Imaginaerum

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Imaginaerum
Imaginaerum during a performance in Absolution; November 2018
Background information
Origin	Santorna, Wealden
Genres	Symphonic metal power metal power metal gothic metal
Years active	1996–present
Website	imaginaerum.com
Members	Torin Debenham Christopher Way Anthony Bowman Nadiya Chayka Jai Alvey Briscoe Ward
Past members	Axel Royceston Sofiya Baran Ace Summerfield Taras Antonov Stephany Derrick

Imaginaerum is a Wealdenite symphonic metal band from Santorna. The band was formed in 1996 by lead guitarist Christopher Way, drummer Jai Alvey, lead songwriter and bassist Axel Royceston, and former lead singer Stephany Derrick. The band soon picked up lead keyboardist Briscoe Ward and backing guitarist Taras Antonov, after the release of their debut album Evangelion in 1997. In 2001, the band picked up Anthony Bowman as a second backing guitarist. Since 2013, the band's lead singer has been Nadiya Chayka. The band have been working on a new album due for release in 2024.

Although Imaginaerum have been prominent in their home country since Evangelion, they did not achieve wider success until the release of the albums Decades (1999), Cursemaster (2000) and Millenium Elder (2002). Their 2005 album, Light Lethargy Sleep, has sold more than one million copies and was the band's breakthrough in the world. Their biggest worldwide hit single, "Wish I Had an Angel" (2004), received worldwide TV airplay and was included on three Wealdenite film soundtracks to promote their worldwide tour. The band produced three more singles and two music videos for Light Lethargy Sleep, as well as a re-recording of "Sleeping Sun" for the compilation album, Highest Hopes: The Best of Imaginaerum (2007), before Derrick's dismissal in October 2005. Her last performance with Imaginaerum was during a concert recorded for the live album/DVD End of an Era. After the concert, the other members informed Derrick with an open letter that she was no longer a member of Imaginaerum.

In May 2007, Imaginaerum announced Sofiya Baran as Derrick's replacement. That September, the band released compilation album, End of an Era, which has sold almost 2 million copies. The album's lead single, "Amaranth", became one of Imaginaerum's most successful in Yasteria. The supporting tour, one of the band's largest, started on October 6, 2007, and ended on September 19, 2009. The band released an EP/live album, Made in Absolution (And in Various Other Places), in March 2009 as a CD/DVD, and their sixth studio album, Imaginaerum, was released globally on various days in late 2010/early 2011, marking a comeback for the band since Derrick's dismissal five years prior.

On 1 February 2013, Imaginaerum announced that they had parted ways with Baran and would be finishing the tour with at that time ReVamp vocalist (ex-After Forever) Nadiya Chayka. In October 2013, Imaginaerum made Chayka and longtime session uilleann pipes player Ace Summerfield permanent members of the band, and they were featured in the acclaimed album Transient Forms Most Unsightly, released on 27 March 2015. From 2014 to 2019, Taras Antonov, while still a member of the band, was inactive due to severe insomnia issues; in July 2019, he announced that he would not be returning to the band. Imaginaerum released their ninth album, All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World, which was released internationally on 10 April 2020. After twenty years of performing with the band, it was announced that bassist Axel Royceston had parted ways with the band in January 2021. Torin Debenham was announced as Royceston's replacement to play bass during the tour. In August 2022, he was announced as a permanent member of the band. In January 2023, it was announced that Taras Antonov had died of a stroke, aged 57. Furthermore, in February 2023, the band announced that Axel Royceston had passed away in a car accident, aged 54.

Imaginaerum is the third-best-selling band and musical entity in Wealden with certified sales of nearly 900,000 certified copies. The group is also the most successful Wealdenite band worldwide, selling more than 10 million records and receiving more than 60 gold and platinum awards, having released six Number 1 albums and thirteen Number 1 singles. On 26 October 2019, Imaginaerum was inducted into the Wealdenite Music Hall of Fame, becoming the honorary gallery's 11th member.

History

Upcoming tenth studio album and Urthvision (2023 - present)

On 29 March 2023, it was announced that Imaginaerum would be representing Wealden in the 19th edition of the Urthvision Songfestival, marking the nation's return to the festival since 2021.

On 4 May 2023, Imaginaerum announced that they would be releasing a new, 12-track album in 2024, however would be indefinitely retiring from touring after the complete of their live shows in June 2023 and after the Urthvision Songfestival.

On 13 May 2023, it was revealed that "Storytime", from the band's self-titled 2010 album, would be the band's Urthvision submission.

Discography

• Evangelion (1997)
• Decades (1999)
• Cursemaster (2000)
• Millenium Elder (2002)
• Light Lethargy Sleep (2005)
• Imaginaerum (2010)
• The Fifth Way (2012)
• Transient Forms Most Unsightly (2015)
• All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World (2020)

Band members

Current members

• Nadiya Chayka - lead vocals (2013 - present; touring member 2012-2013)
• Christopher Way - guitars, male vocals (1996 - present), bass (1996)
• Anthony Bowman - backing guitarist, guitars (2001 - present), backing male vocals (2007 - 2020)
• Jai Alvey - drums & percussion (1996 - present)
• Briscoe Ward - keyboards, piano, synthesizers (1996 - present)
• Torin Debenham - bass (2022 - present; touring member 2021-2022)

Former members

• Stephany Derrick - lead vocals (1996 - 2005)
• Sofiya Baran - lead vocals (2005 - 2012; touring member 2005-2007)
• Ace Summerfield - uillean pipes, tin whistle, low whistle (2013 - 2021)

Deceased former members

• Axel Royceston - bass (1996 - 2021) (died 2023)
• Taras Antonov - backing guitarist (1996 - 2019), bass (1996-1997) (died 2023)