As four guys looking like they’re fresh out
of high-school and a girl in leatherpants played at the legendary
rock-venue Lepakko in Helsinki, Finland, no-one could’ve known that one day
they would be performing gigantic tours and would become the most
successful band to ever come from Finland with album sales in figures with
more than six digits. From their first album of "Angels Fall
First" onwards Nightwish gradually grew, or rather evolved. The
youthful admirations of favourite bands might've been obvious in these
first recordings, but as years went by the maturity and the unrelentless
way of the group doing their own thing made Nightwish a voice that stands
out. The final shackles of labeling scattered with the release of their
fourth album, entitled "Century Child". It strayed more away from
the more obvious references to melodic “power” metal, and showed promise of
a band that was really starting to find its own sound, a band that would
yet become something greater. The orchestrations and the choirs met on this
album were indeed magnificent and befitting the epic feel of that Nightwish
had always yearned for. But this was a mere overture to what was to become.
Nightwish's 2004 album "Once" was that which broke all remaining
traces of separation between people. The album sold platinum on its release
day in Finland
and later in Germany,
and gold in Austria,
Sweden,
Norway
and Switzerland,
and went over the magical "1 million copies sold
worldwide"-limit. Everybody knew of Nightwish. Hell, even the Finnish
prime minister confided as a Nightwish-fan.
The first era of Nightwish ended with an
open letter in which the band fired its formidable frontperson Tarja
Turunen. Was this to be the end of Nightwish? No one knew. People took
sides, and a true circus of the media-type began. Countless of pages of
Finnish magazines alone were spent on this episode, but everything that
needed to be said was already public. Slowly the ruckus ended in silence,
and Tuomas retreated to his own confines bringing to life what was to be
the future. And now? We sail on darkened waters. A sea-fare is a fitting
metaphore as of the four elements water is the one representing emotions.
On "Dark Passion Play" the music in conjunction with the lyrics
conjure a brooding atmosphere never yet seen, or actually felt, in this
magnitude in the saga of Nightwish. The fables and their reflections have
always portrayed a deciphered view to their creator’s mind, in this case
that of Tuomas Holopainen. The past years and the events leading to this
day have naturally affected the outcome of this album, as it is known that
Tuomas communicates best through music. And this music is filled with
emotions, at times subtle – at times overwhelming. I daresay it is this
what makes Nightwish such a popular band. Excellent music is not only to be
heard, it is to be felt. To be experienced. Sensitive music for sensitive
people, if one was looking for a catch-phrase.
This sixth Nightwish album stands at a
dividing line, separating what has been and what will become. And it stands
strong; resonating the confidence of its composer. Confidence of a new
time, never looking back but boldly doing whatever the heart desires. And
yet again no signs of compromises shine through, the musical innocence is
ever-present within these tunes. These songs take us through multitude of
emotions on their journey, and it is richer and more varied than before,
touching lightly on more ethnic flavours and being as ever bombastic as it
bloody well can be. The heavenly voice of Anette Olzon carries through
bright and powerful – and also more varied that of her predecessor. She
truly is what Nightwish's music deserves.
Despite the fact that this musical
passionwork is heavy with darker atmospheres, within it still lie
optimistic undertones. It tells us that even in the bleakest of times there
is hope. The voyage ends safely on familiar waters. The sound of Nightwish
reborn is ever-strong. Unfaltering.
Now, one and a half year past the release of
“Dark Passion Play” and several Platinum as well as Gold Awards, number 1
chart positions, the band has captured some impressions on DVD from all
around the world being on tour for nearly the same time playing hundreds of
shows all over the globe. The first live document of the
Anette Olzon – era not only features an exhaustive tour documentary on DVD,
but also an excellent live set on CD in deluxe sound quality!
The band will extend their successful world
tour and go on to a second leg covering key parts of Europe early 2009!
TRACKLIST:
CD:
(66:13) 01. Bye Bye Beautiful (live) 02. Whoever Brings The Night (live)
03. Amaranth (live) 04. The Poet And The Pendulum (live) 05. Sahara (live) 06. The Islander (live)
07. Last Of The Wilds (live) 08. 7 Days To The Wolves (live) 09. Escapist
10.
While Your Lips Are Still Red 11. Cadence Of Her Last Breath (demo version)
DVD: (49:52) - Documentary (Dark Passion
Play World Tour) - Video Clips:
- Amaranth - Bye Bye Beautiful - The Islander 16:9 PAL / 2.0 Stereo /
DVD-5 / region free
