You cannot classify Nightwish into a genre. Anyone who tries will get it wrong because, simply, they overlap so many and draw from so many different influences that they could very well merit their own new musical genre!

For example in the space of single song (take the first track of this album) you can clearly hear hints of heavy metal guitars, flutes, opera singing, sweet melodic tunes…when you sit down to a Nightwish track, you're going to be taken on an epic, rollercoaster journey like no other band can provide.

I was first introduced to Nightwish when I was browsing the heavy metal section at HMV (though, as mentioned, to just classify them as metal would be ridiculous. They're not.) I had been looking for a certain album by a different artist, but since they didn't have it in stock I was left with money burning a hole in my pocket…and then the cover for Oceanborn caught my eye. Literally, it was the cover that sold it to me; that beautiful fantasy-style artwork. HMV had two Nightwish albums, this and Century Child, and the covers were so beautiful I had to check them out.

I looked to the back and - imagine my surprise - when the list of instruments and band members were presented. Pianos? Synthesisers? A female vocalist?…In a 'heavy metal' CD? I was intrigued, so snapped them both up. And the second I popped them into my CD player realised this was quite possibly the best impulse buy I'd ever made.

The Band

Tarja - Vocals
Emppu - Guitars
Sami - Bass
Jukka - Drums and percussion
Tuomas - Synthesisers and piano

Nightwish are a Finnish band from Kitee, but sing in English (presumably, like The Rasmus, so that they could conquer the bigger markets).

Their discography:
Angels Fall First (1997)
Oceanborn (1998)
Wishmaster (2000)
Over the Hills and Far Away (2001)
Century Child (2002)
Once (2004)

Once was to be the last album for Tarja, when she was 'dismissed' from the band by means of a public open letter in 2005. Nightwish have carried on since then, and although I like the new female singer she doesn't have that operatic edge that made Tarja (and therefore Nightwish) so unique.

Swedish vocalist Anette Olzon then joined the band and since then they have released the following album:
Dark Passion Play (2007)

Oceanborn

The CD was released on October 7th 1998 for SpineFarm records. It was to be their second album, after Angels Fall First, and the first album that new member Sami worked on.

Oceanborn was a success for the band; the album placing 5th in Finland's music chart. The first single from the album (Sacrament of Wilderness) places 1st in the singles charts and prompted SpineFarm Records to release the album internationally.

The singles released from this album are as follows:

• Sacrament of Wilderness (1998)
• Passion and the Opera (1998)
• Walking in the Air (1998)
• Sleeping Sun (1999)

The Booklet

A 10 page colour booklet is provided, with lyrics to all of the songs (with exception of track 7: Moondance, track 10: Walking in the Air and track 11: Sleeping Sun).

The booklet is mainly blue with a water rippling effect and black text (which is a little hard to read) and has some fantasy art in a slightly darker blue which gives it a mystic effect. It's really beautiful. There is also a gothic-styled picture of the band on the back of the booklet.

The Tracks

These are all sung in English (despite the fact the band are from Finland) however, due the singers operatic voice, a lot of the words aren't very well distinguished. It's worth reading the lyrics in the booklet provided, as they are beautifully written, and work very well with the beautiful music I'm about to try and describe.

1. Stargazers (4'27) - A rather fast paced and dramatic song. Starts of with strong violins and drums, before a pretty synthesised section, then back to the drums and violins before a strong beat kicks up and Tarja's vocals come in loud and clear and strong. There is a very strong drum beat throughout this, and the operatic elements of Tarja's voice are only really apparent in the chorus, otherwise it's just beautiful strong vocals.

2. Gethsemane (5'21) - An unusual mix of a pretty, light piano tune and drums kick this song off and works so well together you'd be amazed. Again this song has a heavy drum beat throughout, but not quite as dramatic as the previous track. Beautiful fast pretty piano tunes weave throughout this song to soften the edge of the drums but take away none of the impact.

3. Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean (4.46) - Guitars are the main instrument introducing us to this song, with the ever present dramatic drum beat. However the first voice we here isn't Tarja's beautiful voice, but a very rough low male voice. It works well, and compliments Tarja's vocals as they are so contrasting. This is a very fast song, and possibly even more dramatic than the previous two tracks. Synthesisers and piano tunes keep the darker more dramatic instruments at bay, and this is truly a musical extravaganza.

