Review by Stephen Pedicino
Alright!!! All you faithful Nightwishers have waited three LOOOONNNGG years for another full-length release from this amazing band. I know some of you might have explored other symphonic metals bands in this span, while others simply sat around and longingly jerked it to their posters of Tarja Turunen.(It’s OK, we all did it at some point!!!)
Well, has our patience paid off? Or will these Finns leave our ears craving for more?
The anticipation for this release was heightened by the debut of a new singer. Since Nightwish fired Tarja fired in 2005, fans have wondered what type of replacement would emerge, if one were feasible at all!!! After Anette Olzon’s identity was revealed in May, it was clear that she had the looks to serve as a vocalist for Nightwish. We were sure that fanboys across the globe could successfully fondle themselves to her picture, but what about her voice?
Let me assure you that Nightwish can still exist and sound excellent without Mrs. Turunen behind the mic!
This euphoric musical journey begins with the longest and probably most epic track in the discography of Nightwish, “The Poet and the Pendulum.” Clocking in at 13:54, it features every element of Nightwish at its finest. From the bombastic orchestra, pulsating riffs and dramatic lyrical passages, everything about this song dominates. Anette really shows a lot of variety in this piece. From the opening song its proven that she has what’s needed to serve as this band’s frontwoman.
Much like “Once,” DPP features a more energetic and perhaps commercially-oriented second song. “Bye Bye Beautiful,” featuring a strong duet from Marco and Anette, offers enough power and catchiness to stay in your head long after its over with. “Amaranth” follows with a great orchestra and unforgettable chorus. The video for this song is amazing.
“Master Passion Greed” then punches your face with the heaviest intro of any Nightwish tune to date, and I’ve listened to them all! A strong double bass and crunchy riffs drive the majority of this song. Marco carries the entire track by himself and does and excellent job in doing so. The subsequent song, “Eva,” is a beautiful ballad that all Nightwish fans have come to expect by this point.
“For the Heart I Once Had” is more of a lenitively touching tune. It has an angelic refrain that caresses my heart so delicately every time I hear it. (Yeah, I’ve got a soft side) SO BLOW ME!!! ? Great song
Next we have “The Islander,” and “Last of the Wilds.” Both are folk-inspired, with the latter being an instrumental track. They serve as a nice way to break up the album if you’re into more earthly and folkish music.
I’m sure that some will never let go of Tarja, but Nightwish have succeeded in finding someone I could listen to for years to come.
This opus closes with “Meadows of Heaven.” It’s a bit Disneyish, but hey – wouldn’t YOU like to hear more Nightwish in something like “The Hunchback of Notre Dame?” I found the song to be a bit boring, as I would prefer an album like this to have more of a powerful ending. It gets a bit soulful towards the end though with some gospel-like vocals. I found them to be a bit more enjoyable when I pictured Marco singing them instead of a gospel-singer……Just a way of humoring myself “-)