Imaginations from the Other Side

Last updated

Imaginations from the Other Side
IFtOS.jpg
Studio album by
Blind Guardian
Released4 April 1995
RecordedAugust 1994 – March 1995
Studio Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen, Denmark
Genre
Length49:18
Label Virgin, Century Media
Producer Flemming Rasmussen
Blind Guardian chronology
Somewhere Far Beyond
(1992)		Imaginations from the Other Side
(1995)		 Nightfall in Middle-Earth
(1998)
Singles from Imaginations from the Other Side
  1. "A Past and Future Secret"
    Released: 6 February 1995
  2. "Bright Eyes"
    Released: 21 June 1995

Imaginations from the Other Side is the fifth studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian, released in 1995. The atmosphere of this album is darker in comparison to their earlier works, such as Battalions of Fear , 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.

Contents

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 [them] to a completely different level, in any aspect." [2]

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

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Rock Hard 9.5/10 [4]

In 2005, Imaginations from the Other Side was ranked number 373 in Rock Hard magazine's book The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time. [5]

Loudwire named the album at second in their list "Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time" [6] and Metal Hammer ranked it at third in a similar list. [7]

Track listing

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

No.TitleLength
1."Imaginations from the Other Side"7:19
2."I'm Alive"5:31
3."A Past and Future Secret"3:48
4."The Script for My Requiem"6:09
5."Mordred's Song"5:29
6."Born in a Mourning Hall"5:14
7."Bright Eyes"5:16
8."Another Holy War"4:32
9."And the Story Ends"6:00
Japanese edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
10."The Wizard" (Uriah Heep cover)3:17
Japanese limited edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
10."The Wizard" (Uriah Heep cover)3:17
11."I'm Alive" (Demo version)5:20
12."Imaginations from the Other Side" (Demo version)7:03
13."A Past and Future Secret" (Demo version)3:38
14."The Script for My Requiem" (Demo version)7:01
2007 re-release bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
10."A Past and Future Secret" (Demo version)3:38
11."Imaginations from the Other Side" (Demo version)7:03
12."The Script for My Requiem" (Demo version)7:01
13."Bright Eyes" (Video) 
14."Born in a Mourning Hall" (Video) 
2018 re-release bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
10."The Wizard"3:21
11."System's Failing"4:24

Lyrical references

Personnel

Guest musicians

Production

Charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [10] 13
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [11] 11
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [12] 33

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blind Guardian</span> German power metal band

Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in 1984 in Krefeld, West Germany. They are often credited as one of the seminal and most influential bands in the power metal and speed metal subgenres. Nine musicians have been a part of the band's line-up in its history, which currently consists of singer Hansi Kürsch, guitarists André Olbrich and Marcus Siepen and, since 2005, drummer Frederik Ehmke.

<i>Nightfall in Middle-Earth</i> 1998 studio album by Blind Guardian

Nightfall in Middle-Earth is the sixth studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian. It was released on 28 April 1998 through Virgin Records. It is a concept album based on J. R. R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion, a book of tales from the First Age of Middle-earth, recounting the troubled history of Beleriand as the Elves battle with the Dark Lord Morgoth. The album contains not only songs but also spoken parts narrating parts of the story. The cover depicts a scene from The Silmarillion, the elf Lúthien dancing in front of the Dark Lord Morgoth.

<i>Somewhere Far Beyond</i> 1992 studio album by Blind Guardian

Somewhere Far Beyond is the fourth studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian. It was released in 1992 and produced by Kalle Trapp. The cover artwork was created by Andreas Marschall, who also drew the artwork for other Blind Guardian's releases. The album saw the band creating its own original sound, while still employing most of their speed/power metal techniques.

<i>The Forgotten Tales</i> 1996 compilation album by Blind Guardian

The Forgotten Tales is the first compilation album by German power metal band Blind Guardian. It was published in 1996. The cover artwork was created by Andreas Marschall. "'The Forgotten Tales'" contains several cover versions of popular songs, including "Mr. Sandman", "Surfin' U.S.A.", and "Spread Your Wings" as well as alternate versions of the band's previous works. Remastered and re-released on 15 June 2007, with bonus tracks and videos.

<i>Tokyo Tales</i> 1993 live album by Blind Guardian

Tokyo Tales is the first live album by German power metal band Blind Guardian. It was remastered and re-released on 15 June 2007, with the same Japanese bonus track.

<i>Follow the Blind</i> 1989 studio album by Blind Guardian

Follow the Blind is the second studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian. It was released in 1989 and is more in the vein of speed metal, compared to the style that would later define the band's unique sound. Guitarist Marcus Siepen stated that they were "listening to a lot of thrash metal bands like Testament or Forbidden, and that's why Follow the Blind was a bit heavier".

<i>Battalions of Fear</i> 1988 studio album by Blind Guardian

Battalions of Fear is the debut studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian, released in 1988. The album is a raw and unpolished speed metal effort that touches on thrash metal. It lacks many of the stylistic flourishes that would mark the band's music in later years, focusing more on speed and aggression. The opening track "Majesty" remains a fan favorite and is often featured in the band's live performances. This album was remastered, remixed and re-released on 15 June 2007, with the whole first demo tape, Symphonies of Doom, of the band as part of the bonus tracks. The album was again re-released as part of the A Traveler's Guide to Space and Time boxset with minor adjustments to the mixing and with new mastering.

