Oceanborn - Nightwish

Nightwish- Oceanborn


I can remember the first time I played this CD, it was the first time I'd connected with music, at all ever. It was an event that was very pivotal in my life; leading to a future obsession with music itself back in 2002. When I first got this CD, I was a bit wary as it had been called Symphonic power metal; and I still had the narrow-minded assumption about metal music itself. But what I got actually is one ...
...Sun, this had destroyed every metal assumption I had.


Tarja Turunen - Vocals
Emppu Vuorinen - Guitars
Sami Vänskä - Bass guitar
Tuomas Holopainen - Keyboards, Backing vocals (on track 7)
Jukka Nevalainen - Drums, Backing vocals (on track 7)
Tapio Wilska - Vocals (on track 3, 7, 9) (Session studio member)



Nightwish was formed by songwriter/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen and ... more

Nightwish- Oceanborn

I can remember the first time I played this CD, it was the first time I'd connected with music, at all ever. It was an event that was very pivotal in my life; leading to a future obsession with music itself back in 2002. When I first got this CD, I was a bit wary as it had been called Symphonic power metal; and I still had the narrow-minded assumption about metal music itself. But what I got actually is one of the most beautiful songs composed on the album: Sleeping Sun, this had destroyed every metal assumption I had.

Tarja Turunen - Vocals
Emppu Vuorinen - Guitars
Sami Vänskä - Bass guitar
Tuomas Holopainen - Keyboards, Backing vocals (on track 7)
Jukka Nevalainen - Drums, Backing vocals (on track 7)
Tapio Wilska - Vocals (on track 3, 7, 9) (Session studio member)

Nightwish was formed by songwriter/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen and guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, the songwriter is the heart of Nightwish; he controls what image Nightwish gives to the music. This is their second album released in 1999; after the release of Angels Fall First was received with wide and mixed critical acclaim. they have adopted a much technical and maturer approach, losing some of the folk aspects they had from the previous album. It was an instant roaring success in Finland, reaching number 5, which is no mean feat for a group of 5 people who were only 21-22! The most important aspect of this band is that it is entirely written in English, I assume Tuomas, the songwriter felt he could get his message across better and quicker; Finnish is a very hard language to write songs into, it'd be INCREDIBLY LONG! I really do love the writing style that Tuomas has penned in this album, it is full of themes that is put across in a beautiful words. They have been carefully put together to provoke certain images in your head. The atmosphere is quite oceanic with its optimistic outlook to life, occasional pessimistic moments such as Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean song.

The album art itself is rather pretty, I initially picked it because it looked charming and brought me back to my childhood- the images associated with Disney and such. When I first opened it up to read the lyrics, which you will need due to the vocalist's finnish accent that makes it a bit difficult to ditinguish! The lyrics were a bit difficult to read due to the effects inside the booklet and also the swirly font. There aren't lyrics for every song; the ones left out are Moondance, Walking in on Air, Sleeping Sun and Nightquest- which are the instrumental, a cover song and two bonus songs.

There are 10 official songs with an additonal 2 bonus songs: Sleeping Sun and Nightquest. I have mentioned that they took a much more mature approach to the music; there are more complex instruments interactions, especially the keyboard. Tuomas, in my opinion has worked very hard on his keyboard of his to meld the keyboard and guitar riffs so seamlessly, it doesn't feel out of place or derail the music too much it becomes too keyboard-y.

One of the things that made me fall in love with music itself was the operatic singer of Tarja Turunen. She had a very powerful but yet bombastic voice; I hadn't heard of anything so beautiful before. Her most accomplished song, in terms of her operatic range has to be Sleeping Sun or Swanheart.

1. Stargazers

This song is an amazing song to open up the album, with its heavy and frantic manner with the guitars and keyboards intertwining. It is a beautiful combination of guitar riffs with melody given by the keyboards with a seriously fantastic accomplished range of vocal work in this song. The lyrics might be something a bit hard to take seriously but on the whole, it shows a much more maturer approach from the lyrical side than in Angels Falls First.

7/10

2. Gethsemane

Gethsemane continues the same manner as it does with Stargazers- rather frantic keyboard interactions with the slightly- toned down guitars for this song; Turunen propels out the vocals in an emotional manner that really captures the emotion of the song really well. This may have been due to the lyrics that Holopainen wrote, which provokes such strong imagery in which the listener can connect to the song, even if they're listening to it in a casual manner. This is definitely one of my most-listened song from this album due to the emotions shown by Turunen, the beautifully written lyrics that creates powerful images and also, it is a song that I can listen to in any mood!

8/10

3. Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean

By the end of the two songs; you might think that you have the album down to a pat; the mood of the album suddenly changes to a grim and morbid atmosphere; there is really heavy drums and almost-death metal like vocals, which is perfect to represent a figure like the devil. This was vocalised by Wilska who is a famous figure in folk metal bands and he is a really good addition to the production of the album! I honestly think that this song was the most guitar-driven song; perfectly done to get the atmospheric and dramatic tone right. The duo bounce their vocals off each other to a successful degree that you can really feel their emotions put across in the lyrics.

