When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, IMPERIAL AGE founders and singers Jane Odintsova and Alexander ‘Aor’ Osipov published an antiwar manifesto and left their native Moscow for Turkey. The band had enjoyed increasing international popularity since 2020, especially among Western audiences, while staying independent from record labels, which allowed them to make the move and continue their band while fully relying on their music sales to make ends meet.

Over the next year they managed to finish and release “New World” – Imperial Age’s latest album – as well as to tour the EU and UK, securing the visas which were denied to many other Russian citizens.

During their UK tour in January 2023 they were endorsed by England’s Arts Council as ‘Exceptional Talents’, which allowed Jane and Aor to relocate to the UK on Global Talent visas – an elite immigration route reserved for internationally acclaimed artists, sportspeople and scientists.

The musicians posted on their website the following message:

“This moment is historical for us, and the biggest move of our lives so far. After leaving Russia and spending a year of uncertainty in Turkey in a dubious legal state, we finally have firm soil under our feet – something we never truly had before – in the form of Global Talent UK residency until 2026, after which we can both extend or apply for settlement and later – citizenship. We have come here for the long term, and are already searching for a good rent somewhere in the rural areas of the country.

Once that is settled, we will be able to resume full-scale work on our music and touring, only this time in incomparably better conditions.

We are infinitely grateful to our fans and Crowdfunders who made this move possible. Once we have found a place to live, we will start shipping out the perks and will also set up a date for the homecoming acoustic concert. We already have a venue in mind in London 😉”.

Antalya-based Symphonic Power Metallers IMPERIAL AGE have released a stunning new music video for their single, “Shackles of Gold.”

The video features the band performing against a backdrop of striking imagery, including pirate caves and epic canyons. The song’s thunderous guitar riffs, soaring vocals, and folk tunes combine to create a powerful anthem of rebellion and liberation, encouraging listeners to break free from the shackles of living in an endless rate race.

“Shackles of Gold” is a true masterpiece of Symphonic/Power/Folk Metal, and the video is a visual feast for fans of the genre. Don’t miss out on this incredible new release from Imperial Age.

On February 24, 2022, IMPERIAL AGE became the first Metal band from Russia to resolutely and publicly protest the invasion of Ukraine. Immediately afterwards, founders and vocalists Jane Odintsova and Alexander “Aor” Osipov left the country and settled in Antalya, Turkey, from where they formed an international lineup with musicians from Italy, the UK, the Netherlands and the US.

Despite heavy financial losses and numerous difficulties, they passionately managed to keep the band alive – mainly thanks to the enormous support of their huge European and American fanbase.

6 months later IMPERIAL AGE released their third album “New World” and subsequently played a whole 21 EU concerts on their own in September 2022 and 5 UK concerts in January 2023.

While on tour in the UK, bandleaders Jane and Alexander were recognized by Arts Council England as “Exceptional Talents” under the Global Talent program – a select immigration route reserved for internationally recognised artists, scientists and athletes wishing to move to the UK.

To help fund the upcoming relocation costs, Jane and Alexander set up their own crowdfunding page and asked fans to help them cover the £5,150 NHS surcharge required to apply for UK residency. This turned out to be a huge success:

within a few days, fans raised enough funds to more than quadruple the original goal to a total of £21,419 (and still counting!)

Speaking to their devoted fans in an update on the official crowdfunding page, Imperial Age said: “You guys are definitely the best fans in the world! We are deeply – positively – shocked, we are simply at a loss for words, we can only be immensely grateful. We could never have imagined that this would go so well!

All the money you have pledged will be used for our relocation and to cover the band’s debts, which, as mentioned below, are mainly due to urgent relocations, concert postponements, refunds and visa problems.

We are infinitely grateful and appreciative for all your support!!!

We will not let you down. Promise.”

Jane and Alexander have already applied for UK residence permits at the British Consulate in Antalya. So great things can be expected on the horizon as Imperial Age makes its move to the British Isles!

The crowdfunding page can be found here: https://relocate.imperial-age.com/

After 2 years of re-schedulings, IMPERIAL AGE are very happy to announce their return to the European stages! In September they will roll across Western Europe in support of the upcoming album “New World”.

The band will be joined by Elephants in Paradise , Sick N’ Beautiful , Circle of Witches , Dead Venus and Dying Phoenix at different parts of the tour.

01/09 – WEINHEIM (DE) – Café Central *
02/09 – PARIS (FR) – Le Petit Bain *
03/09 – MONTPELLIER (FR) – Secret Place *
04/09 – LYON (FR) – Rock’n’Eat *
06/09 – BARCELONA (ES) – Sala Boveda *
07/09 – MADRID (ES) – Sala Rockville *
08/09 – LISBON (PT) – RCA Club *
09/09 – PORTO (PT) – Hard Club *
10/09 – BILBAO (ES) – Stage Live *
11/09 – TOULOUSE (FR) – L’usine À Musique *
13/09 – MÜNCHEN (DE) – Backstage **
14/09 – DÜSSELDORF (DE) – Pitcher **
15/09 – UBACH PALENBERG (DE) – Rockfabrik **
16/09 – ARNHEM (NL) – Willemeen **
17/09 – WETZIKON-ZURICH (CH) – Hall of Fame **
18/09 – MANTOVA (IT) – Arci Tom ***
20/09 – BREE (BE) – Ragnarok ***
21/09 – SIEGBURG (DE) – Kubana ***
23/09 – ROTTERDAM (NL) – Baroeg ***
*Elephants in Paradise + Sick’n’Beautiful + Beneath My Sins
**Elephants in Paradise + Circle of Witches + Dead Venus
***Elephants in Paradise + Circle of Witches + Dying Phoenix

All previously purchased tickets for postponed shows are valid for these dates. The UK tour is being booked for September/October 2022, and will be announced separately.

Ticket link: WWW.IMPERIAL-AGE.COM/TOUR 

After protesting against the invasion of Ukraine and 4 out of 6 band members leaving Russia (Aor and Jane – to Turkey, Anna and Paul – to Montenegro), IMPERIAL AGE released “The Way is The Aim” – the first single and music video off the upcoming album “New World”, for which the band’s global fans pledged more than US$ 65,000 during crowdfunding in July-August 2021.

“It has been more than 4 years since we published any new music. Lots of things happened since then to ourselves and the world, but finally, backed by the colossal support of our phenomenal fans, we are ready to start unleashing our “New World” album onto… well, the (New) World!

The first single & music video is called “The Way is the Aim” and it spearheads the main theme of the album: Freedom. Freedom of finding and having your own Path in the World. Freedom of thinking your own thoughts. Freedom from everyone and everything. Freedom to explore and learn. Freedom to lead a peaceful and meaningful life.

We all have a choice: follow your own Path, or follow someone else’s. The first brings positivity and joy, and charges you with energy. The second brings negativity and tiredness, and drains you.

Follow your own Path, find your own Purpose. Listen to your Heart. Filter out the Noise, see through the Fog of Negativity and always remember: You are the Light in the Darkness!

And don’t forget to smell the flowers along the way: because there is always another goal after this one. There is always a bigger fish. But its the Way itself that is the Aim!” – the band wrote on their Facebook.

Stream “The Way is The Aim”: https://link.imperial-age.com/the-way

Buy CD & T-Shirt: https://shop.imperial-age.com

Imperial Age’s anti-war statements:

• https://www.imperial-age.com/official-statement-stop-the-war/
• https://vk.com/wall-44022766_12853
• https://www.facebook.com/imperialageofficial/posts/499027261588097
• https://www.facebook.com/imperialageofficial/posts/503045154519641