IMAGINAERUM - THE SCORE (OST)

I watching the Steel Mill one day when they played the video for "Storytime" and it just blew me away. I had liked Nightwish for years, and this appeared to be taking them to a new level so as soon as the album was released I made sure that I purchased the double CD set as that contained a 'bonus' CD of orchestral versions of the songs as well. So when I heard that a 'new' orchestral CD was being released my original thought was that this was the same as the one I already had and that it was just being reissued to cash in on the film release. What I hadn't realized until I paid closer attention, is that although this brings in themes and styles that will be instantly recognizable to any fan of the original, this is actually a new piece of work. Tuomas brought in Petri Alenko to bring this vision to life and there seems to be a greater depth than the 'original' orchestral versions.

My only issue is that I have played the 'normal' version so much that I find that I am looking for the vocals as Anette Olzon did such a great job with the songs (although, having seen the band with new/temporary singer Flood just a few weeks ago I have to say that she was better than I could have imagined), that to me they seem wanting without. But, one doesn't normally expect an orchestral album from a label like Nuclear Blast so kudos for them for getting behind it. It has definitely piqued my interest even further, and I'm looking forward to the film. www.nuclearblast.de