Over the last year or so, I've come across and listened to many power metal bands which are popular overseas. Some like to show off virtuoso musicianship by packing in the guitar/keyboard solos and pounding double-kick bass drums. Others are just 3rd-rate clones of better bands. After a while though, I begun to realize that while it's good to hear bands go for the old-school heavy metal sound, a lot of power metal bands lack in the songwriting department and offer nothing unique to add to the old-school sound. In other words, a lot of it doesn't really stand out and there is little variety between certain bands. Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Stratovarius are just a couple of examples.

The good news is that there are many diamonds in the rough, some incredibly talented bands that stand out leagues above the others. Symphony X, Kamelot, Sonata Artica, Blind Guardian, and Iced Earth are among the elite bands of the genre. But we're here to talk about another exceptional power metal act: Nightwish. Comprised of female vocalist Tarja Turunen, keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, drummer Jukka Nevalainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and bassist Sami Vanska, Nightwish opts to create a very melodic, epic, and romantic atmosphere with their music. Usually 'beautiful' is not the word that comes to mind when one thinks of heavy metal music, but with Tarja's soaring operatic vocals and Tuomas's grand orchestral keyboard textures accompanying the rest of the band, Nighwish proves to be VERY convincing in that regard. I'm not a fan of opera, but Tarja sings in a very tasteful opera style, and in time she can grow on all people who give her a chance. The keyboards are just amazing: they can go from synth texture to balladic piano to an orchestral texture, and this gives Nightwish a powerful 'fantasy' overtone. The rest of the band plays in a good power metal style, though they don't stand out as much. Many have also labeled Nightwish a goth/metal band due to the lyrics and the mood their albums evoke, and I can understand that. Whether you think that they're power metal or goth metal, it's up to you to decide.

Wishmaster is the band's third outing, and unlike a lot of power metal bands, Nightwish doesn't stay exactly the same from album to album. Contrary to Oceanborn's(1998) grand epic vast array of orchestrations the keyboards create, in Wishmaster the keyboards are pushed a bit further back into the mix, allowing most of the guitars to be easily heard. The songwriting here is also slightly more commercial than before, and while I don't find it to be as great as before, Wishmaster is still a wonderful album and perhaps the best place for new fans to start. Here's the songlist:

1) She Is My Sin- A great rocker that serves as a good way to kick off the album. *****

2) The Kinslayer- This faster rocker, though not very memorable, manages to keep the pace up very well, and it contains a narrative male vocalist later on (thankfully not the death metal vocalist that unfortunately plagues Oceanborn and Century Child(2003). As another reviewer mentioned, this track could have been a tribute to the Columbine shootings.****

3) Come Cover Me- Starts off slow and moody with the keyboards and then erupts into a steady commercial mid-paced rocker. Quite good. ****

4) Wanderlust- This song carries a similarity to Gethsemane from Oceanborn. Very dynamic track. The melodic bridge section is AWESOME. *****

5) Two For Tragedy- An awesome ballad, and one of the best ones they've done. Also one of the few tracks on the album to let the keyboards up front. Very slow, moody, and melodic. One of the album highlights, with Tarja's vocals sounding in top form. *****

6) Wishmaster- The title track is one of the standout songs on the album. An excellent epic rocker with a soaring quality to it. The guitaring is at its greatest here. *****

7) Bare Grace Misery- Similar to the first track, and this song sounds like it could have been on Nightwish's debut album, Angels Fall First(1997). A great rocker. ****

8) Crownless- Fastest track on the album shows the bands "harder edge" side. A bit 'power metal-typical' sounding, but still good, and it features some excellent guitar solos. ****

9) Deep Silent Complete- Starts off slow and melodic like track #3, but it turns into an awesome fast rocker. Not too heavy, yet the melody is very memorable. *****

10) Dead Boy's Poem- This ballad is moody like the others Nightwish has done, but DBP is also very touching and haunting. Quite unique. *****

