Helena Iren Michaelsen (born 2 June 1977) is a Norwegian singer-songwriter, known as the frontwoman for European

symphonic metal Symphonic metal is a cross-generic style designation for the symphonic subsets of heavy metal music subgenres. It is used to denote any metal band that makes use of symphonic or orchestral elements. The style features the heavy drums and guitar ...

band Imperia and her solo project Angel. She was the lead singer of the Gothic metal band

Trail of Tears The Trail of Tears was an ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of approximately 60,000 people of the "Five Civilized Tribes" between 1830 and 1850 by the United States government. As part of the Indian removal, members of the Cherokee, ...

from 1997 to 2000, and was briefly the singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Sahara Dust (later renamed to

Epica Epica or EPICA may refer to: * Epica (band), a Dutch symphonic metal band * ''Epica'' (Kamelot album), 2003 * ''Epica'' (Audiomachine album), 2012 * The European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) * The Epica Awards (International Adver ...

Musical career

Trail of Tears (1997–2000)

Michaelsen was born in

Evje Evje is a former municipality in the old Aust-Agder county in Norway. The municipality existed from 1877 until 1960. It was located in what is now the eastern part of the present-day municipality of Evje og Hornnes in the Setesdal valley of Ag ...

, and started off as the female vocalist in 1997 for Norwegian gothic metal band Trail of Tears, succeeding after Ales Vik who departed from the band that same year. Up until that year, the band had been called Natt. A year later, Michaelsen and the band recorded their debut album ''

Disclosure in Red ''Disclosure in Red'' is the first studio album by the Norwegian gothic metal band, Trail of Tears. Track listing All music by Trail of Tears except "Illusion?" by Frank Ørland. All lyrics by R. Thorsen and H. Michaelsen # "When Silence Cries. ...

'' in which she sang contralto vocals and contributed to writing lyrics. In 2000, she again took role of contralto vocals in their second album ''

Profoundemonium ''Profoundemonium'' is the second studio album by the band Trail of Tears. The cover art was designed by Travis Smith. It is the last album to feature female soprano Helena Iren Michaelsen, who left the band the year this album was made. Tra ...

'', which was their last album to feature Helena. Soon after, she was replaced by Cathrine Paulsen in May of that year.

Sahara Dust (2002–2003)

Two years after leaving Trail of Tears, she was selected by

Mark Jansen Mark Jansen (born 15 December 1978) is a Dutch guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. A prominent figure in the symphonic metal subgenre, he is known for his work with the bands After Forever (1995–2002), Epica (2002–present), and MaYaN (2010� ...

(who had just left

After Forever After Forever was a Dutch symphonic metal band with strong progressive metal influences. The band relied on the use of both soprano vocals and death growls. In February 2009, it was announced that After Forever had disbanded. Singer Floor Jans ...

) as vocalist for his new band Sahara Dust; but she left not long after, replaced by then-unknown

Simone Simons Simone Johanna Maria Simons (born 17 January 1985) is a Dutch singer. She is best known for being the lead singer of Dutch symphonic metal band Epica, which she joined at the age of seventeen, releasing eight studio albums and touring the world ...

. The band was renamed

, inspired by the album of the same name by Tampa, Florida-based

Kamelot Kamelot is an American power metal band from Tampa, Florida, formed by Thomas Youngblood, in 1987. The Norwegian vocalist Roy Khan joined for the album ''Siége Perilous'', and shared songwriting credit with Youngblood until his departure in Apr ...

that was released the same year. Michaelsen was not present during the Sahara Dust reunion in 2022. She has also stated that she doesn't think much about her time with the band as it was brief.

Imperia and Angel (2004–present)

After leaving Sahara Dust, Michaelsen teamed up with Steve Wolz (who was to be the drummer for Sahara Dust) and the pair relocated to Norway. Upon their return to The Netherlands they formed the band Imperia. As Imperia, Michaelsen and Wolz recorded a cover of "The Lotus Eaters" by

Dead Can Dance Dead Can Dance are an Australian music duo first established in Melbourne. Currently composed of Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry, the group formed in 1981. They relocated to London the following year. Australian music historian Ian McFarlane des ...

for a double tribute album with the same title released through the Greek label Black Lotus Records. The track subsequently was included in Imperia's 2004 album The Ancient Dance of Qetesh as a bonus track. As of 2022, Michaelsen has released six studio albums with Imperia and three with Angel.

Personal life

Helena's birth name was Margrethe Jacobsen, but she had changed it at the age of 18. Michaelsen has 2 children—a son named Joackim (b. 1995), and a daughter named Angel (b. 2006). Her daughter was kidnapped in 2014, and hasn't had contact with Michaelsen since 2018. She's married to her Angel bandmate Oliver Phillips.

Discography

Imperia

Studio albums: *''The Ancient Dance of Qetesh'' (2004) *''The Queen of Light'' (2007) *''Secret Passion'' (2011) *''Tears of Silence'' (2015) *''Flames of Eternity'' (2019) *''The Last Horizon'' (2021)

Angel

Studio albums: *''A Woman's Diary – Chapter I'' (2005) *''A Woman's Diary – Chapter II'' (2020)

Trail of Tears

Studio albums: *''

'' (1998) *''

'' (2000)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Michaelsen, Helena Iren Women heavy metal singers Living people Norwegian heavy metal singers Norwegian singer-songwriters Norwegian operatic sopranos 1977 births People from Evje og Hornnes 21st-century Norwegian singers 21st-century Norwegian women singers