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This is the third Imperia album I've reviewed and the sixth overall from this Dutch band. For those not in the know, Imperia is a female-fronted gothic/symphonic metal band that, in my experience, have been slowly honing and improving their albums over the past ten years (I can't speak to 2019's Flames of Eternity) and seems to have hit something of a stride with The Last Horizon. It is still an uneven affair with songs like "Dream Away" and "Flower and the Sea" standing tall with gorgeous melodies evenly balance with metallic riffing all supporting angelic vocals. Other tracks aren't as good but, unlike past efforts, they are generally solid and not actively unpleasant or flawed in some way. The performances are excellent, and the band achieves the kind of cinematic atmosphere this style of music is built upon without abandoning their metallic roots, so The Last Horizon sounds like a less pretentious post-Tarja Nightwish (and that is meant as a compliment). And I'm not usually a fan of ending albums with acoustic or instrumental songs but the re-recorded piano and vocal version of "Let Down", which originally appeared on Secret Passion, is beautiful.

The Last Horizon is a satisfying gothic/symphonic album that should please fans of Nightwish, Within Temptation, Epica, et al.