Imaginations from the Other Side
Encyclopedia
Imaginations from the Other Side is the fifth studio album by Blind Guardian
that was 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 happy tone. This album also marks the first since their debut in which Kai Hansen
(Gamma Ray
) did not guest on vocals or guitar, and the last album to feature vocalist-bassist Hansi Kürsch
as bassist. It is also their first album which resulted in the release of singles, "A Past and Future Secret
" and "Bright Eyes
". It was remastered and re-released on 15 June 2007, with bonus tracks and videos.
Blind Guardian
Blind Guardian is a German power metal band formed in the mid-1980s 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...
that was released in 1995. The atmosphere of this album is darker in comparison to their earlier works, such as Battalions of Fear
Battalions of Fear
Battalions of Fear is the debut album by German metal band Blind Guardian. It was released in 1988 and is a straightforward metal album. The album is a raw and unpolished speed metal effort that touches on thrash metal. This album lacks many of the stylistic flourishes that would mark the band's...
, which had a relatively happy tone. This album also marks the first since their debut in which Kai Hansen
Kai Hansen
Kai Michael Hansen is a power metal guitarist and vocalist.Hansen is the founder, lead guitarist, and vocalist of power metal band Gamma Ray, and the co-founder and former member of German metal band Helloween. He is a prominent figure in power metal, and has sold millions of albums worldwide...
(Gamma Ray
Gamma Ray (band)
Gamma Ray is a power metal band from Hamburg, northern Germany, founded and fronted by Kai Hansen after his departure from the German power metal Helloween. Hansen is the current lead vocalist, guitarist as well as the chief songwriter of Gamma Ray. The band is known as one of the most prominent...
) did not guest on vocals or guitar, and the last album to feature vocalist-bassist Hansi Kürsch
Hansi Kürsch
Hans Jürgen Kürsch, better known as Hansi Kürsch is a German musician, the lead vocalist and lyricist of power metal band Blind Guardian. Together with André Olbrich, he is also the principal songwriter for the band. He was also the bassist in Blind Guardian until the 1998 album Nightfall in...
as bassist. It is also their first album which resulted in the release of singles, "A Past and Future Secret
A Past and Future Secret
"A Past and Future Secret" is the first cd single from German power metal band Blind Guardian, and the third track on their 1995 album Imaginations From the Other Side. It is an acoustic song, and its guitarwork and lyrical themes strongly evoke the Arthurian legends cycle, the end of which it...
" and "Bright Eyes
Bright Eyes (Blind Guardian song)
"Bright Eyes" is a single by German metal band Blind Guardian released in 1995. It was only released in Japan through the Japanese recording label Victor Entertainment and has the same cover art as the forthcoming "Mr. Sandman" single . It has a slightly different track listing than "Mr. Sandman"...
". It was remastered and re-released on 15 June 2007, with bonus tracks and videos.
Track listing
- "Imaginations from the Other Side" – 7:18
- "I'm Alive" – 5:29
- "A Past and Future SecretA Past and Future Secret"A Past and Future Secret" is the first cd single from German power metal band Blind Guardian, and the third track on their 1995 album Imaginations From the Other Side. It is an acoustic song, and its guitarwork and lyrical themes strongly evoke the Arthurian legends cycle, the end of which it...
" – 3:47 - "The Script for My Requiem" – 6:08
- "Mordred's Song" – 5:27
- "Born in a Mourning Hall" – 5:12
- "Bright EyesBright Eyes (Blind Guardian song)"Bright Eyes" is a single by German metal band Blind Guardian released in 1995. It was only released in Japan through the Japanese recording label Victor Entertainment and has the same cover art as the forthcoming "Mr. Sandman" single . It has a slightly different track listing than "Mr. Sandman"...
" – 5:15 - "Another Holy War" – 4:31
- "And the Story Ends" – 5:59
- Japanese Bonus Tracks
- 10. "The WizardThe Wizard (Uriah Heep song)"The Wizard" is a single from rock band Uriah Heep's 1972 album Demons & Wizards and was the first single to be lifted from the album. It was composed by Mark Clarke and Ken Hensley...
