Nightwish Male Vocalist Explains Meaning Behind, ‘Imaginaerum’

2011-10-17

Story by Anne Erickson

Nightwish’s new album promises drama, beauty

Finnish and Swedish symphonic metal outfit Nightwish are gunning for a Jan. 10, 2012, release for their new album, Imaginaerum, out on Roadrunner Records. Penned between 2008 and 2010, the chief question about the collection is, “What was the inspiration behind calling the set, Imaginaerum?”

Keyboard player Tuomas Holopainen recently explained to Chaos Tube that the moniker, Imaginaerum, is a spin-off of the term, sanitarium. “’Imaginaerum’ is kind of like ‘sanitarium,’” he said. “A sanitarium is a place where you go and heal your sanity, and imaginaerum is a place you go to heal your imagination. That was the original idea behind the world.”

When asked how he would describe the album in three words, Holopainen answered, a “roller coaster ride.” He added that a roller coaster is, “a classic symbol for life. Life is a roller coaster with all the ups and downs and all the excitement and the slow start and all that. [Laughs] With Imaginaerum, we just wanted to emphasize the privilege of life and all the good stuff and the beauty. …  Just the wonderment of all. That’s what the album is basically about, at least for us.” Watch the full video interview, below.

Nightwish’s latest single, “Storytime,” will arrive in Europe on Friday, Nov. 11 on metal label Nuclear Blast Records. Nightwish will also play a one-off show in Los Angeles, Calif., on Jan. 21 at the Gibson Amphitheater, and the band aren’t expected to tour the U.S. again until late 2012.

 

Watch Chaos Tube’s Interview with Nightwish’s Tuomas Holopainen:




Anne Erickson
Posted by Anne Erickson | Metal, Music, Rock News

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