Imperial Vengeance
Encyclopedia
Imperial Vengeance are an English heavy metal
band, from Essex formed in 2007 by former Cradle of Filth guitarist C. Edward Alexander (b. Charles Edward Alexander Hedger, 18 September 1980, Colchester, Essex/ Guitars, Vocals, Orchestration), and David Bryan (Bass, Lyrics). The band's musical style embraces aspects of symphonic black metal
and other extreme metal
genres, with lyrical themes and imagery largely influenced by the British Empire
period.
After issuing a self-released 4-track EP in early 2008 entitled "Death: August and Royal" the band signed a deal with Candlelight Records
and released their debut album “At The Going Down Of The Sun” in July 2009. The album's title track was also to feature spoken word from Harry Patch
, providing extracts from Laurence Binyon's For the Fallen
During the following September, the band issued a video of the track "6th Airborne Division" which revealed a live line up of additional members consisting of Elle Torry- guitar, James Murray- Guitar, and James Last- Drums. Gigs followed, a notable appearance being at the Hellfire Festival at Birmingham's NEC. The band followed this with an EP that featured a cover of Madness
1979 song Night Boat to Cairo
with a suitably eccentric video to accompany the release, inked a management deal with Rob Ferguson of Transcend Management, and moved labels from Candlelight in favour of the Transcend Music Group.
2010 saw the band begin outlining ideas for a second album, and in July issued a DVD that not only featured videos for both "6th Airborne Division" and "Night Boat to Cairo", but also included the filmed footage of the recording session with Harry Patch
It was also announced that the title for this next work would be "Black Heart Of Empire" and would feature an appearance from the soprano Lori Lewis
(Therion (band)
. and that a Penny dreadful
style publication will be issued in conjunction with the CD in support of the release, due in the late Summer.
The band released "Black Heart of Empire" on 28th September 2011.
Other artists that make appearances on the album include Therion
soprano Lori Lewis
, Vulture Industries vocalist, Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen, and Dave Courtney
providing ”the Voice of Old London.” The album was recorded and engineered by C. Edward Alexander and mastered by acclaimed producer Russ Russell
(Dimmu Borgir
, Napalm Death
, Samael
)
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
band, from Essex formed in 2007 by former Cradle of Filth guitarist C. Edward Alexander (b. Charles Edward Alexander Hedger, 18 September 1980, Colchester, Essex/ Guitars, Vocals, Orchestration), and David Bryan (Bass, Lyrics). The band's musical style embraces aspects of symphonic black metal
Symphonic black metal
Symphonic black metal is a black metal subgenre that emerged in the mid to late 1990s. The genre is known for its symphonic and orchestral elements and is centralized in Europe.-Characteristics:...
and other extreme metal
Extreme metal
Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. The term usually refers to a more abrasive, harsher, underground, non-commercialized style or sound nearly always associated with genres like black metal,...
genres, with lyrical themes and imagery largely influenced by the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
period.
After issuing a self-released 4-track EP in early 2008 entitled "Death: August and Royal" the band signed a deal with Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records
Candlelight Records is an independent record label based in Europe founded by former Extreme Noise Terror bassist Lee Barrett, though it has had a division in the United States since January 2001. Candlelight Records specialises in black metal and death metal, having bands such as Emperor,...
and released their debut album “At The Going Down Of The Sun” in July 2009. The album's title track was also to feature spoken word from Harry Patch
Harry Patch
Henry John "Harry" Patch , known in his latter years as "the Last Fighting Tommy", was a British supercentenarian, briefly the oldest man in Europe, and the last surviving soldier to have fought in the trenches of the First World War...
, providing extracts from Laurence Binyon's For the Fallen
During the following September, the band issued a video of the track "6th Airborne Division" which revealed a live line up of additional members consisting of Elle Torry- guitar, James Murray- Guitar, and James Last- Drums. Gigs followed, a notable appearance being at the Hellfire Festival at Birmingham's NEC. The band followed this with an EP that featured a cover of Madness
Madness (band)
In 1979, the band recorded the Lee Thompson composition "The Prince". The song, like the band's name, paid homage to their idol, Prince Buster. The song was released through 2 Tone Records, the label of The Specials founder Jerry Dammers. The song was a surprise hit, peaking in the UK music charts...