8/10

4. Sacrament of Wilderness

There is a much more of an emphasis on the guitars in the song; which gives a refreshing change from the other keyboard-driven songs, it is a solid song. The chorus is pretty catchy and powerful with its lyrics. The lyrics also puts across solidly the magical ideas that Holopainen possesses throughout the album

Naked in midwinter magic
Lies an angel in the snow
The frozen figure crossed by tracks of wolves

7/10.

5. Passion and the Opera

One of the most majestic track on the album; it starts off with with an impression of being a guitar-orietated track, but actually, it is a fantastic mix of everything: great vocals, good guitar riffs combining with beautiful melody from the keyboards, the drumming are really strong on this song and it does feel as if its in flow with each other. Some might suggest that this is more operatic than metal but in my opinion, it is a nice but a subtle mix of the two throughout.This song also demonstrates the powerful ability of the vocalist; Turunen. The lyrics themselves are a little suggestive and may raise a few 'ooer's for some people who are new to this band.

7/10.

6. Swanheart

This is a very slow moving ballad, Nightwish does ballads really well and most of the time it's got really good lyrics to accompany it but this song for me, disrupts the tempo and flow of the album, it stuck out far too much. The lyrics are a bit odd, as you can see in the following:

All those beautiful people
I want to have them all
All those porcelain models
If only I could make them fall

However the flute and other musical accompainents are beautiful arranged, and it can be quite haunting if you're in the right mood. But most of the time, it is a bore to listen to.

5/10.

7. Moondance

This the only instrumental song on this album and they do instrumentals VERY WELL; they do manage to hold my attention for 03:22 minutes. They have beautifully crafted this song that jumps from a folky- style pianos to heavy guitars with drums, it jumps backwards and forwards. It does seem a strange concept to think of but when you listen to the song, you realise actually it is a very successful accomplishment of melding the two different styles into a very fun song to listen to.

7/10.

8. The Riddler

This has to be one of my favourite songs in terms of the lyrics; it transports me to a magical world where it is utterly astounding. The lyrics is so powerful in this song, more so than any other songs, it really put across that nature is beautiful, seeing through the eyes of a child. Otherwise, it is a fairly straightforward song, with the keyboard accompainments that is very well woven with the lyrics, this making the visual imagery generated by the lyrics even more powerful! This is a slightly differernt take on the style and the band does it very well, it doesn't seem to be dull at all throughout its 05:16 minutes length.

7/10.

9 The Pharoah Sails to Orion

The song starts with a slow keyboard opening, tricking you into thinking that perhaps it is another slow song but actually, it is one of Nightwish's heaviest songs in their entire discography! It is a very fine metal epic with amazing guitar riffs and drumming and keyboards. The combination of the harsh vocals with the angelic-vocals results in a haunting song that plays off each other, It is also imperative to mention the lyrics- it is utterly different to what has been sampled so far in this album, it does take you on another provocative imagery journey again.

8/10.

10. Walking in on Air

Yes, you have guessed it! It is a cover based on the magical and beautiful short cartoon film 'The Snowman'. I think Holopainen wanted to do a cover song based on the themes he has been exploring in the album here; the magical world of make-believe and similar sorts. I honestly think this is a fantastic over and not one to be missed!

7/10

11. Sleeping Sun

Right, this song is an absolute diamond in this album; hiding right at the back, it wasn't even in the main album which is madness! This is the song that sparked my love for music itself so I hold this song in the highest esteem, it is one of my favourite songs. A keyboard orientated song that is vocally driven, which doesn't sound appealing but when listening to the song, again Turunen pours all of her emotions into her voice which really puts the song across as a beautiful and haunting song itself.The lyrics were inspired by an eclipse that was occurring at the time and it obviously showed how a simple event provoked such feeling and thought in the writer itself. The song was so popular that in 2004/5, the band decided to do this song again, butchering the feel and emotion of the song that made it popular in the first place.

9/10.

This band from a tiny finnish village of Kitee has created an absolute masterpiece of an album. Who knew there was absolute creative people lurking in the villages of frost-bitten places in the North that could create an album like this! The beautiful crafted accompainments of the keyboards, guitars, drumming and the powerful vocalist has shocked the metal world of what could be done.

You may have realised I have repeated the lyrics in every single song, it is because Holopainen, the very-accomplished lyrical composer has exceedingly out-done himself with his haunting and beautiful lyrical themes which is handled so well; he writes from so many points of views. I have heavily got into this band and for many years; I struggled to get into any other bands because they didn't have the same beautiful lyrical abilities as Holopainen possesses and I fear I will never come across another band that gives such beautiful imagery throughout.

The band has never surpassed this album and never will as they've matured too far down to road to revert back to this child-like view of the world in the lyrical themes and I'm sure to the band, it'd be taking a step back. Which is a shame because I like the ideas on this album! Definitely an unique band that has to be checked out.

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I apologise for those who do not like track-by-track reviews but I felt it had to be done because it is one of my favourite albums and I couldn't skimp on any details at all.  

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