"Imaginaerum" is the seventh studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released in late November 2011. It is a concept album centered around the story of an elderly composer reflecting on his youth as he lies on his deathbed. The album was developed alongside a film of the same name, directed by Stobe Harju, which shares the same themes and story, though with more detail and additional characters.
The album marked the last collaboration with vocalist Anette Olzon and drummer Jukka Nevalainen. It features the single "Storytime," which topped the Finnish charts shortly after release. The album was highly successful, selling over 50,000 copies in Finland on its first day and being praised as one of Nightwish's best works.
Though Imaginaerum is considered a concept album, it was designed to work as an individual piece of art without requiring the film to be understood. The music was developed before the film's pre-production, with key elements of both the music and the film being shaped through collaboration between Tuomas Holopainen and Stobe Harju.
