Article by John
I simply think that this is the best Power Metal album ever released. All of Power metal's strengths are here: the fast, melodic, thrilling rollercoaster ride songs with HUGE super catchy choruses, driven along by an exciting double bass drum attack, and liberally interspersed with guitar and keyboard solos. The said solos may not be quite as widdletastic as in many other bands in the genre, but this is made up for by catchiness and tastefulness, and by them fitting into the song in a way that many more technically impressive solos don't quite manage.
Songs like “Stargazers”, “Gethsemane”, “The Riddler” and single “Sacrament of Wilderness” epitomise this spirit, they pick you up and take you on a journey that you really wouldn't want to resist. There is also, however, another side to this album. Did I mention that this is the most diverse album that Nightwish have done apart from “Once”? Must have forgotten to, sorry about that, but now that the subject comes up, I have to say that it is. 2 songs in particular – “The Pharaoh Sails to Orion” and “Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean” – introduce a darker, heavier theme, and feature guest vocalist Tapio Wilska (Sethian, Finntroll, and Nattvindens Gråt) to add some growly, and very processed sounding vocals to contrast with Tarja's. If I have any complaint at all it is that I don't consider him to be the world's greatest at those type of vocals, but it still works well.
As if this wasn't contrast enough, this is also the Nightwish album with the most ballads on it. “Swanheart”, “Sleeping Sun” (actually a bonus song not on the original album, but most versions that you buy now should have it), and an excellent cover version of the Aled Jones classic “Walking in the Air” that is very similar to the original, but which I think is better because Tarja has a much nicer voice than Aled (imo of course).
So is there anything at all to complain about here? Very little, but just to prove that I haven't been bribed by the band or the record company I have a niggle. The live versions of 2 songs (“Swanheart” and “Pharaoh Sails to Orion”) that they do on the “From Wishes to Eternity” DVD, are done much better there than they are done here. So much so, that I almost always prefer to listen to those versions than the originals.