4. Sacrament of Wilderness (4'12) - This was the first single from the album, and it's not hard to see why. A truly haunting introduction; the drums are there, but are given a backseat to one of the most bittersweet piano introductions I've ever heard. The piano's continue, and then synthesisers and guitars joint he fray before Tarja lends her voice to make this gothic tune complete. The cover art for this album is fantasy themed; and this song truly makes you think of every fantasy movie or book you've ever heard of. It's really awe-inspiring.

5. Passion and the Opera (4'58) - A fast paced guitar opening, followed shortly by complementing drums and then Tarja's vocals. This song seems much more simple, and just pure. It works, though, even compared with the intricate songs the instruments have woven on the previous four tracks. They have a gift for choosing a few elements and blending them to work, and this track showcases their ability to choose instruments perfectly.

6. Swanheart (4'44) - Starts off with soft pan flutes and a piano (heavy metal indeed!). As Tarja sings, the instruments take a backseat, and are simply echoes in the background. This song really showcases her voice. It's so much softer than the previous tracks; but not boring. About halfway through a light drumbeat starts up, and then kicks up a bit more dramatically, with the flutes also darkening in tone. Guitars are soon bought into the mix for a solo, and then the song ends with them all mixing together and Tarja's vocals.

7. Moondance (3'31) - This is an instrumental track. Starts off with a soft pretty piano tune, that quickly becomes really fast and more dramatic with the introduction of a drum beat. Then everything tails off, and pretty flutes and a soft piano tune take over. Then the drums are back, with violins for a fast paced section until the end. No vocals, but just as dramatic as some of the previous tracks.

8. The Riddler (5'16) - Starts off with drums and a very pretty synthesised twinkling tune. Then Tarja's voice cuts through it all and the music tones down until the chorus, where guitars join in. I'd probably say this was the weakest track on the album - which is saying something since it's still dramatic and fantastic. It's just that every other track has something that makes it stand out and literally takes your breath away. While this song should by no means be skipped over, it doesn't have that 'one thing' that makes it stand out above the others.

9. The Pharaoh Sails to Orion (6'27) - A haunting introduction, very gothic, I think it's just a chorus of vocals. Then the strong male voice cuts through to give a spoken introduction and the guitars start up…and then a fast paced piano tune and a strong drum beat. And then the male and Tarja take turns in singing, their voices contrasting beautifully.

10. Walking in the Air (5'28) - Yes, that 'Walking in the Air', the theme to The Snowman. Bear with me; I promise that it works! For the first part it's just Tarja's beautiful voice, a piano and flutes. Then the drum starts up slowly. Towards the end the drum picks up and orchestral violins to make this one of the most dramatic version of this song I've ever heard. I'll admit; I didn't like this song at all until I heard Nightwish do it.

11. Sleeping Sun (4'01) - The best song on the album. I'm not joking, and I can't see why they tucked this little gem away at the end. It has such beautiful, clear, fantastic lyrics; 'I wish for this night time to last for a life time' sung in Tarja's operatic sweet voice is enough to stir emotions in you, and I promise as soon as this one comes on you'll drop whatever you're doing to listen. It starts of with a haunting synthesised tune, and then Tarja's vocals lend a beautiful edge, still keep the bittersweet theme of the song going strong. Then drums lead us into the chorus, where Tarja's vocals remain beautiful, and hit operatic highs. Truly a beautiful song, though quite not dramatic in tune like pretty much every other song on this album, the lyrics and tune drive the emotion so much deeper into you. A perfect ending to a perfect album.

Conclusion

I can't recommend this album enough. The songs will appeal to so many, don't be put of by the 'heavy metal' label, or the fact that Tarja's voice has an operatic edge; it all works together fantastically well and the end product is a highly polished masterpiece. Not a single song should be skipped over on this.

The songs are all dramatic, and though the lyrics aren't always clearly sung, they'd all be right at home on a theatrical score. They're that powerful. And considering how samey a lot of bands can be, where you can barely realise when one track has slipped into another, Nightwish are a breath of fresh air.

I assure you, if you buy this CD you won't regret it!