11) FantasMic- Quite a lengthy track for Nightwish, containing several epic sections. Starts off heavy, followed by a softer middle section, and then finishing off with a heavy finale. Musically it doesn't stand out as much as other tracks, but it's still an exceptional epic. ****

Don't let the 4 stars discourage you from checking this album out. Wishmaster is a great release from Nightwish and it should be the place for new fans to start. While it isn't quite as epic as Oceanborn was, this album contains a great dynamic variety of tracks which makes the album flow nicely. I was only let down a little bit because so many fans seem to praise this album as the best so I expected it to be better than Oceanborn. Oh well. It did grow on me over time. Wishmaster is still a stellar release. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Other albums that sound similar to Wishmaster are:
(POWER METAL)
-'Oceanborn' by Nightwish
-'Odyssy' by Symphony X
-'The Fourth Legacy' by Kamelot
-'Silence' by Sonata Artica

(GOTHIC METAL)
-'Comelies' by Lacuna Coil
-'Mandylion' by Gathering
-'Be My God' by Lullacry


Stunning - gorgeous and powerful - don't overlook this!   January 29, 2005
Andrew Kuzel (Rochester, NY United States)
22 out of 22 found this review helpful

Having been profoundly impressed by my first exposure to Nightwish, via "Oceanborn", the next step was to immediately procure their next three releases; obviously, right!? I was really curious to hear "Wishmaster", since there seems to be some difference of opinion about it; it seems to inspire ambivalence or lack of enthusiasm in some and sometimes seems to grade out lower than other Nightwish CDs.

I had no such reaction; I absolutely loved it from the start and it will probably end up being an all time favorite (like top 10) for me. My impressions - well everything I could want in music - power, beauty, passion, memorable melody, rhythmic drive, vibrant/positive/life-affirming attitude - its all there. To me, "Wishmaster" comes off more as classic melodic metal. Its somewhat reminiscent of vintage Iron Maiden, as opposed to the Dream Theatre type progressive vibe of "Oceanborn" or the heavier more modern flavor of "Century Child" and "Once". Not to suggest Nightwish is derivative - without a doubt they have a strong character all of their own - those comparisons are just a rough frame of reference.

"Wishmaster" is more guitar driven than "Oceanborn", a bit less grandiose, and not quite as bold or dramatic. Its also noticeably more polished; there aren't really any clunky elements in the music and sound quality is much better. "Wishmaster" doesn't have the harsh high-frequency issues "Oceanborn" did; this really helps the listening experience. It has a very balanced sound; no one element dominates, you get a strong impression of cohesion and synergy - everyone pulling together. I'd say the vocals benefit most from this. I've noticed that the vocals can sometimes get a little lost in the mix on other Nightwish CDs - not the case here.

And that's a really good thing because if there is any vocal performance that should be highlighted its Tarja Turunen's performance on "Wishmaster". The only word I can use is sublime. I'm probably guilty of overusing this adjective when it comes to Nightwish, but that's the only way I can really sum it up. I guess gorgeous and stunning work pretty well too, but I'm sticking with sublime. The vocals are firmly in the classical operatic style; really similar to those on "Oceanborn". Though I like classical music, I never liked classical vocals; I`ve always thought of them as stuffy and self-indulgent. I don't have that feeling at all with Tarja; in contrast, I just can't get enough. Somewhat sadly, Nightwish went to a more conventional vocal style following "Wishmaster". Though I think Tarja is still the best heavy music singer out there, even in a more conventional style, the unique flavor of her performances in "Wishmaster" and "Oceanborn" are unforgettable.

All this raving about the vocal performance shouldn't overshadow the other performances in "Wishmaster". As usual, Nightwish is really disciplined in songwriting and arrangement - there's no self indulgence here. The songs are all memorable, there's terrific use of melody and harmony, and the playing is top notch. Also, as usual, I find it impossible to pick favorites; my favorite track is whichever one I'm listening to at the moment. I love it when a CD is so consistent - listen all the way through - take a quick break - repeat - repeat again.....

