Imperial Age, a symphonic metal band from Russia have celebrated the successful launch of their very first festival. Singers Jane and Aor moved to the UK in 2022, where they were endorsed as Exceptional Talents by the Arts Council England. The band releases music through their own label, Atlantean Records LTD, and is mostly fan-funded. The band have also recently launched their own festival in London, known as The Imperial Age Festival, which was a huge success.
Exploring Mythological Themes through Music
Imperial Age’s music is steeped in mythological and historical themes. Many of their songs, on albums such as The Legacy of Atlantis, delve into the stories of mythological figures and ancient civilizations. In power metal, this is a very common theme, as the music adopts a larger-than-life narrative to convey the stories being told.
The theme of mythology has become so popular with audiences, that other forms of media have begun to put a bigger focus on it. An example of this would be the Age of the Gods slots franchise. The first game was released in 2016, just four years after Imperial Age launched, and has since become one of the most popular games of the genre. The game has led to an impressive list of sequels, including a roulette game, with characters and symbols that reflect Greek gods and their lore. Some of the gods include Zeus, Athena and Poseidon, all of which have inspired Imperial Age when crafting songs that invoke the archetypes of gods, heroes and mythological wars.
Imperial Age’s sound can be categorized with orchestral arrangements, heavy riffs and powerful vocals, with the band often using choirs to try and create a grandiose and cinematic feel, something that resonates well with fans of power metal.
The Launch of the Imperial Age Festival
Imperial Age launched their festival in London after being fan-funded. Orden Ogan was to be the headliner of the festival but unfortunately couldn’t make it at the last minute. Imperial Age stepped up and became the headliner, with other bands on the bill including Crusade of Bards, Battle Born and Pythia. The band, who have millions of video views, have said the festival was a huge success. The festival took place last month at the Dome in Tufnell Park, with the festival set to return next year. The band have since said that the festival gave them the chance to step up their production, with additional lights and a fully upgraded sound experience. This, in combination with solidifying their presence on UK soil, has helped the band to gain additional publicity within the heavy metal genre.
We are stocked to announce the line up of the first ever edition of IMPERIAL AGE FESTIVAL! See you on October the 5th at the O2 Academy in London! Tickets are flying fast 😉 pic.twitter.com/zREI8S4RuX
— Imperial Age (@imperialageband) August 14, 2024
The band have also released a new single, Gnosis, through their own label which features heavier vocals and ancient Latin lyrics, a new angle from the band that’s gone down well with fans. With the band rising so quickly through the ranks of the power metal genre, it may be that fan-funded festivals begin to become the norm, as more independent artists, or bands who are signed to their own label, strive to make their mark on the music world. This not only offers bands more creativity but also allows them to explore more unique opportunities, as Imperial Age have just done.
