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NIGHTWISH
"Yesterwynde" (Nuclear
Blast; 2024)
Reviewed by Snidermann
Nightwish is a symphonic metal band from Finland and I have listened to them off and on for a number of years; however, I have not tried to review them, until now. Frankly, I didn't know what I felt about the band, but my view has drifted toward the positive.
The name of this release is "Yesterwynde" and it is twelve tracks of what the band says describes on their website as: "A fantastical voyage through time, memory and the better angles of human nature." I am happy they did that. It put me in the right frame of mind to listen to this recording.
As I listened to this musical experience, it played like a stage play in my mind's eye. It has a Trans-Siberian Orchestra feel to it and, with their heavy use of keyboard and singer Floor Jensen's amazing voice, it is simply musical magic. Back in ‘02 they did a recording called "Century Child" and on that they did a remake of Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Phantom of the Opera" (and I do not like that Webber's music; it was way too overblown in the 90s). That being said, if you want a real snapshot of the band, go to Youtube.com and check out that performance. It's simply stunning.
Floor Jensen is at the top of the female-fronted symphonic metal bands; however, she is far from the only one. It is a genre of metal that I intend to explore more intently in the future. I was totally enamored by this recording, it is larger than life and the sound ranges from the highly explosive to the intimate and back again in a heartbeat.
It may have taken me a while to get on the Nightwish train, but now that I am there I plan on check out their 25 years of music.
For more information check out http://www.nightwish.com.
"Imaginaerum" (Roadrunner
Records; 2011)
Reviewed by Jeff Rogers
Nightwish have given us a concept album about a composer who, on his deathbed, begins to reminisce about his youth. In awesome Finnish fashion, Nightwish create a beautiful/haunting story that takes you through the old composer's life, chapter by chapter.
This is the seventh album by Nightwish and they have
topped the charts with "Imaginaerum" because of their musicianship. Their
combination of symphonic metal and chugging guitars creates a lure that you just
can't stop listening to and to make this disc even sweeter they composed
instrumental tracks for each one of the songs. So you can have the music to dive
into, mind first. I highly recommend getting the 2 CD Digipack Edition.
Since the story moves in and out of the composer's life the flow builds and
crescendos and then begins again anew. Anette Olzon has a beautiful voice and
tells the story with passion and grace, Marco (bass) often sings with Anette so
that they create a vocal conversation. The guitar moves the songs along with
fast fashion and the drums gallop right along. You can hear some excellent
percussion on this disc and additional instruments such a trumpet, violin and
sorna fill in all areas of this incredible musical journey.
The best news is that this disc was made into a movie of the same name: "Imaginaerum,"
the movie, should be released sometime soon.
The Imagineers: Anette Olzon - vocals, Tuomas Holopainen - keyboards, piano,
Emppu Vuorinen - guitars, Marco Hietala - bass, vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9,
10, 11, 12 ), Jukka Nevalainen - drums, percussion.
For more information check out
http://www.nightwish.com.
Rating Guide:
A classic. This record will kick your ass.
Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.
So-so. You've heard better.
Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.
Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.
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