Imaginations From The Other Side

''Imaginations from the Other Side'' is the fifth studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian'', which had a relatively light tone. This album also marks the first since ''Battalions of Fear'' which Kai Hansen (Helloween, Gamma Ray) did not contribute guest vocals or guitar, and the last album to feature vocalist Hansi Kürsch as bassist. It was also their first album to spawn singles, namely "A Past and Future Secret" and "Bright Eyes". It was remastered and re-released on 15 June 2007, with bonus tracks and videos.

Background and recording

Having experienced much success from their previous releases, ''Somewhere Far Beyond'' and ''Tokyo Tales'' (their first live album), the band was optimistic as they began writing for a new album once again. They soon noted how slow the process was advancing in comparison to previous writing sessions. For these new songs, personal standards were raised for which parts should make the cut, and ideas that weren't satisfactory were therefore scrapped. However, after the first two songs, "Imaginations from the Other Side" and "The Script for my Requiem", were demoed, the bandmembers were pleased by their exceptional quality, and once the next two songs, "I'm Alive" and "A Past and Future Secret", were written and added to the demo tape, they were confident in moving forward. Having not been satisfied with the production on their last two releases, ''Somewhere Far Beyond'' and ''Tokyo Tales'' (both produced by Kalle Trapp), Kürsch and Olbrich soon began searching for a new producer whilst traveling around Europe.

At their first stop, Denmark, they met producer Flemming Rasmussen, who had previously worked with bands Rainbow, Pretty Maids, and Metallica (a predominant influence on the band's style). After visiting other studios throughout the summer, even ones in which albums of the Beatles and the Rolling Stones were recorded, the two felt that Rasmussen, who had been noticeably impressed by the demo tape, was the obvious choice. Despite him expecting more out of the band than they were previously accustomed to with Trapp (specifically in rhythm guitar and vocal performances), there was a noticeable chemistry between Rasmussen and the band. Rhythm guitarist Marcus Siepen would later reflect that he "took hemto a completely different level, in any aspect."

Musical style

Following the footsteps of the band's previous albums, ''Imaginations'' continued to stray from purely speed metal tendencies. In addition to fast guitar riffing, high-pitch distorted singing and extreme drumming (signature of speed metal) came catchy chord progressions and clean singing - components reminiscent of classic European folk music. Two tracks, "A Past and Future Secret" and "Mordred's Song" (comparable to their previous album's " The Bard's Song (In the Forest)" by similar use of acoustic guitar), could even be considered to be a "ballad" and "power ballad", respectively.

Critical reception

In 2005, ''Imaginations from the Other Side'' was ranked number 373 in ''Rock Hard'' magazine's book of ''The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time''.

''Loudwire'' named the album at second in their list "Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time" and ''Metal Hammer'' ranked it at third in a similar list.

Track listing

All songs written by Hansi Kürsch and André Olbrich, except for where noted.

Lyrical references

* "Imaginations from the Other Side" contains references to '' The Wizard of Oz'', ''Peter Pan'', ''The Lord of the Rings'', ''Alice in Wonderland'', '' The Sword in the Stone'', '' The Never-Ending Story'', ''Chronicles of Narnia'' and the Corum novels.
* "I'm Alive" is about "The Sunset Warrior" by "Eric Van Lustbader".
* "A Past and Future Secret" is about T.H. White's ''The Once and Future King''.
* "Mordred's Song" is about the character Mordred from Arthurian Legend.
* "Bright Eyes", according to an interview with Hansi, is loosely connected to the second part of the book The Neverending Story by Michael Ende.

Personnel

* Hansi Kürsch – vocals and bass
* André Olbrich – lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars
* Marcus Siepen – rhythm guitar
* Thomen Stauch – drums and percussion

Guest musicians
* Mathias Wiesner – effects
* Jacob Moth – acoustic guitar on "A Past and Future Secret"
* Billy King, "Hacky" Hackmann, Rolf Köhler, Piet Sielck, Ronnie Atkins – backing vocals

Production
* Andreas Marschall – cover paintings
* Ulf Thürmann – photos
* Flemming Rasmussen – producing and mixing
* Flemming Rasmussen and Piet Sielck – engineering
* Henrik Vindeby – assistant engineer
* Flemming Rasmussen and Cuni – drum tech

References

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1995 albums
Blind Guardian albums
Song cycles
Albums produced by Flemming Rasmussen
Virgin Records albums