Blind Guardian - Imaginations From The Other Side

General Information

Original Author: The Uncreator

Artist: Blind Guardian

Album: Imaginations From The Other Side

Genre: Power Metal

Tracklist

01. Imaginations From The Other Side
02. I'm Alive
03. A Past And Future Secret
04. The Script For My Requiem
05. Mordred's Song
06. Born In A Mourning Hall
07. Bright Eyes
08. Another Holy War
09. And The Story Ends

Sound

9 A Much more later album than my last review of "Battalions Of Fear", You can immediately hear the progression the band made with the first few minutes of the first song. The album contains more of the older style riffage with songs like "I'm Alive", and also contains some hints of what was to come with there newest, much more "Raw Melodic" sound as i like to put it, with songs like "Born In A Mourning Hall", and the softer, yet beautiful songs of "A Past And Future Secret", and "Mordred's Song".

Guitars

10 Without a doubt, Incredible. Like i said before, from the fast and heavy riffage of "I'm Alive" to the sitting around the campfire telling stories sound of "A Past And Future Secret" and "Mordred's Song", this is a diverse album which is some of Blind Guardian's best work to date. With songs like "Imaginations From The Other Side", "Born In A Mourning Hall", and "The Script For My Requiem" the guitars are a perfect harmonious balance of Melody and good ol' riffage that will especially entertain the minds of us guitar players. The ending song "And The Story Ends" is one of the best closing to an album ive heard, the whole mentality of the song, and the way the guitars end on it, Gives you the feeling of completing a great journey.

Bass

8 Once again Hansi delivers the same kick ass tone from the early albums, and continuing to chug along with the guitars, What i like most about it on this album is its simplicity. The opening to "The Script For My Requiem" is as simple as can be, yet i guarantee you will never forget it. Most of the album is the same way, Subtle little fills and melodies will make you remember everything about a song.

Drums

10 Yet again, Thomas Stauch delivers an amazing array of drum virtuosity to the album, From the fast and heavy fills of "Mordred's Song", To the gallop like and machine gun style double bass of "Born In A Mourning Hall" he covers his bases well. I think by this album, Thomas Stauch is approaching his best work yet, Although I think his best work is "A Night At The Opera", this album brings more than its fair share of phenomenal drumming to the table, Even if drums never intrigued you much, you will either love or love his work on here.

Vocals

10 Hansi's voice has grown even more powerful since there debut, His control over his voice on this album is unreal, From the desperate sounding vocals of "Bright Eyes", the melancholy of "A Past And Future Secret", or the epic story teller voice of "Imaginations From The Other Side", And his vibrato, his phrasing, and especially his vocal melodies is just Unparalleled on this album. His harmonies are perfect, layering his vocals to fit the perfect mood for the right song.

Lyrics

9 By now, Blind Guardian have really come into there own. My favorite has got to be "A Script For My Requiem" which I think is about a soldier returning from the crusades, or something like that, I can't remember exactly, I read what it was about in an interview, but that was awhile ago.

From "The Script For My Requiem"

Hallowed be the fatherland
God he knows
How long I'd been away
From here I did start for the search so
Full of disease
I still hear my cry outs
From the old cellar's inside

Born in the days of medieval
My inner voice
Is always asking why

I came from nowhere
Without a task, without a name
Don't fear my evil
Fate, so god please lead me through
Forgotten realms
Mysterious dreams
In sunless rooms I'd sworn
I'll finish what I started, once
I'll find the holy grail
In the holy land

Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
The jester's tears
They are inside me
Agony's the script for my requiem
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
Is the script already written
Jester's tears I cry
Yes, I cry

I went out of my mind
In desert lands
Insanity's pawn
Out of control
Much too long I've been isolated
From my thoughts
Enclosed by the leader's spell
Bewildered to march
As a glory knight
And I tried

Still I hear the scream of thousands:
"Crucify, crucify!!!
Take it all
Our gold, our homes, our life,
But we didn't kill your Christ!!
Reach out for your holy grail
Enslave us and make us
Your god's sacrifice!!

Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
The jester's tears
They are inside me
Agony's the script for my requiem
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
Is the script already written
Jester's tears I cry
Yes, I cry

From "Mordred's Song"

In fact it was close to a real fallout
Everything's under control
The speaker said with a serious smile
Behind his mask
He knew the truth
I'll bring new age of better ways
The TV preacher said
Just pay today
Pay today

World's dressed in black
On earth's judgments day
And I?
I know it can't go on
Forbidden signs increase
I'm sitting still at home
And watching

Born in a mourning hall
Pale clouds of feared the unborn child
Then it grew up with growing plans
Of suicide
Born in a mourning hall
Shadows left the fear inside
The Peter Pan will never reach
The other side

It's frightening
Exciting to sit at home
And watch the burning fields get
Hypnotized by the TV snake
Obey and work hard
And feel no anger

Just sympathy for the higher class
There's no chance in changing
Things
Cause I am

Born in a mourning hall
Silent cries ran out
When the cradle breaks
Broken dreams were unheard on
The other side
Born in a mourning hall
Shadows left the fear
In the new born child
The Peter Pan will never reach
The other side

Overall Impression

10 Easily one of there 3 best albums, Blind Guardian bring a powerful, Melodic and Heavy album filled with diversity and impossibly catchy melodies. Virtuoso drumming, incredible vocals, powerful and epic guitars, This album is a must have for any Blind Guardian fan.