Imaginaerum Magicum Magnificum.

Imaginaerum Magicum Magnificum.

Imaginaerum (2 CD) (CD)

Customer Review

Finally, here it is! Four year wait but it was worth it ...

The album begins with the sound of a music box mechanism that we go back. The music starts. Marco's voice appears and orchestrations arrive, very discreet. This small piece gently sung in Finnish, plunges us into the dream world of Tuomas and we still promises a great trip.
"Storytime" is the first single from the album that everyone knows now. A title well drawing with a chorus that goes in the head in less time than it takes to write some children's choirs and a symphony break fly high. It includes well Nightwish leg (with rhythmic already heard on the break of "Master Passion Greed"). No scenery.
The next song, "Ghost River" is the first duet of the album. The song of Marco mingles with that of the prechorus Anette and he sings lead the chorus. We still find a children's choir on the break. Friendly piece. In any case, a debut album that we will describe as the classic enough to Nightwish. But with no real engineering expertise at the composition already well above all pretenders to the throne.
Slow Love Slow changes the game and shows the band in a new light. The atmosphere is very jazzy, it feels like a smoky piano bar thirties: the bass sounds like a bass and we hear some brass. Anette shows his vocal range is broader than on Dark Passion Play. On the chorus, while retaining a Marco comes to accompany him. Quite amazing piece Nightwish until guitar solo. For this one, we can not say this is a rehash.
With "I Want My Tears Back", are back Celtic folk atmospheres that I had loved "Dark Passion Play". It seems that Troy Donockley (Celtic instruments) became the sixth member of the group. A more immediate way, duet, with fairly simple and super efficient melody refrain.
"Scaretale" gives pride to the orchestrations, this huge piece. Choirs everywhere. The song comes only after two thirty minutes. Anette sings with an amazing voice, barely recognizable. It still shows all its critics / fans of Tarja (should perhaps move on, guys) that it is not just the "replacement" of Tarja. The central part of the piece is a huge delusion. One enters a circus universe that would meet that of a cartoon Tim Burton. Unique.

"Murder" is a symphonic interlude with before tackling the second part of the album, the most sensational, in my opinion.
It starts in Celtic mode with "Turn Loose the Mermaids" beautiful ballad to folk sounding. Being amateur Celtic music, I can tell you that this composition has a hit and it does not pale in comparison to the most beautiful parts of style. The middle of the song will flirt with Ennio Morricone universe.
"Rest Calm" starts on a rather heavy rhythm. This is Marco that launches hostilities, which makes the title even more heavy. The chorus, sung by Anette, is quieter. A children's choir on the chorus comes in the middle of the title and adds a unique dimension. As for the end of the song where the refrain is repeated so Savatage with orchestrations rising powers is just great. These two pieces, one after another, are real nuggets.
"The Crow, the Owl and the Dove" is another ballad duet. On a very quiet but still with a good atmosphere Celtic rhythm, this piece very well. Really, the title The Islander was small!
The next song, "Last Ride of the Day is" ... I can not find qualifiers without repetitions. Melody gorgeous, downright deadly refrain. Excellent song, what.
"Song of Myself" is the big piece of the album. Thirteen minutes. Orchestrations are enormous. Anette at the helm. The chorus is well done. The first part is excellent. But after seven minutes, the atmosphere is calm. One hears the words spoken by relatives of group members to come, each in turn, say a sentence and until the end of the song. In the end, the song is less impressive than could be "The Poet and The Pendulum" to "Dark Passion Play". Small disappointment. It must be said that until then, it bordered on the faultless, so I expect probably something huge.

At symphonic arrangements, there is no comparison. Nightwish is the undisputed leader in the field. So yes, we can say that they have more resources than other groups of style and this is not true. Anyway, the result is there. And for us listeners, the full foot. We take the full measure of the quality of these orchestrations on the last track, "Imaginaerum", only symphony, which incorporates musical themes of the entire album. A real BO ... Moreover, it is worth remembering that a movie is planned to accompany this masterpiece. And given the number of images that scroll in your brain listens to these songs, I'm curious to see that.

The singles will rain. You may say, this is not what makes the quality of an album and you'll be right. I want to say is that there is an immediate amount of securities, catchy melodies and choruses on Imaginaerum fatal. In this, one is not so far removed pieces of "Dark Passion Play", but with a good dose of engineering and more.
My album of the year.

Find this column in its entirety on the webzine "auxportesdumetal.com"

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