Queen of Light

Imperia

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 23, 2007)
• Original Release Date: March 26, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Locomotive Spain
• ASIN: B000VKL0JO
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #187,459 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Mirror

2. Fly Like the Wind

3. Raped by the Devil

4. Broken Wings

5. Braveheart

6. Facing Reality

7. Norway

8. Abyssum

9. Birth of...

10. Queen of Light

11. Fata Morgana

12. Calling

13. Missing You

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Imperia is an atmospheric metal band who's sound is especially evident by the distinguished and remarkable strong voice of Helena Iren Michaelsen (ex- Trail Of Tears), who sings in a variety of styles from deep emotional feelings to extreme operatic expressions. The music is full of vivacity, it is heavy, bombastic and orchestral, but it also contains elements of pure metal. The band is a true cross-border unit of musicians originating from different countries: Norway, Finland, Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands. Through hard work and extensive touring the band has earned its reputation as a powerful live band. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another masterpiece from Helena Iren Michaelsen and Imperia!, June 4, 2007

By	Christina Andersen (Denmark) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Queen of Light (Audio CD)

This album is simply amazing! Helena's (ex. Trail of Tears and Sahara Dust) voice really shines through here. You can hear her sing a classic metal (and rather sexy) song "Raped By The Devil", a power ballad like "Broken Wings" and then you can hear her using her operatic vocals on songs like "Abyssum", "Queen Of Light" and "Mirror". On the song "Norway", Helena sings in Norwegian. There is even a song with Helena's little daughter, Angel. You can hear her crying on "The Birth Of..." (the intro to "Queen Of Light").
My favourites are "Raped By The Devil", Queen Of Light", "Braveheart" (about William Wallace as you might have guessed) and "Abyssum". Abyssum is so beautiful - an epic song about being lost and finding you path in life. It really touches me when I'm listening to it.

I can definitely recommend this album! I've been listening to it over and over again and it just gets better and better each time. BUY IT!! I promise you you'll love it ;o)

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have Symphonic-Metal Album, October 22, 2008

By	Broken_Harlequin (Australia) - See all my reviews

My music libray has been steadily growing for several years, and now consists of what I like to think is a very impressive collection of gothic, symphonic, doom, folk metal, etc., etc. Everything in the 'goth' genre (using the term loosely, of course).
I picked up 'Queen of Light' by Imperia a few months ago, and I'm certainly happy that I did. It really is quite a stunning album, featuring the extraordinarily versatile vocals of Helena Michaelson (Ex- Trail of Tears). It quickly found a place in my top 50.
Imperia have a very well-defined sound, not as bombastic as Nightwish or Epica, but very well structured. Helena's dilivery switches between a powerful, more conventional-sounding 'rock' voice, to stunning operatic tones. No two of the songs here sound the same, and I do not beleive that there is a weak track present. I would have to say, however, that the stand out songs for me are: 'Raped by the Devil', 'Broken Wings','Braveheart', 'Norway' & 'The Calling.'
Even though my review only says 4/5 stars, I'd really give this about 4.5/5 (I save my five-stars only for masterpeices like Draconian's 'Arcane Rain Fell', and Theatre of Tragedy's 'Aegis')
That said, I would certainly recommend Imperia to anyone with a taste for this kind of music. They have a sound that it entirely their own, whilst still adhering to everything that we know and love about symphonic metal.

I'm curious that one reviewer said they sounded too 'commercial'... I don't really think so; I think they've got a very well-balanced sound. While I do prefer real gothic-metal, I don't mind the so-called commercial-sounding bands (I also listen to Evanescence after all); I think there's just too much stigma about all that. Good music is good music. And Imperia are fantastic - pick up this album today, you won't regret it!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good but could have been better, July 1, 2008

By	E. Anderson - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

A year ago I discovered Imperia on one of the social networking sites I belong to. I am a big fan of gothic metal music fronted by women. I certainly liked what I heard from the samples I had heard. Not too long ago I finally got around to buying their latest album QUEEN OF LIGHT. For the most part, QUEEN OF LIGHT is a solid gothic metal album. Solid drumming, heavy basslines, aggressive guitar riffs, and big operatic vocals from Helena Michaelsen. Unfortunately what bogs down the album is: a) silly lyrics, and b) the oversinging by Helena. Now I am not expecting Shakespeare type lyrics but I certainly don't want to hear such atrocious dreck like "R*ped by the Devil". I would expect that garbage from bands like Cradle of Filth and Children of Bodom. The lyrics for "Missing You" is pretentious as heck. Then there is Helena's vocals. She tends to overdo it for me. Personally she pales in comparison to ex-Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen. Her vocals really irks me on "The Calling" which I equate it to nails on a chalkboard. My personal favorite song on the entire album is "Facing Reality". The pop hooks in that song is super catchy. I also like "Mirror", and "Broken Wings". Although I have given this album four stars, I feel like it is more worthy of 3.5 stars. The material was 50/50 with me. QUEEN OF LIGHT has its moments but unfortunately it has its fair share of flaws.