All this to say that I do nourissais more great hopes with regard to Nightwish. But not knowing tell you why, I expected Imaginaerum as the last attempt to convince me that my expectation was to be rewarded ...
And then THE slap! Let short: it is a masterpiece, from the first to the last second. It is simply and humbly Album (with uppercase "A") which reference Nightwish (Anette era) needed and I did not dare hope for.
The musical is a huge risk in terms of a concept album. The peculiarity of these albums is that they tell over the tracks a unique history, a story, each song is a chapter.
The result is usually that the pieces are made for the benefit of the story and that if taken as a whole the album is consistent, the major pitfall is that individually, each piece makes no sense and is, basically, not a good song.
But the victory of Tuomas and his band is here to give us an album successful, bold, constructed, where each piece is able to exist only while finding a place in the consistency of the whole album and the history.
Lately, this musical feat of combining the delicate narrative triptych / pieces only / coherence at all, I have found that in Within Temptation with the fabulous "The Unforgiving".
The metal balance, Symphonic Choir, Children's Choir works wonderfully, magically pieces Metal contrast with the poetic ballads and narratives, the strings meet the brass, choirs vote, perfect balance, intoxicating, mesmerizing where the presence Slow Love Slow, surprising flavors Jazz piece, offers a journey towards horizons where Nightwish had never before had neither the maturity nor the courage to go.
This is the most mature album, more built, the more successful, and undoubtedly the most work to date.
And if Wishmaster was the reference for Tarja album, Imaginaerum is undoubtedly that of Anette. She finally puts and perfectly suit the singer Nightwish and Imaginaerum, it is no longer possible to consider it as the singer "bis" or "interim" (as Dark Passion Play we felt initially and tailored for Tarja where Anette is not required). With Imaginaerum, Anette clearly eclipe its predecessor and takes place only with talent.
I expected nothing Nightwish. I was wrong. Good.
Rush on.