In some ways, "Wishmaster" isn't super original, its more of a unique take on the classic metal formula. You could argue that the guitar leads have all been heard before, operatic vocals are common on PBS, you've heard those chord changes before, and so on. I think that's true of the vast majority of music out there; you could make similar arguments for just about any LP/CD. Truly ground breaking efforts aren't that common; "Wishmaster" is not in that category. If you're interested in that vibe "Oceanborn" or "Century Child" might be better choices. If you're really into the heavy modern grindy sound or a bit more of a darker vibe, "Once" would be a better Nightwish choice.

I think "Wishmaster" will appeal most to people who value melody, harmony, and balance in their music as opposed to those who favor heaviness or sheer guitar drive or are finicky about their metal. I think that "Wishmaster" is so strong in these areas that I would probably pick this as the CD that I would use to expose non-metal fans to the music - I think it transcends the genre or as one of my bros likes to say - its world class.


Great Album That Contains One Of Metal's Most Epic Suites   July 23, 2005
Stephen B. O'Blenis (Nova Scotia, Canada)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

Hybridized metal drawing from power metal, atmospheric, classical music,gothic and a touch of doom metal, "Wishmaster" should have more than enough of all these elements - performed masterfully - to satisfy fans of everyone from The Gathering to Blind Guardian to Angra. Led by the vocals of Tarja Turunnen, who's famous for being one of the first metal vocalists to sing the operatic style, but she also uses a number of other styles, some of them more traditional to metal and some not so. The music runs the range of whatever's required for the particular track: blazing speed metal guitars, progressive metal keyboards, slower, grand guitars & bass, varied percussion....

"Wishmaster"'s lyrics usually cover dark and sometimes terrible ground but do so without being depressing and hopeless, veering well away from the excessively nihilistic or satanic. And there's hope and brightness in the package too. The last 2 tracks - "Dead Boy's Poem" and "FantasMic", the latter a three part suite - form the apex of the album. Actually I think of it as a 4-part suite instead of a song and a three-part suite, all being linked together so seamlessly in theme and music. "Dead Boy's Poem/FantasMic" has both some of the saddest lyrics and tones of the album - the stuff on the album that's most likely to be the bringers of tears (fans of My Dying Bride and the other fine purveyors of doom metal's most tragically inclined corners, take note) but also some of the most sparkling and bone-shakingly inspirational and 'dawning brightness' material. The lyrics are wide open for interpretation and to go into all the images and concepts this cycle conjures up for me would take too much wordage. In brief, I feel the tragedy established in the suite's early going being brushed away like a house of cards before a bright apocalypse and a new world opening up - or perhaps transposing itself over this one. Other listeners will no doubt get their own interpretations, some darker than mine, some based on different notions, but all valid for the individual interpreter. "Dead Boy's Poem/FantasMic", along with using elements from the rest of the album, mixes in new elements - spoken word, poetic passages read by a child; some of the best (by far) flute work I've ever heard; and mindblowingly effective use of a couple of tolls of an Oriental-sounding gong, placed perfectly into the overall flow of the music. Not to slight the other great songs, but it's these last tracks that raise the whole album from an enthusiastic four to 4.5 stars to a full five stars.


Opera meets Metal like never before.   September 5, 2004
Scott "Dr. Music" Itter (Naperville, Illinois United States)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful


