s guitar-play. Every member of this band have been clearly blessed with talent in abundance.
Discovering gems like Imperial Age is why I enjoy music so much, and I’m thankful to be in the position to review such albums as this one. In fact, being able to review “The Legacy Of Atlantis” is an absolute privilege. This is a cracking album that, in my personal opinion, puts Imperial Age up there with heavyweights such as Nightwish and Within Temptation. This album is well worthy of your attention, as is the band’s back catalogue.
Imperial Age will be embarking on a European Tour in early 2019, with UK dates between the 31st of January and the 4th of February. If this album is anything to go, then the live shows will be awesome, so don’t miss out!
TRACKLIST
- The Awakening
- The Legacy Of Atlantis
- The Monastery
- Life Eternal
- Domini Canes
- Love Eternal
- The Escape
- Islands In Time
- And I Shall Find My Hom
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