Artist: Nightwish Title: “Century Child” Label: Century Media Records Release Date: 2002 Genre: Operatic Metal Rating: 8/10
When you take the time to consider the more standout bands in the world of Metal nowadays, Nightwish is probably one of the first to come to mind. With each release Nightwish brings you into a diverse world that combines metal with arias and epic orchestrations. Tarja Turunen definitely has one of the best and most beautiful voices to come along in some time. She has led the way for modern metal women of today to find a stronger foothold in the music we love. “Century Child” was the first readily available releases in the USA courtesy of Century Media Records. This is a great CD, and it quickly follows up on the success of “Wishmaster”. Beginning with “Bless The Child” you are quickly drawn into the sound of the band by Tarja’s warm vocals and a very eerie haunting melody. When the “End Of All Hope” kicks in you find that the group can be heavy as they find the need. This number is full of incredible double drumming by Jukka and great guitar wizardry of Emmpu. For those who enjoy a hearty chorus the track “Dead To The World” might be most impressive. I admit that on the CD, these few are actually among my favorites. When Nightwish first played the States a little over a year ago, they performed some these and it made enjoying them all the more easier. Continue reading “Century Child” by Nightwish→
Artist: Nightwish Title: “Once” Label: Roadrunner Records Release Date: 6/7/2004 Genre: Operatic Power Metal Rating: 8/10
Finland’s finest certainly has to be the band Nightwish. For several years they have been raising the bar of operatic styled heavy metal music and continue to astound fans and newcomers alike with each release. Their latest CD entitled “Once” shows that this band still has a fresh amount of ideas and the well they draw from shows no sign of being dry any time soon. The piece does not waste any time in showing how hard it will hit you with opener “Dark Chest Of Wonders”. As a matter of fact I would have to label this release as perhaps the heaviest piece that Nightwish has unleashed on the fanbase. “Wish I Had An Angel” chugs along, and features a lot of bassist Marco Hietala on vocals. This could have easily been a Tarot tune as well. “Creek Mary’s Blood” is a well-put together tune but I found it pretty interesting for Tarja to be singing about the people who came and took over America from the Indians especially being from the lands of the Vikings. The CD is full of the lush orchestrations you expect on a Nightwish piece and this is most apparent in the track “Ghost Love Score”. There really is a lot for the fan of this style of music to sink their teeth into. I would have to say my preferred tracks are all of those that were listed above. I never tire of listening to them. Continue reading “Once” by Nightwish→
Artist: Nightwish Venue: L’Amour (Brooklyn, NY) Opener: unsigned acts Label: Century Media Records Date: 9/3/2003
A few short weeks ago Finland’s own Nightwish made their very first New York appearance at the famous L’Amour’s in Brooklyn. Metal heads know this place as a staple venue in the Metal World for more than two decades. To be honest with you I have only been a Nightwish fan for a little over a year and have yet to buy any of their material. Every release they have so far is an import and very expensive. Even my inner circle of music fans have hardly heard of this fine power-metal group. This fact makes me laugh since I always try to be ahead of others in this regard, but alas I owe this to someone else. So off to the show I went with a small crew of buddies expecting the standard fare. Continue reading Nightwish @ L’Amour (9/3/2003)→
Artist: Nightwish Venue: B.B. King Blues Club (New York, NY) Opener: Lullacry Label: Roadrunner Records Date: 8/22/2004
To say that the level of electricity was high for Nightwish’s return to New York City would be an understatement. The show had gone on sale several months ago when I first purchased my tickets and it sold out within the month. The timeframe was around February or so when I got my tickets for the show that was in August. Impressive to say the least, yet I guess with the band being from Finland this early sale is required to generate the proper interest to cover the costs it will incur. When Nightwish first visited, it was a one-night only appearance at Brooklyn’s famous L’Amour (now since closed). Now, they have returned on a full USA Tour with fellow Finnish rockers Lullacry. Continue reading Nightwish @ B.B. King Blues Club (8/22/2004)→
Artist: Nightwish Title: “From Wishes To Eternity” Label: MSI Music Corp. Release Date: 3/13/2000 Genre: Operatic Power Metal Rating: 10/10
I was lucky enough to see this DVD in one of my very favorite Metal CD Music Stores out in New Jersey. You see, I had heard Nightwish at a Friends place where some music had been downloaded. Yes, I know this is bad, but I had nothing to do with it. Anyway, I instantly fell in love with what I was hearing and of course when I realized that this band was from Finland I knew I could count on never ever getting to see them play live in my area. As a fan of live video DVD’s I enjoyed this one a little more than others as it had more of a feel of being at the concert. One could appreciate the lighting and pyrotechnics as well as the full stage setup that they use. There were frequent pans from the back sections as well as many great close ups of the beautiful Tarja and her bandmates (Tuomas, Jukka, Emppu and Marco …..keyboards, drums, guitar and bass respectively). Continue reading “From Wishes To Eternity” [DVD] by Nightwish→
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