Imaginations from the Other Side was Blind Guardian's biggest departure at the time from their original speed metal roots; the synths and big choruses were gaining prominence, as was an increasing shift towards power metal. Somewhere Far Beyond was a dark, aggressive speed/power masterpiece; many have viewed the band's departure from that sound a mistake that ruined their sound. While Imaginations certainly demonstrates the beginning of that departure, it isn't lacking for quality; it shows for the first time that Blind Guardian are able to change direction and still put out top-notch music. While the songs may seem simpler than many of the compositions on Somewhere, they're obviously very carefully composed, and the apparent simplicity just shows the catchiness of the tracks; once you dissect them there's a lot more to them.
Let's start with the production. It's very thick, and the rhythm guitar sounds heavy as f*ck; however, the lead guitar suffers a bit, as do the vocals; the lead guitar feels drowned by the thick guitars, and the vocals are too far in front, making the songs feel emptier than they should, without the up-close presence of the fantastic leads. It does detract from the album; that being said, the production's not awful, and the album is still quite enjoyable.
Now, as I said earlier, the songwriting on the album, despite going in a different direction than Blind Guardian is used to, is absolutely superb. The tile track is a huge, epic, midpaced number, the production working perfectly to create the feeling of vast, ancient majesty, while still being quite bombastic at times. It runs for over seven minutes but never once feels as though it's dragging on. I think it's definitely one of the best tracks here.
Next is "I'm Alive", a track of dark, melancholy speed metal. The riffs and vocals are absolutely merciless, almost evoking a thrash-y atmosphere at times. In fact, this wouldn't be out of place at all in a power/thrash album like something by Paradox, although it focuses a bit more heavily on the power and speed elements. The acoustic segments give the song a really gloomy feel, perfectly complementing the harsh, savage riffs of the electric guitar. Additionally, the guitar harmonizing in the solo is one of the best examples of the band's knack for great, catchy harmonies; this is one of their best solos of all time, and the power-y riffs under the sections after the solo are absolutely great. This is another excellent song, if perhaps not quite reaching the level of the title track.
Following is Blind Guardian's mandatory ballad, which here is "A Past and Future Secret", which really showcases Hansi in a completely different way. Despite the fact that the rest of his vocals on the album are about as raspy as clean singing can be, his cleaner "ballad" vocals are better than they were on any of the other albums. This probably shows that Hansi's singing lessons have been going well, and it's definitely enjoyable for the listener. While the vocals on "The Bard's Song - In the Forest" (from Somewhere) sound a bit rough, these are completely flawless. The placid, quiet medieval majesty of the song works wonderfully with his vocals, as well as the synths the band has been implementing throughout portions of the album. It sounds just as vast as the opener, if not quite as ancient and epic, and doesn't fail to disappoint. Although it's not my favorite song on the album, it does what it does well.
Next is the fast, angry, dark "Script for my Requiem"; again the synths are here with some prominence; however, aside from them, this largely speed metal song wouldn't be out of place on the previous album. Unlike "I'm Alive" this is more of a brooding, unhappy number - Hansi's vocals here sound dissatisfied and almost indignant about the subject matter (the early Christian crusades), and although the riffs get a little boring at times, it still manages to rock out. While not as good as the first two tracks, this song is still pretty decent.
After that is "Mordred's Song", which starts with a dark, haunting acoustic interlude, but from the lyrics you can begin to sense a pattern in the album; it got dark and unhappy on the second song, and it seems to be staying that way (apart from the ballad). It's interesting that what many praise as Blind Guardian's best power metal album is such an unconventional one, but then, despite their success in the PM scene, Blind Guardian is far from a conventional band, and it shows here. This song is even darker and moodier than the previous one, and the riffing creates a cursed, almost regal feeling at times (of course, that could just be my perception of it). Although it seems angry in some places, it is more somber and depressed than anything else; again, very strange for power metal. However, the music handles it solidly, switching to acoustic sections several times, and once again the tone does its job.
Following is "Born in a Mourning Hall", a strange power metal number that changes mood often; it is probably the least consistent song on the album, but it is far from garbage. It starts out with a simple, heavy, almost upbeat verse, before falling into the angry brooding the album has been so skillfully employing. The chorus is slow and melancholic, and probably the worst part of the song; it just doesn't do much of anything. It's followed by a series of unpredictable tempo and mood changes, from standard power metal to thrashy speed metal to ethereal acoustic interludes; however, most of it is good, and the harmonizing as usual is spot on. Particularly well-done is the atmospheric section where Hansi sings "Oh, I know this can't go on, but the ghost called fear inside...lames my tongue, my nerves, my mind...eternal fall down". Despite the weirdness of this song, it is probably the catchiest thing on here; while the melodies are a bit simpler than on most of the other songs, it's still quite solid.
The next one is "Bright Eyes", as moody as "Mordred's Song" and as angry as "Script for My Requiem". The production here is even better than on the rest of the album. The big, atmospheric intro with glossy guitars and wind blowing, then the background vocals chanting "fool, just another fool, just another fool..." is absolutely fantastic. Hansi's angst-y howls, especially in the almost desperate chorus, are excellent. This brand of dark, angry power metal really shines through in this song, when you're not too distracted by Hansi's performance to notice what the guitars are doing. One of the best songs on the album, up there with the first two.
"Another Holy War" is probably the most upbeat song here; it is harsh but hardly angry or moody, at least musically; the lyrics once again represent someone dissatisfied with the Christian crusades. The song is extremely catchy, but unlike "Born in a Mourning Hall", if you listen a little more closely, the melodies and harmonies are extremely complex, demonstrating a careful composition to make it catchy, rather than mere simplicity. The guitar harmonies are an absolute treat throughout the entire song, probably the best on the album along with the solo of "I'm Alive", and the almost weary-sounding vocals in the chorus are perfect. Yet another winner for the album.
Finally, we have "And the Story Ends", which musically is similar to the vast majesty of the title track, although this evokes a strange, mystical, starlit night more than an endless, ancient hall, as the title track better compares to. Like almost all of this album, this track is amazing. It is slow and monumental, making the listener feel as if something vastly important and strange is taking place all about them. I'd have a hard time saying this is the best song on here, but it's certainly a contestant. Something about this song just feels completely magical, and it never loses that otherworldly feel. In fact, the riffs make me think of something like Fates Warning more than the bombastic or melancholic power/speed of the rest of the album. This is the oddball out, but it's maybe the best thing here. It makes me wonder what Blind Guardian would sound like if they released an album of white collar USPM.
Overall, this album is pretty damn good; it has a few tracks that aren't quite as strong, such as "Script for My Requiem" and "Born in a Mourning Hall", but most of the songs are very strong, with bombastic leads, crushing riffs, and ridiculously awesome vocals. If you're a fan of Blind Guardian or power metal in general, this album is a must-listen.
