Dark Passion Play - Nightwish

Nightwish. Now there's a band name that can spark a heated debate between fans and listeners alike. While the band may have been around for a long time, it can be claimed that they did not reach full mainstream status until the release of 2005's 'Once', an album that was beautifully crafted and turned so many first time listeners into avid fans. While Nightwish are certainly more than capable on their instruments, weaving some of the most intricate songs and styles I have ever listened to, it is without doubt that one of the biggest draws was the simply awe-inspiring operatic vocals of Tarja Turunen. I will always remember the first time I ever ...  Read the complete review

When Nightwish released Dark Passion Play in 2007, the question was: can they really do it without Tarja Turunen? Replacing their trademark operatic vocals for the rockier style of Anette Olzen, Nightwish proved they were more than just that band with the operatic chick. Musically, Dark Passion Play continues where Once left off and then takes it a step further. The powerful sounds of the full orchestra fit seamlessly with the riffing guitars and on this album they really pull out all the stops by also featuring boy sopranos on the 14 minute epic film score-esque 'The Poet and the Pendulum' and even a gospel choir adding a real spiritual feel to album closer ...  Read the complete review

Nightwish were silent for three years. Plenty of time one would think, to write a killer of an album. Unfortunately Dark Passion Play just isn't. It lets down frequently and shows off neither the songwriting skills of Tuomas Holopainen or the playing talent of the rest of the band. The change in vocalist from the classically trained Tarja Turnunen to Annette Olzon has had an impact not only on the quality but the style of the music as well. Rather than the mix of heavy metal and opera that Nightwish usually do so flawlessly we are left with something of much lower quality. Dark Passion Play is a pop- rock album with a little bit of metal on the ...  Read the complete review

Nightwish more or less perfected the female fronted Symphonic metal sound throughout the late 90s and beginning of this millenium culminating in the commercialy uber-succesful album Once in 2004 which reached no.1 in the album charts in the majority of Europe (somehow only got to no.102 in the UK..), from that moment on it was bound to take something awesome to beat what they had done. Whilst a lot of praise has to go to the quality of the musicians, a lot of the band's sound came from the enormous range of vocalist Tarja Turunen. Dark Passion Play was the first album without her, there had been a 3 year break and everyone was wondering how Swedish vocalist ...  Read the complete review