Her voice hypnotizes with a diverse range, complementing both the metallic guitars and orchestral keys perfectly. At the forefront of the new music is Anette. It's a dark, yet infectious journey, featuring all of the elements that fans love about Nightwish-from the symphonic keyboards to the divine melodies. The record represents the culmination of the band's evolution and success. Tuomas Holopainen's keys create huge melodies that are deep, gothic and sensual, while Emppu Vuorinen's guitars hit with an urgent crunch. Swedish singer elevates Nightwish to the next level with a dynamic voice that breathes charisma and life into the new songs.Įven with the absence of Tarja, Nightwish has crafted an epic, infectious and potent sixth release in the form of Dark Passion Play. They announced her addition shortly after. Upon her first visit to Finland, Anette met the band and immediately clicked with them. The band would check out over 2,000 applications from singers worldwide until they found Anette Olzon. Though most artists might not be able to recover from a split like this, Nightwish aren't most artists. Fans and the media clamored for a replacement, and questions ran rampant. They severed ties with Tarja via an open letter. Once eventually garnered the band five awards at the Finnish Grammy Awards including both "Band of the Year" and "The Best Selling Album of the Year." These accolades would solidify Nightwish as an international force.Īfter a highly successful world tour in 2005, the band underwent a drastic lineup change. The album featured the single "Nemo," with an entrancing video courtesy of director Antti Jokinen (Eminem). Over the course of the year, Once surpassed sales of one million units worldwide. They launched a hotly-anticipated tour in The States, packing sold-out theaters across the country. In 2004, the band's first Roadrunner Records release and fifth studio effort Once would gain them a foothold in the U.S. Nightwish embraced their metallic and classical influences to the fullest and completely established themselves. However, a hard-hitting fourth offering Century Child added bassist and backing vocalist Marco Hietela to the fold, and it yielded some of the band's heaviest and darkest tracks up to that point. In 2000, Wishmaster cemented the band's rabid fan following and led to their first U.S. Their 1997 debut Angels Fall Fast introduced the world to this sound, propelled by the strength of the single "The Carpenter." The follow-up Oceanborn would secure a spot in the Finnish Top Five and spawn three chart-topping singles. Yet, Nightwish have crafted a distinct sound. Their combination of seductive, emotional vocals and gallant guitar melodies brings to mind both Evanescence and Iced Earth. With overpowering keyboard tones reminiscent of classic film scores, the band separates itself. Nightwish's style has established them as one of the premier female-fronted metal bands. They have also crafted a record that's heavy, hypnotic and downright powerful.
Filling vocalist Tarja Turunen's vacant spot with newcomer Anette Olzon, the band is now stronger than ever. The Finnish quintet has remained a force in the European scene for the last decade, but with their second Roadrunner Records release Dark Passion Play, they are destined to captivate metal fans across the entire globe. They blend soaring keyboards and operatic vocals with shredding guitars and jagged rhythms for a style of cinematic, orchestral heavy music all their own. Nightwish - Showtime Storytime (2013) Įqual parts epic metal and gothic symphony, Nightwish stand alone.