BIOGRAPHY 2024

IMPERIA is an atmospheric metal band distinguished by the versatile vocals of Helena Iren Michaelsen, who covers a variety of styles, from deep emotional expressions to powerful operatic interpretations and growls. Their music is vibrant, heavy, grandiloquent and orchestral, but retains elements of pure metal. The band consists of musicians from Norway, Finland, Germany and Belgium, making it a truly cross-border ensemble.

IMPERIA's career began with their first release, a cover of «Lotus Eaters» for a Dead Can Dance tribute album in the spring of 2004. That summer, they played their first concerts and recorded their first album, «The Ancient Dance of Qetesh», released in autumn 2004.

In 2005, they embarked on another Helena project called Angel, which resulted in the album «A Woman's Diary - Chapter I», released by Black Lotus Records in the spring of 2005. This album, more varied and less metal, showed the band's versatility and musical talent.

By the end of 2005, IMPERIA had composed enough material for their second full-length album and teamed up with German label Massacre Records. «Queen of Light» was released in early 2007. To promote the album, IMPERIA toured European festivals such as TUSKA in Finland, Battle Of Metal in Germany and Magic Circle Festival II in Germany, and appeared on the MCM festival DVD with two live tracks.

In autumn 2010, IMPERIA began recording their third album, «Secret Passion», in different studios in various countries. Released in 2011, it received excellent reviews in the metal press. The band performed in several countries and festivals, such as the Metal Female Voices XI in Belgium and the Magic Circle Festival in Helsinki.

In 2014, preparations for the next album began. In April 2015, IMPERIA entered the Spacelab Studio in Germany and recorded 13 tracks for «Tears Of Silence», which was released later that year.

In 2017, IMPERIA began writing new material with the aim of creating a more compact and direct album, while retaining their signature sound. They collaborated again with Oliver Philipps for the orchestral and vocal recordings, and recorded the drums at Fantom Studio in Finland with Samu Oittinen. Jacob Hansen, who had mixed «Secret Passion», was in charge of mixing and mastering. The album, entitled «Flames Of Eternity», was released in early 2018.

In 2019, IMPERIA played at the Release Athens Festival in Greece. Shortly thereafter, drummer Steve Wolz left the band to focus on his family and Merijn Mol, an old Dutch friend, replaced him. With this line-up, the band played at the Female Voices festival in Holland and another concert in Belgium.

In early 2020, the band started recording their next album, which was finished in April. They met in Germany for photo and video shoots in the summer. Oliver Philipps was in charge of orchestration and Jacob Hansen was in charge of mixing and mastering the album. Titled «The Last Horizon», it was their most epic and grandiose album to date, split into two CDs.

In 2023, IMPERIA began writing new material in the style of its predecessor. By early 2024, the album was ready, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen. The first single, «Better Place», was released in the summer of 2024, and the album «Dark Paradise» followed on 26 July. Welcome to IMPERIA's versatile musical adventure.

HELENA IREN MICHAELSEN - Voice
JAN ÖRKKI YRLUND - Guitars
MERIJN MOL - Drums
GERRY VERSTREKEN - Bass

Original text by: IMPERIA, Taken from their WEB page.

Translation made with the free version of the translator DeepL.com