Sounding like nothing else on the planet, this unique band has bridged the gap between Opera and Metal. Think of a true opera singer with the likes of a Dream Theater-type band behind her. That's the only way to try and explain what infiltrated my ears when I first heard this band. Singer Tarja Turunen is in a class by herself. Much like Jethro Tull made the flute a Rock instrument, or Kansas rocked out with a violin solo; Nightwish takes a genuine full blown opera singer, and makes her a tool for churning out molten metal songs that have incredible depth. Make no mistake either, she is not an "operatic" singer; she is a straight up Opera singer. The band to back this incredible voice is nothing short of stupendous also. With all music and lyrics being written by keyboard player Tuomas Holopainen, he has written a spine-tingling masterpiece here. Many comparisons have been drawn to Evanescence, as of late. The only similarity I really hear is that both bands have a great female singer. I believe that the similarities end there. The ladies have two completely different vocal styles, Tarja Turunen being an opera singer and Amy Lee being more of a rock vocalist. The bands have two totally different music styles also; Nightwish is a more complex and progressive act, where Evanescence is much more mainstream. Both bands are wonderful, but make no mistake.....they are different.

From the very first track, we start an expedition of tremendous all around musicianship. Turunen is a shock to the ears when you first hear her. With the unexpected wailing of her triumphant tone on She Is My Sin, and the medieval chant of the record's second track The Kinslayer, you have no choice but to be shocked by what this act is doing. An incredible band accompaniment makes these first two tracks simply stunning. The surprises never really subside either. From the light flute pieces in Come Cover Me and FantasMic to the mounting drama of Dead Boy's Poem, this record is loaded with a diverse collection of pleasurable nuances. Take note of the heavenly drum track on Wanderlust, and the great guitar riff to fire up Crownless, or the guitar effect on Deep Silent Complete; this is an all around group contribution that is highlighted by Turunen's extraordinary vocal talent. Having all the music and lyrics written by the keyboard player also, you can just imagine what this has to offer on the keyboard front. Many of the keyboard arrangements simply compliment the music that surrounds them. The keyboards never move in and take over any of these songs. It only makes sense that some of the finest written keyboard parts would be written by the guy playing them, huh?!
Great drum tracks, exquisite keyboard pieces, and adequate guitar grind complementing one of the best singers in the world - what more could you ask for?! As the record continues dealing out appetizing, elaborate, and sensitive arrangements, you soon realize that this can't get much better. Songs like Come Cover Me, Wanderlust, Bare Grace Misery and Crownless all have a slight classic metal influence to them; but with its' dark and haunting lyrics, its' instrumental complexity, and Ms. Turunen singing, they barely resemble anything that has come before them. With Turunen and her opera stylings, any and all similarities to anything and everything go straight out the window. There will always be those who'll want to mention Iron Maiden, Dream Theater or Evanescence though, when trying to describe this unparagoned pleasure.

The only thing lacking here is that "Perfect 10 tingle"; you know, the shiver that keeps sprinting to and fro on the track that is your spine. This is one of the most peerless presentations ever offered in the metal genre, though. One of the most unique and delightfully appealing sounds I've ever experienced. Hooray for ingenuity, originality, and talent. Hooray for Nightwish.

OVERALL RATING: 9 (1-10 scale)
For more Dr. Music reviews, visit http:/DrMusic.new-sounds.com


Nightwish is my Sin   November 13, 2003
djhexane (Ohio, USofA)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This was the second album that I ever heard by Nightwish. My first was Oceanborn. I loved that one. So I ordered this one and popped it into my stereo when I received it. My first impression was actually. Meh...Oceanborn is better. Then I gave it another listen and absolutely have been loving it since then.

This album has a slightly harder edge than Oceanborn. But still retains a few of their wonderful balads (ala: Come Cover Me, Deep Silent Complete, and Dead Boy's Poem). There is even a track about the Columbine shootings (The Kinslayer), after finding out what this song means...it actually made more sense and the line: "Kill your friend, I don't care." is very chilling. And this comming from a Finish band is remarkable how a tragedy can travel so far.

There songs range from tributes to fantasy (FantasMic, Wishmaster) to love (She is my Sin, Come Cover Me), to depression (Dead Boy's Poem, which is really sad).

Plus the female operatic vocals done by the wonderful Tarja Turunen are up to par and perfection. This neo-classical Opera metal band should be a guide for all prog and neo-classical bands out there.

You have astounded us with another divine album. Thank you Nightwish.