The vocal recording sessions for the new Nightwish album, Imaginarium, finally began on April 4 after being postponed for a few weeks in order to allow the band's singer, Anette Olzon, a longer recovery period after she suffered broken ribs in a fall. According to the band's keyboardist and main composer Tuomas Holopainen, "seven songs [are] done so far. [Anette] hasn't quite cured from her broken ribs yet, but fortunately it doesn't affect her singing at all. She's never sounded better."

Nightwish is not only putting finishing touches to its new album, Imaginarium, but also planning a movie of the same name. If all goes well, the CD will be released in early 2012, to be followed by the movie at some point further down the line. The first single off the album as well as the trailer for the film should arrive well before the end of 2011.

For the movie, Nightwish has teamed up with director Stober Harju's production team and Solar Films.

Nightwish will kick off the Imaginarium world tour in Los Angeles. The very first show of the trek will take place at the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City, California on Saturday, January 21. This will be the biggest Nightwish show production ever on North American soil and strictly a one-off -- there will be no U.S. tour until later in 2012.

[Source: Blabbermouth.net]