<i>Live</i> (Blind Guardian album) 2003 live album by Blind Guardian

Live is the second live album by German power metal band Blind Guardian. It was recorded during the Blind Guardian World Tour 2002/2003 in Tokyo, Stockholm, Lichtenfels, Venice, Düsseldorf, Milan, Florence, Barcelona, San Sebastián, Avilés, Madrid, Granada, Valencia, Bremen, Moscow, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, Stuttgart.

<i>Imaginations Through the Looking Glass</i> 2004 video by Blind Guardian

Imaginations Through the Looking Glass is the first video album by German power metal band Blind Guardian.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">And Then There Was Silence</span> 2001 single by Blind Guardian

"And Then There Was Silence" is a song by German power metal band Blind Guardian. It was released in November 2001 as the lead single from their album A Night at the Opera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Bard's Song (In the Forest)</span> 2003 single by Blind Guardian

"The Bard's Song (In the Forest)" is a single by German power metal band Blind Guardian, released in 2003. It contains five different versions of this track, one of their most popular songs, which originally appeared on the album Somewhere Far Beyond. The song is a folk rock ballad, in contrast to the band's usual power metal sound.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fly (Blind Guardian song)</span> 2006 single by Blind Guardian

"Fly" is a song by German power metal band Blind Guardian and the second single from their 2006 album A Twist in the Myth. Two of the songs are from the album, with the latter being an acoustic version only available on the single. The single also includes a cover of Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", also available only on the single.

<i>A Twist in the Myth</i> 2006 studio album by Blind Guardian

A Twist in the Myth is the eighth studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian. It was originally set to be released on 5 September 2006 in Europe, but Nuclear Blast changed the release date to 1 September 2006.

<i>At the Edge of Time</i> 2010 studio album by Blind Guardian

At the Edge of Time is the ninth studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian. A two-CD version of the album was released, with the second disc containing eight tracks. The artwork for the album was created by Colombian artist Felipe Machado Franco. The album was released in Europe on 30 July 2010. A music video for "A Voice in the Dark" was released on 3 August 2010.

"Banish from Sanctuary" is a song by the German power metal band Blind Guardian. It was released as the only single from their 1989 album Follow the Blind. The single was pressed on 7" green vinyl and includes the song "Hall of the King" as a B-side. Only 500 copies of the vinyl were pressed.

<i>Tales from the Twilight World</i> 1990 studio album by Blind Guardian

Tales from the Twilight World is the third studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian, released on 16 July 1990.

<i>A Travelers Guide to Space and Time</i> 2013 box set by Blind Guardian

A Traveler's Guide to Space and Time is the first box set by German power metal band Blind Guardian. It contains 15 CDs and covers the bands discography during the so-called Virgin years, between 1988 and 2004. Along with seven studio albums, two live albums and one compilation album, it also includes Imaginations Through the Looking Glass in audio format, a special edition of Nightfall In Middle-Earth and a CD of demos and rarities. It also came with a 20-page glossy booklet, limited and numbered Blind Guardian art print on special paper and a guitar pick with band logo. It is a strictly limited edition, as only 8000 copies were made worldwide.

<i>Beyond the Red Mirror</i> 2015 studio album by Blind Guardian

Beyond the Red Mirror is the tenth studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian, released on 30 January 2015 through Nuclear Blast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twilight of the Gods (Blind Guardian song)</span> 2014 single by Blind Guardian

"Twilight of the Gods" is a single by the German power metal band Blind Guardian, released in 2014. It was released as the first single from their 2015 studio album Beyond the Red Mirror.

<i>The God Machine</i> (album) 2022 studio album by Blind Guardian

The God Machine is the twelfth studio album by the German power metal band Blind Guardian, released on 2 September 2022 through Nuclear Blast. This is the band's first regular studio album in seven years, following Beyond the Red Mirror (2015), marking the longest gap between two Blind Guardian studio albums.

References

  1. 1 2 Bowar, Chad. "1995's Best Heavy Metal Albums". LiveAbout . Retrieved 21 September 2019.
  2. ↑ Imaginations From The Other Side Revisited (Part One) | Blind Guardian , retrieved 12 July 2021
  3. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Imaginations from the Other Side - Blind Guardian | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved 19 June 2012.
  4. ↑ Albrecht, Frank. "Blind Guardian - Imaginations From The Other Side". Rock Hard (in German). Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  5. ↑ Best of Rock & Metal - Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten (in German). Rock Hard. 2005. p. 59. ISBN   3-89880-517-4.
  6. ↑ DiVita, Joe (5 July 2017). "Top 25 Power Metal Albums of All Time". Loudwire . Retrieved 8 March 2019.
  7. ↑ Chantler, Chris (14 November 2019). "The 25 greatest power metal albums". Metal Hammer . Future plc . Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  8. 1 2 Metal Hammer Greece 5/98 Journey To Middle-Earth
  9. ↑ BLIND GUARDIAN: NEW ALBUM DETAILS REVEALED!
  10. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Blind Guardian – Imaginations from the Other Side" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
  11. ↑ Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN   4-87131-077-9.
  12. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Blind Guardian – Imaginations from the Other Side". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 20, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.