Imperia - Queen Of Light

I was a bit surprised to learn (recently) that this project is still active and still playing pretty much the same kind of music it always did. But Queen of Light is still their best of the best.

There's only shame in sounding somewhat similar to Oceanborn/Wishmaster-era Nightwish if you can't do it right. With this album, Imperia proved that they absolutely could. Yes, the first few tracks were rather mediocre (but still above average by today's standards, judging by all the uninspired songs youtube keeps recommending me), and Raped By The Devil is one of Imperia's "porn songs" (wait till you hear Mistress if you haven't). But then it really starts picking up (yes, "picking up" with a ballad is a thing for me, especially with a vocalist like Helena) and, in the end, this is not just Imperia's best, but also one of the very best sympho-power albums I've ever heard. It keeps developing, Helena keeps shining, Abyssum is a masterpiece equal to Sleeping Sun, and album's second half in general is a joy to listen (although the growls on Norway seem a little out of place).

To be honest, I wish there were more "imitators" like this.