Dark Passion Play - Nightwish

Advantages: Awesome songs, Well fitted!
Disadvantages: Possibly songs are too short.

I was always curious before Nightwish came back together with a new vocalist, would the new vocalist cut it or not? Well, it came out finally, after a long wait. The new vocalist, Annete Olzon, was completely different to Tarja Turunen! A refreshing change from opera. Anyway, lets review song by song. 1: The Poet and the Pendulum. 13:54 Such a symphonic start, gradually growing darker. That twinkling sound makes you uneasy, yet comfortable... Quite ...
...i love it anyway. The vocals in this are VERY good. Along with the lyrics, after this, Bang. In come the heavy drums, and the tune. I mean, wow. Drums get more frequent, and then hit in the guitars. Amazing work and songwriting. After this, it gets a little calmer, and in come annetes vocals. Completely different from the old nightwish, and her voice is heavenly. It REALLY grows on you. Then more instruments hit in, i don't know what they are, but ... Read review

Advantages: Strong symphonic metal album
Disadvantages: New singer as good?

Nightwish for me are a band who always deliver quality albums, this offering is no different. Despite the change of lead female vocal the album still has the very definite nightwish sound. "Dark Passion Play" has all the symphonic sounds of previous albums and still delivers those crunching guitars you come to expect. Now the big question is Annettes voice comparable to Tarja's. My answer no. But not necessarily a bad thing. I think Annette has ...
...not quite as strong or as operatic. I saw the video from the first single off this album "Amaranth" and I must say she looked a little more like a pop singer than a metal singer though still undeniably a Nightwish song. As for the album itself I think it carries on where "Once" left off. The male vocal is also used alot on this album. ... Read review

Advantages: read review
Disadvantages: read review

I waited for this album with bated breath - would it still be nightwish without Tarja? Happily, the answer is YES!!! When a new nightwish album comes out I tend to listen to it quite a few times - just to get the feel for it - and there's usually a couple of duff tracks on it. No such thing with this album! All the way from the 14 minute "monstrosity" (a quote from Jukka) Poet and the Pendulum, through to the fantastic Sahara, this album just delivers ...
...new albums through is the "friend" test. And so far, even the metal hating friends have loved it. Anette has delivered the impossible - the album was written without her in mind, and she's easily matched the distinctive Tarja, around who the previous albums have all been written. So, what else can I tell you about the album? Well, as always, its a quality production - totally clear sound, fantasticly mixed and powerful all the way from the bass ... Read review

Advantages: A great rocking album
Disadvantages: New singer might not to be to everyones tastes

I am fairly new to the world of Nightwish but I have learned fast. I love Nightwish and I love this album. Ok, new singer takes a little getting used to, but I feel she fills Tarja's shoes well. Annette is a great singer but has a different style to Tarja, takes a little getting used to but the underlying feel and emotion of the music remains the same. I feel the second track on this album (bye bye beautiful) might be about the sacking of Tarja, ... Read review