Imaginaerum

Released in 2011, Imaginaerum represents the pinnacle of Nightwish's 'cinematic' era. It is a concept album developed in tandem with a feature film of the same name, though the music stands entirely on its own as a narrative arc. The story follows an elderly composer on his deathbed, revisiting his youth through a series of surreal, dreamlike sequences. Musically, it is the second and final studio album to feature vocalist Anette Olzon, whose versatile, non-operatic style allowed songwriter Tuomas Holopainen to explore genres previously untouched by the band, such as the jazz-influenced 'Slow, Love, Slow' and the vaudevillian 'Scaretale'. The album was recorded with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the Metro Voices choir, orchestrated by Pip Williams. It is notable for being the first album since their debut to feature no songwriting credits from guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, making it a pure distillation of Holopainen's vision. Critically, it was hailed for its ambition and cohesiveness despite its wildly diverse influences.