Nightwish - Once


Year of Release: 2004
Label: Nuclear Blast
Catalog Number: 1291
Format: CD
Total Time: 60:04:00

This review is excerpted from Clayton's October 31, 2004 The Prog Life column found here -ed.

According to the press releases, Finnish group Nightwish has been tearing it up big time in Europe, earning a popularity that "ranks up there with Evanescence, U2, and Britney Spears." I can't vouch for the veracity of that statement (nor can I figure out how Britney managed to get mentioned in the same breath with Evanescence and U2), but I can say that fans of Lana Lane need to take note of this fine release. Nightwish plays a form of symphonic metal that would make Lana Lane drool, but Nightwish cranks up the energy ten-fold, not to mention combines regal orchestration and choir with their tracks. The first song, "Dark Chest Of Wonders" roars from the speakers, its sonic theatricality likely to induce shivers, and the rest of the album rarely relents. Vocalist and bombshell Tarja Turunen attacks the songs similarly to Lana Lane, but with a more operatic tone, delivering one fine performance after another. Wow!

Nightwish (courtesy)

Also released by Roadrunner (618217) and, in Finland, Spinefarm (2004: 981890, and 2005: 9014/987). Nuclear Blast released a limited edition version (125071) in 2004 (and a Picture LP version (125072)); Candlelight released an LP, in 2006 (cat. no. 35). And there was a special UK edition from Nuclear Blast (13905) with additional bonus tracks. Some of these versions have different artwork, not shown here.


Tracklisting:
Dark Chest Of Wonders (4:28) / Wish I Had An Angel (4:05) / Nemo (4:36) / Planet Hell (4:38) / Creek Mary's Blood (8:29) / The Siren (4:45) / Dead Gardens (4:28) / Romanticide (4:58) / Ghost Love Score (10:02) / Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan (3:58) / Higher Than Hope (5:35) / Bonus: White Night Fantasy (4:04) / Live To Tell The Tale (7:30) / Wish I Had An Angel (multimedia)

[UK edition bonus tracks: White Night Fantasy (4:04) / Live To Tell The Tale (5:00) / Wish I Had An Angel (4:08) / Ghost Love Score (instrumental) (10:46) / Where Were You Last Night (3:52) / Wish I Had An Angel (4:10)]

Musicians:
Tarja Turunen - vocals
Tuomas Holopainen - keyboards, piano
Emppu Vuorinen - guitars
Marco Hietala - bass, backing vocals; vocals (2)
Jukka Nevalainen - drums
John Two-Hawks - flute, chants, vocals (5)
plus numerous guests

Discography:
Angels Fall First (1997)
Oceanborn (1998)
Wishmaster (2000)
Wishmastour 2000 (2000)
Over The Hills And Far Away (ep) (2001)
From Wishes To Eternity (FI only) (2001)
Century Child (2002)
Once (2004)
Tales From The Elvenpath (2004)
Bestwishes (2005)
Highest Hopes: The Best Of Nightwish (2005)
End Of An Era (2006)
Dark Passion Play (2007)
The Sound Of Nightwish Reborn (2008)
Made In Hong Kong (2009)
Imaginaerum (2011)
Walking In The Air: The Greatest Ballads (2011)
Imaginaerum: The Score (2012)
Showtime, Storytime (2013)
Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015)
Vehicle Of Spirit (2016)
Decades (2018)

From Wishes To Eternity (DVD/VID) (2001)
End Of Innocence (DVD) (2003)
End Of An Era (DVD) (2006)
Made In Hong Kong (DVD) (2009) Imaginaerum (DVD/BR) (2011)
Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015)

From Wishes To Eternity (DVD) (2001)
End Of Innocence (2002) (DVD) (2003)
End Of An Era (DVD) (2006)
Made In Hong Kong (DVD) (2009)
Imaginaerum (DVD) (2013)
Showtime, Storytime (DVD/BR) (2013)
Vehicle Of Spirit (DVD/BR) (2016)
Decades - Live In Buenos Aires (DVD/BR) (2019)

Genre: Progressive-Power Metal

Origin FI

Added: October 31st 2004
Reviewer: Clayton Walnum
Score:
Artist website: www.nightwish.com
Hits: 3006
Language: english

  

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