" (Uriah HeepUriah Heep (band)Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
Cover) – 3:17 - 11. "The Script for My Requiem" (Demo Version) – 7:01
- Japanese Limited Edition Bonus Tracks
- 10. "I'm Alive" (Demo Version) – 5:20
- 11. "Imaginations from the Other Side" (Demo Version) – 7:03
- 12. "A Past and Future Secret" (Demo Version) – 3:38
- 13. "The Script for My Requiem" (Demo Version) – 7:01
- 2007 Re-release Bonus Tracks
- 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)
Lineup
- Hansi KürschHansi KürschHans Jürgen Kürsch, better known as Hansi Kürsch is a German musician, the lead vocalist and lyricist of power metal band Blind Guardian. Together with André Olbrich, he is also the principal songwriter for the band. He was also the bassist in Blind Guardian until the 1998 album Nightfall in...
- vocals and bass - André OlbrichAndré OlbrichAndré Olbrich is the lead guitarist of the German power metal band Blind Guardian. He is one of the band's founders together with vocalist Hansi Kürsch, and serves as one of its main songwriters....
- lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars - Marcus SiepenMarcus SiepenMarcus Siepen is one of two guitarists in the power metal band Blind Guardian. For the biggest percentage of Blind Guardian's songs, particularly in more recent years, he has almost strictly played rhythm guitar, with most lead and solo work being performed by André Olbrich.-Personal:Siepen is...
- 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 KöhlerRolf KöhlerRolf Köhler was a German singer, musician and record producer.Rolf Köhler has been one of the most successful singers from Germany. His first success was on the 1970s under the Marc de Ville pseudonym...
, Piet Sielck, Ronnie Atkins - backing vocals
Personnel
- Andreas Marschall - cover paintings
- Ulf Thürmann - photos
- Flemming RasmussenFlemming RasmussenFlemming Rasmussen is a Danish engineer, producer, mixer and owner and founder of Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark.-Biography:...
- producing and mixing - Flemming RasmussenFlemming RasmussenFlemming Rasmussen is a Danish engineer, producer, mixer and owner and founder of Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark.-Biography:...
and Piet Sielck - engineering - Henrik Vindeby - assistant engineer
- Flemming RasmussenFlemming RasmussenFlemming Rasmussen is a Danish engineer, producer, mixer and owner and founder of Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark.-Biography:...
and Cuni - drum tech
Lyrical references
- "Imaginations from the Other Side" contains references to The Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, it has since been reprinted numerous times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of...
, Peter PanPeter PanPeter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with...
, The Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the RingsThe Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
, Alice in Wonderland, The Sword in the StoneThe Sword in the StoneThe Sword in the Stone is a novel by T. H. White, published in 1939, initially a stand-alone work but now the first part of a tetralogy The Once and Future King. A fantasy of the boyhood of King Arthur, it is a sui generis work which combines elements of legend, history, fantasy and comedy...
, Chronicles of Narnia and the CorumCorumCorum Jhaelen Irsei is the name of a fictional fantasy hero in a series of two trilogies written by author Michael Moorcock.- Plot summary :...
novels. I - "I'm Alive" is about the Death Gate Cycle. Some people says that it is "This Time of Darkness" by Helen Mary Hoover actually.
- "A Past and Future Secret" is about T.H. White's The Once and Future KingThe Once and Future KingThe Once and Future King is an Arthurian fantasy novel written by T. H. White. It was first published in 1958 and is mostly a composite of earlier works written in a period between 1938 and 1941....
. - "Mordred's Song" is about the character MordredMordredMordred or Modred is a character in the Arthurian legend, known as a notorious traitor who fought King Arthur at the Battle of Camlann, where he was killed and Arthur fatally wounded. Tradition varies on his relationship to Arthur, but he is best known today as Arthur's illegitimate son by his...
from Arthurian Legend.