One of the strongest and most respected bands from Finland, Nightwish returns with “Once”. Nightwish is fronted by a female opera singer thus creating a unique style; a combination of Opera/gothic/power metal with orchestral arrangements, catchy atmosphere and a bombastic sound. Nightwish's expansive sound has earned a spot in 'metal' hearts around the globe. And they are consistently gaining popularity all over the world. The band has sold more than a million copies worldwide thus far spanning 6 albums, excellent work considering they get very little exposure in North America.
“Dark Chest Of Wonders” is a fast paced song that starts off the album with strong guitars and orchestration combined with a choral backdrop; an exciting start with the typical Nightwish sound. "Wish I Had An Angel" is a much different Nightwish attempt unlike anything tried before and which shows off some new elements in their music. It has a aggressive sound and employs a kind of techno beat which makes the song itself quite interesting. “Nemo”, which is the first single off the album showcases Tarja's voice and is a more traditional Nightwish undertaking. “Planet Hell”, begins with an epic start utilizing big guitar sounds mixed with orchestral elements. "Creek Mary's Blood" has a unique sound and is quite majestic in nature. It rocks with lots of atmosphere using a native indian narration as its central focus point.
The remaining songs are quintessential Nightwish and showcases amazing production with enjoyable orchestration that expands on lush film scores and taking them to the next level. Tarja Turunen's captivatingly beautiful voice shows why she may be one of the best female vocalists in the business.
Once is not the best work that they have done but despite this, the album grows with each successive spin. But, for the moment, I can't seem to get enough of Once.
Highly Recommended!
