Imperial Age most prominently refers to a Russian-origin symphonic power metal band (now based in the UK), while also denoting historical periods of empire-building and a late-game stage in the Age of Empires video game series.
The Band: Imperial Age
Imperial Age is a symphonic power metal band founded in 2012 in Moscow by singers/composers Alexander “Aor” Osipov and Jane “Corn” Odintsova. They later relocated first to Turkey and then to Northampton, England, after publicly condemning Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine (becoming one of the first Russian metal acts to do so openly). The band secured UK residency via an Arts Council England “Exceptional Talent” endorsement.
The name draws inspiration from mythic places such as Atlantis and Hyperborea rather than modern political states. Lyrics explore magic, the occult (Hermeticism, Hermetic Qabalah, runic magic, paganism, Bon), and the legacies of ancient civilizations including Egypt, Sumer, and Mesoamerican cultures. The music blends power-metal intensity with orchestral and choral elements, dual (sometimes triple) lead vocals, and epic, cinematic themes of lost knowledge, freedom, and high fantasy.
Key members (as of recent lineups) include Osipov and Odintsova on vocals, alongside British and Italian musicians such as Colin Parks and Daniel Carpenter (guitars), Dan Quiney (bass), and Manuele Di Ascenzo (drums). Earlier lineups featured additional vocalists (e.g., Anna Kiara/Anna Moiseeva).
Notable releases include:
- Turn the Sun Off! (2012 debut, featuring guest musicians from Russian metal scenes).
- Warrior Race (EP, mid-2010s).
- The Legacy of Atlantis (2018 metal-opera concept album about an Atlantean magician reborn in medieval Italy; widely regarded as a breakthrough with strong streaming and video performance).
- New World (2022, fan-supported, heavier and more upbeat in places, recorded amid relocation challenges; includes tracks like “Windborn,” “Legend of the Free,” and the extended “Call of the Towers”).
- Live releases, singles (e.g., “Gnosis,” “The Way is the Aim”), and covers (notably Therion’s “To Mega Therion,” which helped attract attention from Therion’s Christofer Johnsson and distribution via Adulruna Records).
The band built a dedicated international following through DIY effort—hundreds of European shows, large online concerts with choir/orchestra (drawing over 100,000 viewers), and independent merch/fulfillment operations—despite early obstacles from working out of Russia and later upheaval. Recent activity includes a heavier sonic direction (extreme vocals, breakdowns, lower tunings on some material), new music videos (e.g., “Gnosis” produced by the team behind Sleep Token/Lorna Shore clips), European touring, and major 2026 festival slots (including Bloodstock main stage and Arena Grand Paris). They maintain an active presence via imperial-age.com, Spotify (tens/hundreds of thousands of monthly listeners reported in various sources), YouTube, and merchandise.
The band’s story illustrates resilience: starting with limited industry access, achieving organic growth through quality and persistence, navigating geopolitical disruption, and rebuilding as a multinational UK-based act while retaining core thematic and musical identity.
