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Tarja era Nightwish - Pinnacle of Symphonic Metal!
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    Posted: April 22 2024 at 18:57
Indeed great band, and certainly their golden years were with Tarja, and she's indeed my favourite singer for them (there might be some discussion about who is the overall better singer, her or Floor Jansen, but for Nightwish I still thing the best one is Tarja). That said, my favourite album from Nightwish is Imaginaerum (even though Anette is easily my least favourite singer from them).
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Originally posted by Mind_Drive Mind_Drive wrote:

Originally posted by MikeEnRegalia MikeEnRegalia wrote:

For some reason Nightwish never piqued my interest ... and I'm a big power metal fan. 

Probably because Nightwish is not really powermetal..

While it obviously shares smiliar themes, it lacks most aspects that make powermetal powermetal. 

Nightwish are way slower overall and more cinematic, less double bass and more groovy/intricate rhythms, less hymn-like choruses and more of Tarja's siren-like arias, less frantic solos and more atmospheric interludes etc..

Thinking about it I honestly don't know why they would even carry that label... besides a few songs with double base they dont feel like powermetal at all.

@PsychedelicPaul

Interesting you are putting their debut so far up there! While for me it lacks the consistent quality of the following 4 albums, I still prefer it to anything post Tarja Tongue

Oceanborn is their second album. An improvement over the debut - Angels Fall First. Both albums are more enjoyable for me than anything they did after Tarja left. 
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Points: 21106 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MikeEnRegalia Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 25 2023 at 16:59
^ I know, they're more symphonic metal - and I like some symphonic metal bands, but mostly those that gravitate towards power metal as well.
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Originally posted by MikeEnRegalia MikeEnRegalia wrote:

For some reason Nightwish never piqued my interest ... and I'm a big power metal fan. 

Probably because Nightwish is not really powermetal..

While it obviously shares smiliar themes, it lacks most aspects that make powermetal powermetal. 

Nightwish are way slower overall and more cinematic, less double bass and more groovy/intricate rhythms, less hymn-like choruses and more of Tarja's siren-like arias, less frantic solos and more atmospheric interludes etc..

Thinking about it I honestly don't know why they would even carry that label... besides a few songs with double base they dont feel like powermetal at all.

@PsychedelicPaul

Interesting you are putting their debut so far up there! While for me it lacks the consistent quality of the following 4 albums, I still prefer it to anything post Tarja Tongue


Edited by Mind_Drive - December 25 2023 at 16:35
It's just a ride... <3
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Points: 39856 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Psychedelic Paul Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 25 2023 at 16:28
Nightwish 7 X 7

Top 7 Nightwish Albums

01. 5 stars 1998: Nightwish - Oceanborn - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTSjgmSraUM
02. 4 stars 2007: Nightwish - Dark Passion Play - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-HD0D1fRoo
03. 4 stars 2002: Nightwish - Century Child - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Otc4AMCv02o
04. 4 stars 1997: Nightwish - Angels Fall First - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IathgR10heY
05. 4 stars 2000: Nightwish - Wishmaster - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKO8XCc52jQ
06. 3 stars 2004: Nightwish - Once - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psQx_uQ01GY
07. 3 stars 2002: Nightwish - Bless the Child (EP) - http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLq6q5WC2cR061lZuIQf24juJUp3-sNTi

Top 7 Songs from each of those same 7 albums

01. The Pharaoh Sails to Orion
02. The Poet and the Pendulum
03. Beauty of the Beast
04. Tutankhamen
05. Come Cover Me
06. Ghost Love Score
07. Bless the Child
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Points: 21106 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MikeEnRegalia Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 25 2023 at 14:46
For some reason Nightwish never piqued my interest ... and I'm a big power metal fan. 
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Even though GLS is probably my favourite Nightwish song, I much prefer the post Tarja albums. This may have something to do with getting into the band in 2015 and working backwards, but that’s how it is for me….
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Points: 5346 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Hrychu Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 24 2023 at 21:00
I love the song Wishmaster from the album of the same name. It's so catchy yet epic!
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Points: 389 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Mind_Drive Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December 24 2023 at 19:23
Honestly guys, I can't even describe how well these four albums (Oceanborn, Wishmaster, Century Child, Once) with Tarja Turunen as their singer aged in my book...

I have enjoyed them as a 16 yo and whenever I return to them now (at 35) I am still just in awe about the sheer diversity and creativity in their compositions! And the incredible thing is: they aren't even overly proggy to achieve that! They retain a very easy-listenable sound, while literally EVERY SONG on these albums has its perfectly unique identity!!

They each have a very distinct and always catchy chorus and at least one special little treat (or several!) like a unique voice line accentuated by some nifty synths/an awesome riff or even some incredibly creative break or bridge (like some beautiful flutes out of nowhere with Tarja chiming back in madly operatic).
All while maintaining their compact structure and without ever drifting off into (unnecessary) experimentation. This for me is the true genius of Nightwish! Its just utterly perfect for those who enjoy this kind of magical and adventurous fantasy metal with female vocals thats still catchy as hell.

For me these 4 Nightwish albums (created in 1998-2004) are striking the perfect balance between complex and accessible while having an incredible amount of extremely memorable moments!

And while I listen to a lot of Epica (which are arguably even more epic and progressive in terms of compositions) and other less proggy but similar in style bands (like Within Temptation, Blackbriar,...), non of them really come close to Nightwish's perfect sense of wonder (Luca Turilli's Rhapsody maybe a close contender but lacks the strong female lead).

And do you know what? I never thought having a most favourite song ever would be possible, but recently it dawned on me, that I have found mine.
The best & most perfect song ever created in my ears is:

Nightwish - Ghost Love Score

Well, there you have it! Tarja era Nightwish for me is still the pinnacle of symphonic metal! 🔥
Thanks! 🙏💜✨
And merry Christmas! 🎄🤗


Edited by Mind_Drive - December 24 2023 at 20:17
It's just a ride... <3
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