Imperial is an American

metalcore Metalcore (also known as metallic hardcore) is a fusion music genre that combines elements of extreme metal and hardcore punk. As with other styles blending metal and hardcore, such as crust punk and grindcore, metalcore is noted for its use of ...

band from

Orlando Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures re ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

. Their music is a mixture of modern

metal A metal (from Greek μέταλλον ''métallon'', "mine, quarry, metal") is a material that, when freshly prepared, polished, or fractured, shows a lustrous appearance, and conducts electricity and heat relatively well. Metals are typicall ...

hardcore Hardcore, hard core or hard-core may refer to: Arts and media Film * ''Hardcore'' (1977 film), a British comedy film * ''Hardcore'' (1979 film), an American crime drama film starring George C Scott * ''Hardcore'' (2001 film), a British documen ...

, and

Black metal Black metal is an extreme metal, extreme subgenre of heavy metal music. Common traits include Tempo#Beats per minute, fast tempos, a Screaming (music)#Black metal, shrieking vocal style, heavily distorted Electric guitar, guitars played with t ...

History

Imperial was formed by Dale Dupree, Josh Lightfoot, and Brandon Pangle as "The Red Letter", in

in 2003. They toured with other bands throughout the United States, ending with a performance at

Cornerstone Festival Cornerstone Festival was a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around July 4 near Bushnell, Illinois, drawing some 20,000 attendees each year. In a given year, many artists that played at Cornerstone also playe ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolita ...

. The tour resulted in a recording contract with

Pluto Records Pluto Records is a record label started in 1999 by Eric Shirey and Brian Cobbel. Since 2002, it has been owned and operated by Brian Cobbel and based near Dallas, TX. It is primarily known for punk, metal and hardcore releases, although not ...

. Shortly afterward, the band changed their name from "The Red Letter", due to other bands having similar names, to the name Imperial. After signing with

, the band released their first album, ''This Grave Is My Poem'', with the help of

Jeremy Staska Jeremy may refer to: * Jeremy (given name), a given name * Jérémy, a French given name * ''Jeremy'' (film), a 1973 film * "Jeremy" (song), a song by Pearl Jam * Jeremy (snail), a left-coiled garden snail that died in 2017 * ''Jeremy'', a 1919 ...

at Studio 13 and Allan Douches at West West side for mastering duties. After this release, they spent the next year touring national with other bands, as well as headlining their own tour. After the tours had completed, they began working on their new album. During another concert tour, two members departed the band, leaving Dale Dupree, Josh Lightfoot and Brandon Pangle as the remaining members of Imperial. After adding new band members to the lineup, Imperial continued to write for and record their new album, ''We Sail At Dawn''. The record was released on September 26, 2006, and was followed by another tour. Soon afterward, the band's three new members left Imperial. Guitar player Ivan Sherman and bass player Zack Fortune joined the band along with Zack "Nascar" on drums for a short period of time during the tour for ''We Sail at Dawn''. Drummer Stephen Poole (also in Society's Finest,

Inked in Blood ''Inked in Blood'' is the ninth studio album by American death metal band Obituary. It was crowdfunded via Kickstarter and then released on October 28, 2014 through Gibtown Music/ Relapse Records. It is the first studio album with bassist Terr ...

) also filled in on drums for some local shows and a few tours. ''We Sail At Dawn'' received a very average review nationally with very little negativity by the media, appearing in magazine reviews such as ''

Revolver Magazine ''Revolver'' is a heavy metal music and hard rock magazine, published in North America. It has been in print since 2000, and is about both established acts and up-and-comers in heavy music. In the fall of 2017, ''Revolver'' underwent a brand re ...

'', featured on compilations such as ''Metal=Life Volume II'' and gaining radio play on local and college radio stations throughout the United States. The band wrapped up 2008 with additional member changes. Most notably, founding member Brandon Pangle decided to leave the band to spend more time with his new wife. The band added Josh Adelman as guitarist, and Chris Lane as drummer. The new four-member lineup, including original members Josh Lightfoot and Dale Dupree, are currently working on their upcoming album, ''Taken from The Bones of the Sea''. The album will be the first of a series of albums focused on the origins of fictional and modern day villains.

Band members

Current members *Dale Dupree – lead vocals (2003–present) *Josh Lightfoot – guitars, Keyboards (2003–present) *Josh Adelman – guitars (2008–present) *Marco Mendoza – guitars (2009–present) *Joe Gatell – drums (2003–present) *Adam Burton – bass (2009–present) Former members *Chris Lane – drums (2008–2014) *Brandon Pangle – lead vocals (2003–2008) *Joe Gatell – drums (2003–2005) *Sean Puliam – guitars (2003–2005) *Noah Southers – bass (2003–2005) *True Lawton – guitar (2005–2005 *Jake Caramanico – drums (2005–2006) *Erick Crossley – guitar (2005–2007) *Derek Anderson – bass (2005–2006) *Vic Cruz – bass (2006–2007) *Ivan Sherman – guitars (2006–2008) *Zack Fortune – bass (2007–2008) *Zack "Nascar" McCance – drums (2007–2008) *Rick Pangle - piano, guitar Touring musicians *Stephen Poole – drums (2006–2007)

Discography

*''This Grave Is Our Poem'' -

- (2005) *''We Sail at Dawn'' - Pluto Records (2006) *''Taken from the Bones of the Sea'' - Pluto Records (2010)

References

Imperial News on Lambgoat.comMetal=Life Volume II (Track 11, Imperial - We Sail at Dawn)

External links

Imperial page on Pluto Records Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Imperial Metalcore musical groups from Florida Heavy metal musical groups from Florida Musical groups established in 2003 Musicians from Orlando, Florida