Hello,
I'm new here, so my reviews are probably going to be poor to start with, so give me a chance.
Anyway, Nightwish Nightwish Nightwish. God Bless 'Em. You simply can't say that they aren't huge. Maybe not in America and England, but certainly across the main countries of Europe. Well, i must say, the first Nightwish song i ever heard wwas from their album "Once". It was called "Nemo", and for anyone who has has been even HALF conscious over the past few years, that is an instantly recognisable name. For those of you sad, sad people who have no idea what i'm talking about, its (in my opinion) one of the strongest songs Nightwish have ever done.
Anyway, i'll stop blabbering on, and i'll let you all read my review.
Here is a brief (ish) overlook of the album "Once".
From the opening song "Dark Chest Of Wonders", their is a metal feel right throughout. It kicks into action with the mysetrious spoken words " Once i had a dream/ and this is it". The, well, then, it blasts into what has to be one of the coolest metal riffs i have ever heard. Now, i'm not guitarist, but surely thats quite difficult to play, no? Correct me if i'm wrong. This song is a brilliant start to the album.
So onto the singles, "Nemo" and Wish I Had An Angel". Well, these could be some of the weakest songs on the album. They both sound very "Nightwishy". However, they may be very good songs for release as a songle, but not as an essential. Well worth a listen though. I would like to tell you all that if you haven't watched the video for "Nemo", then do so! Its very gothic, strange, and to be honest you can't really tell what is going on, but it is undoubtedly brilliant. And it has the beautiful face of frontman, ahem frontWOMAN, Tarja Turunen, who, in herself, has made Nightwish big. Then they went and threw her out. The Idiots!
Well, where do i start with the excellent "Planet Hell". This sounds like nothing on Earth. Rock metal mixed with Orchestra and Opera? It shouldn't work, but it does. This song is, in as little words as possible, essential to the album. Ican't fault it, there is little wrong with it. Perhaps, the only criticism i can give it is that it is a little long, and the intro drags on too, just a tad. Please, feel free to argue with me as much as you want, for after all, all good writers must take constructive criticism.
"Creek Mary's Blood" could and should (like Ghost Love Score, see below) be a film soundtrack. This song has native chants at the beginning, and starts quietly, but, like everything we love from Nightwish, it opens up on the chorus, it just wouldn't be right if it didn't. Again the word "Once" is used. Not an essential, in my opinion, but still very different and deserved of your listening. This song coudl benefit from being shoter though.
"The Siren" is a very, very, very cool song. First time you hear it you think to yourself "what the hell is going on here?". Second time you hear it you think " Yeah, its strange, but i like it". Third Time you hear it you are addicted. Thats how it was with me. This song is by no means the longest, but i like it, i really do! The lyrics "who tied my hands to the wheel?" are strange to say the least, but then Nightwish aren't exactly known for being "Normal" are they?
"Dead Gardens" is another very synthy song from NW. After the very synthy opening, it soon turns into another Nightwish song. The words of " The play is done, the curtain's down", sound to me like something you would hear from the genetically and scientifically impossible lovechild of Freddie Mercury (who was Gay anyway) and George Gershwin (yes, thats right, the guy who wrote Rhapsody In Blue). I can't help but give Tarja's vocals another piece of praise, but again she sings brillaintly. "Romanticide" is another heavy song. But, the orchestra do quite well in it, and it sounds Nightwishy, sorry to use that word twice. Those guitars, huh? I haven't heard any other band make them sound the same way! Absoulutely awe-inspiring! And...you can hear the bass in this piece of music. Not often you get that in a rock song nowadays!
"Ghost Love Score", well,here it is, THE song of the album, they must of spent hours, days, weeks, months, hell...even years, writing this song. I am glad to say though, that the work was not wasted, this song lives up to its expectations. Sounding like a cross between Pirates of the Caribeann and Saving Private Ryan, this song, does, for all intensive purposes, sound like a film soundtrack. And, although i may keep on about this, those guitars! Juat fascinating. This song is just worth every single second, and just feels like it belongs. Yes ladies and gentlemen, thats right, this is another essential!
The rest of the album is pretty uneventful, some song written in foreign, which bored me so much, i can't even remember its title. Oh wait, "Kuolema Tekae Taiteliajan", thats it!I haven't actually got the box here, as my version is a copy, so i do apologise. "Higher Than Hope" take us back to the old style music Nightwish used to play. Powerful, driving Power rock. Don't let that fool you though, unoriginal this may be, but its still a little charmer. Worth a lsiten, by all means.
Now, if you were one of the lucky ones who bought the platin edition, you got some extra songs. You lucky little blighters! However, i have ordered that version on play.com, and it is coming in the post, but do let me know what the added songs are like. I'm sure it will only be a matter of days until i find out for myself.
So, thats it, my very first review. Yes, i know, i know, it was poor. But give me achance, i'm working on it!
Nightwish are:
Tarja Turunen-Vocals (has recently been replaced by some fool who can't sing. But don't Tarja, i still love you!)
Tuomas Holopainen-Keys and Piano
Marco Hietala- Bass and Vocals
Jukka Nevalainen- Drums and Percussion
Emppu Vuorinen- Guitars
Please feel free to criticise, as i only want to get better.
Essential Songs
-Ghost Love Score
- The Siren
-Dark Chest Of Wonders
-Romancticide.
Thanks,
When_Darkness_Falls
Nightwish is kind of hit-or-miss with me. I like a lot of their music, but Tarja's voice doesn't always fit well. Oceanborn, Wishmaster, and Century Child are really good albums, but I'm not familiar with this one. Welcome, and keep up the good work.