1979 song Night Boat to Cairo
Night Boat to Cairo
"Night Boat to Cairo" is a song by British ska/pop band Madness from their debut 1979 album One Step Beyond.... It was written by Mike Barson and Suggs , and was also included on the Work Rest and Play EP, which peaked at #6 in the UK music charts...
with a suitably eccentric video to accompany the release, inked a management deal with Rob Ferguson of Transcend Management, and moved labels from Candlelight in favour of the Transcend Music Group.
2010 saw the band begin outlining ideas for a second album, and in July issued a DVD that not only featured videos for both "6th Airborne Division" and "Night Boat to Cairo", but also included the filmed footage of the recording session with Harry Patch
Harry Patch
Henry John "Harry" Patch , known in his latter years as "the Last Fighting Tommy", was a British supercentenarian, briefly the oldest man in Europe, and the last surviving soldier to have fought in the trenches of the First World War...
It was also announced that the title for this next work would be "Black Heart Of Empire" and would feature an appearance from the soprano Lori Lewis
Lori Lewis
Lori Lewis is an American soprano currently residing in Salem, Oregon. She was one of the live members of the symphonic metal band Therion for the Gothic Kabbalah world tour, the 20 Year Celebration Tour in 2007 and the Sitra Ahra tour in 2010 in support of Therion's CD release, Sitra Ahra...
(Therion (band)
Therion (band)
Therion is a Swedish symphonic metal band founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987. The word "therion" comes from the Greek therion , meaning "Beast," i.e., that of the Christian Book of Revelation...
. and that a Penny dreadful
Penny Dreadful
A penny dreadful was a type of British fiction publication in the 19th century that usually featured lurid serial stories appearing in parts over a number of weeks, each part costing an penny...
style publication will be issued in conjunction with the CD in support of the release, due in the late Summer.
The band released "Black Heart of Empire" on 28th September 2011.
Other artists that make appearances on the album include Therion
Therion
Therion, Greek for "wild animal" or "beast" , may refer to:* Therion, the name the Greeks gave to the constellation Lupus * Therion , the Swedish symphonic metal band* Therion , a god in Thelema, consort of Babalon...
soprano Lori Lewis
Lori Lewis
Lori Lewis is an American soprano currently residing in Salem, Oregon. She was one of the live members of the symphonic metal band Therion for the Gothic Kabbalah world tour, the 20 Year Celebration Tour in 2007 and the Sitra Ahra tour in 2010 in support of Therion's CD release, Sitra Ahra...
, Vulture Industries vocalist, Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen, and Dave Courtney
Dave Courtney
Dave Courtney is a self-proclaimed British former gangster who has become both an author and celebrity-gangster figure...
providing ”the Voice of Old London.” The album was recorded and engineered by C. Edward Alexander and mastered by acclaimed producer Russ Russell
Russ Russell
Russ Russell is a British record producer, sound engineer, mixer, mastering engineer, musician and writer. He has worked all over the world and now is mostly based at Parlour Studios in the UK...
(Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir
Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...
, Napalm Death
Napalm Death
Napalm Death are a death metal band formed in Birmingham, England in 1981. While none of its original members remain in the group, the lineup of vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway, bassist Shane Embury, guitarist Mitch Harris and drummer Danny Herrera has remained consistent for most of the band's ...
, Samael
Samael
Samael is an important archangel in Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore, a figure who is accuser, seducer and destroyer, and has been regarded as both good and evil...
)
Current members
- C. Edward Alexander- guitar, vocals, orchestration
- David Bryan – bass, lyrics
Other Contributors
- William Drury- drums, percussion
- Elle Torry - live guitars, violin, cello
- Harry Patch- spoken word
- Dave Courtney - spoken word
- Lori Lewis - sung parts on Black Heart of Empire
- Bjørnar Erevik Nilsen - sung parts of Black Heart of Empire