The masses gathered at The Dome in London to witness a symphony of metal as Imperial Age Festival came to town. 

Kicking things off were Crusade of Bards and Pythia who got the crowd amped up and ready for more.

Battle Born delivered metal on a seismic scale as if Maiden themselves had come back to life, shimmering through the choral arrangements and getting the crowd amped up.

Things started to heat up with Ghosts of Atlantis, a band who deliver fire, punchiness and steel. Songs such as “False Prophet,” “The Lycaon King,” and “March of the Titan,” bring the crowd charging through, much headbanging and roaring ensued. The band finished off with the one-two snap of “Behind The Wall,” and “The Lands of Snow,” to show that they’ve got the chops to go into the big leagues.

Alterium stepped up to the plate for the penultimate round and boy did the audience love them. Singing, dancing, headbanging and even a small mosh pit showed how much love and energy there was in the place, despite the festival going into its fourth hour. “Drag Me To Hell,” kicked things off and immediately brought forth a crowd surge. “Siren’s Call,” revved things up and their cover of “Bismarck,” produced a mighty roar. The band finished off with a fabulous trilogy “Heroine of the Sea,” “Firebringer,” and “Of War and Flames”. A band who delivered the goods.

With their appetite fully whetted, the audience reacted with a monstrous roar when headliners Imperial Age stepped onto the stage. Songs such as “Windborn,” “Shackles of Gold,” “Legend of the Free,” “Death Guard,” and “Anthem of Valour,” showed why, bringing the good times and a moshpit to do Lamb of God proud. Then there was the epic “Legacy of Atlantis,” the surreal “Gnosis,” and finally the legendary “Call of The Towers,” to see things off.

A fantastic festival, let’s see the same next year!