Nightwish…Oh how I love them!!!! From Tarja’s soaring, operatic vocals to Toumas’s wicked keyboard skills to Empuu’s unbelievable guitar playing. From Marco’s blistering bass skills and raw vocals to Jukka’s crashing drums….this band has everything…. My life would not be complete without their miraculous music!!! If you have not listened to this band…you have not lived… In fact go and listen to something by them…NOW!!!! Yes, NOW!!!! Or I will eat your head… Well, okay you can read this first…but then you have to listen to them.
Anyway…they play what’s described as either symphonic or operatic metal…it tends to be dubbed anything from gothic metal to power metal…but it is BRILLIANT, whatever it is!!! Imagine operatic vocals with orchestral backing and add bass and lead guitar, drums and keyboard… you have an idea of what Nightwish are like…its unusual…but it’s enough to blow you away. The style is heavy, as in you have to really listen to it and you have to let it blast to get a good appreciation of it, but it’s not like death metal, not much in the way of growling.
I first heard them when they were recommended to me on amazon…I bought ‘Wish I Had an Angel’ as a single…and loved it. I had an instinct that I would love the rest of their music just as much…so I bought their most recent album, ‘Once’, and after listening to that a few times, each listen getting better than the last….I knew I had to own everything they had ever recorded. Believe me…I have not looked back… I would die to see these guys perform live… below I’ll give you an idea of each of their albums and give you the highlights... plus I’ll give you the link to their site which is great if you want to find out more or listen to samples.
‘Angels Fall First’’
This is Nightwish’s first album, released in 1997. They had a slightly different format here, more raw. Of Nightwish’s early albums this is the one with the most male vocals, but it’s before Marco’s day, so they are not quite as strong, but they don’t drag things down. It’s cool to hear how the band started out, and there are some brilliant songs on this album. Sami Vanska was on bass at this point. 'Elvenpath', 'Beauty and the Beast', 'Astral Romance', 'Tutankhamen' and the beautiful 'Angels Fall First' are all highlights.
‘Oceanborn’ Their album of 1998. Many will describe this as Nightwish’s best album. And it is bloody brilliant, but to me 'Once' is the best. This album shows Nightwish really coming into their own with a lot of variety but a consistency that strings everything together perfectly. Pretty much all lead vocals are by Tarja this time. Stand out songs: 'Stargazers', 'Passion and the Opera' (both great rockers), 'Sleeping Sun' (just ‘cause its pretty) and their cover of 'Walking in the Air' which will blow you away.
Wishmaster Released in 2000, this album had great success, and has a slightly different feel to it. It does sound a bit more commercial, but it doesn’t effect the brilliance of the music. There are some great songs on this album. These include: 'She is my Sin', the brilliant opening number; 'Come Cover me'; 'Wishmaster' and the eerily beautiful 'Dead Boy’s Poem'.
Over the Hills and Far Away In 2001 Nightwish released this, their fourth album. It contains 3 new songs and 7 live tracks. The title track, 'Over the Hills and Far Away' is a brilliant cover of a Gary Moore song, really well done, although not typical Nightwish. Stand out songs: '10th Man Down', very dramatic; 'Astral Romance (2001 Remake)'- improved version of the original on 'Angels Fall' First, I really like Marco’s voice with Tarja’s- they do well together; 'Away' is also a good slow ballad. The live tracks are all great – it’s interesting to hear how they sound raw on stage.
Century Child 'Century Child' was released in 2002, and has a different feel to Nightwish’s other albums. It runs very well, almost like a concept album, and picks up some themes from previous releases, but the overall sound is slightly calmer (in my opinion) than on other albums. A few more male vocals creeping in her...Marco is great...his gruff voice is a good contrast with Tarja's without being death growly (it wouldn't suit this music). I have to say, that though this is not Nightwish’s best album, it does contain some of their best songs. Amongst others, 'Dead to the World', 'Ocean Soul' and the epic 'Beauty of the Beast' stand out from the crowd. Their version of Lloyd Webber’s 'Phantom of the Opera' is absolutely amazing. Once Nightwish’s most recent, and in my opinion, best album to date was released in 2004. This album just carries you away from start to finish, styles vary from song to song, but the entire thing is a true work of genius. Here, you get your mix of heavy and hard, light and airy, power; it’s all there. Some stand out songs: 'Dark Chest of Wonders', 'Wish I Had an Angel', 'Nemo', 'Planet Hell', the amazing 10 minute long 'Ghost Love Score'. In fact all of them are brilliant. They just keep getting better…so get something of theirs and prepare to be blown away.
To find out more about this amazing bands, listen to samples from their albums etc... Visit Nightwish's official site by clicking the link below. 'Tis very good. Give them the recognition they deserve and spread the word.
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