Imagine Dragons: welcome to the new age

Published by Mason Oldridge, 10 April 2025

It’s time to begin, isn’t it? Imagine Dragons are an alternative rock band characterised by their drum-heavy sound, mainstream appeal and lead vocalist Dan Reynolds’ powerful vocals. Why Imagine Dragons as a band name? It’s a secret anagram known among the band members. Hailing from Las Vegas, they have gone on to become one of the most successful musical acts of modern times, so let’s take a look at their series of albums.

After a string of EPs, the dragons released their debut album Night Visions in 2012, opening with signature song Radioactive. Beginning with an acoustic guitar intro, it then winds up to become an electronic rock anthem with slapping drums. It has a very memorable (and upsetting, despite its parodistic nature) music video centring on underground puppet fighting, led by a villainous ringleader who revels in the carnage as various teddy challengers are violently defeated, until a game-changing stuffed bear enters the ring. Along with the injured competitors, the band members can be seen trapped in the dungeon below, including Reynolds hitting a bass drum, something that has become an element of the song’s live performances, as the drum solo makes for an epic extended rendition of the certificated diamond track. Debut single It’s Time focuses on the topic of change and is one of the more emotionally charged tracks on the album, though Demons is arguably the most heart-wrenching due to its premise of personal flaws and fear of a loved one getting attached. Contrasting this is On Top of the World, a folk-esque track that is clearly much more positive and serves as a response to the band’s eventual success. Amsterdam has gone on to become a fan favourite, Hear Me contains the hauntingly innovative lyric “maybe if I fall asleep, I won’t breathe right” and Bleeding Out features broken record sounds. Tiptoe and Underdog are synth-driven tracks and more upbeat offerings in opposition to the overlying theme and mood of the album. Nothing Left To Say is a lengthy and atmospheric finale, followed by Rocks, a short folk tune, tagged on to the end of the track.

Follow-up album Smoke + Mirrors was released in 2015 and is arguably the heaviest album musically. The album artwork is by surrealist artist Tim Cantor, whose works are referenced in the music video for Shots. The single opens the record with its recognisable guitar riff as one of the lighter tracks before Gold welcomes a darker tone with its Western sounds and reversed shout effect. The title track is one of the more innovative offerings, with quieter verses before the shouting prelude of “open up my mind” set to pounding drums. It deals with religious doubt, specifically Reynolds’ faith in his Mormonism, as the chorus features an outcry of “I want to believe”. I’m So Sorry touches upon garage rock with a piano-led bridge, lead single I Bet My Life incorporates folk rock and Polaroid includes xylophone sounds. Friction is one of the heaviest productions from the band and therefore one of the most epic. Reynolds’ harsh vocals are best suited to the louder instrumentation as brutal guitars and drums go hell for leather on the chorus. The song may well be in high gear but it is pedal to the metal for an even heavier outro, leading to the track standing out as an underappreciated highlight. It Comes Back to You is a silky smooth contrast to the previous number and works well for it, Trouble uses acoustic guitar to deliver another folk-inspired track, Hopeless Opus chronicles Reynolds’ depression struggles, while The Fall is a lengthy closer with operatic elements.

Evolve is the third studio album, released in 2017, and was referred to as an “evolution” by Reynolds. It could be argued this is where they began to be associated more with pop rock, which creates a cohesive sound across the record. Lead single Believer is drum-heavy and one of the most streamed songs of all time while fellow popular single Thunder can be defined by its high-pitch vocal effect. Mouth of the River plays epic heavy verses against a lighter chorus, whereas Dancing in the Dark is a mellow closer with a slower tempo. The digital re-release added final single Next to Me, a stripped back love song exploring the fear of failing in a relationship. The track is honest and raw, with lyrics that honour the loyalty of a partner and a final chorus that features choral backing vocals.

A year later in 2018, Origins was released and lead single Natural kicked things off with its pounding drums. Cool Out has a summer feel while Bad Liar incorporates electronic music, including water effects. West Coast features acoustic guitar and coastal lyrics, Zero is a fun track that features in the Disney animated film Ralph Breaks the Internet and Bullet In A Gun is a more innovative offering thanks to a trap-esque drum beat. Coming out of left field, Digital is chaotic and adopts drum and bass instrumentation, whereas Only touches upon EDM. Stuck reduces the tempo as a slowed emotional piece before the album concludes with Love, an anthemic cry for peace across the world, suggesting we are all connected by the titular theme. Reynolds described Origins as the sister album to its predecessor Evolve, though the latter record is much more varied and feels somewhat an improvement upon the former.

In 2021, the band released Mercury - Act 1, the first half of their double fifth album. Opening the record is My Life, a ballad containing piano and strings. Lonely is a short and funky offering, Wrecked is a heart-wrenching single based on Reynold’s real-life experience of the death of his sister-in-law, whereas Monday is juxtaposingly upbeat and built around a simple electronic riff. Dull Knives surprisingly incorporates heavy rock, Follow You documents another of Reynolds’ real-life experiences, this time his reunion with his wife, while its sister single Cutthroat is one of their most innovative productions thanks to its funky keys, sound effects and screaming vocals. No Time For Toxic People is a positivity anthem and One Day is a beautiful acoustic closer. The viral hit Enemy, featuring a rap from JID and for the Netflix animated series Arcane, was also tagged on to the first act.

Imagine Dragons maintain a unique sound and have reached the mainstream masses. Their overwhelming success is undeniably linked to their ability to produce such enduring music. Long live the Dragons!