Nightwish: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
1AmNobody24 (talk | contribs) m wikilink 20 minutes (via WP:JWB) |
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{short description|Finnish symphonic metal band}} |
|||
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> |
|||
{{For|the film|Nightwish (film)}} |
|||
| Name = [[Nightwish]] |
|||
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}} |
|||
|Img = Nightwish_with_Anette_and_Marco.jpg |
|||
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians --> |
|||
| Img_capt = Clockwise from the top: Anette Olzon, Marco Hietala, Emppu Vuorinen, Jukka Nevalainen and Tuomas Holopainen |
|||
| |
| name = Nightwish |
||
| |
| background = group_or_band |
||
| |
| image = Nightwish Toronto concert 2022.jpg |
||
| |
| landscape = yes |
||
| caption = Nightwish after a performance in [[Toronto]] in May 2022; ({{abbr|L–R|Left to right}}): [[Jukka Koskinen]], [[Tuomas Holopainen]], [[Floor Jansen]], [[Troy Donockley]], [[Kai Hahto]], and [[Emppu Vuorinen]]. |
|||
| Genre = <!-- Please see the talk page before changing -->[[Power metal]], [[symphonic metal]] |
|||
| |
| origin = [[Kitee]], Finland |
||
| genre = <!--All genres are sourced in the musical style section.-->{{flatlist| |
|||
| Label = [[Spinefarm Records|Spinefarm]], [[Nuclear Blast]], [[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]], [[Nems Enterprises (label)|NEMS Enterprises]], [[Century Media]], [[Drakkar Entertainment]] |
|||
* [[Symphonic metal]] |
|||
| Associated_acts = [[Tarot (band)|Tarot]], [[Sethian (band)|Sethian]], [[For My Pain...]], [[Brother Firetribe]], [[Alyson Avenue]], [[Timo Rautiainen]], [[Altaria (band)|Altaria]], [[Barilari]], [[Tarja Turunen]], [[Northern Kings]], [[Sinergy]], [[Children of Bodom]] |
|||
* {{nowrap|[[power metal]]}} |
|||
| URL = [http://www.nightwish.com www.nightwish.com] |
|||
* [[progressive metal]] |
|||
| Current_members = [[Anette Olzon]] (Vocals 2007 - Present)<br/>[[Tuomas Holopainen]] (Keyboard 1996 - Present)<br/>[[Marco Hietala]] (Bass 2001 - Present)<br/>[[Erno Vuorinen]] (Guitar 1996 - Present)<br/>[[Jukka Nevalainen]] (Drums 1997 - Present)<br/> |
|||
* [[folk metal]] |
|||
| Past_members = [[Tarja Turunen]] (Vocals 1996 - 2005)<br/>[[Sami Vänskä]] (Bass 1998 - 2001) |
|||
* [[gothic metal]] |
|||
}} |
}} |
||
| discography = [[Nightwish discography]] |
|||
'''Nightwish''' is a [[Symphonic metal#Symphonic power metal|symphonic power metal]] band, formed in 1996 in the town of [[Kitee]], [[Finland]]. Considered one of the bands responsible for the rise in fame of the [[symphonic metal]] genre, Nightwish is also one of the bands that developed the subgenre of symphonic power metal. They have sold over 3 millions CDs and DVDs.<ref>[http://www.amvlyrics.com/amv/nightwish/ AMV Lyrics]</ref> |
|||
| years_active = 1996–present |
|||
| label = {{flatlist| |
|||
* [[Spinefarm Records|Spinefarm]] |
|||
* [[Nuclear Blast]] |
|||
* [[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]] |
|||
* [[Century Media Records|Century Media]] |
|||
* [[Drakkar Entertainment]] |
|||
}} |
|||
| module = {{Infobox |
|||
| child = yes |
|||
| header1 = |
|||
| headerstyle = background:#b0c4de |
|||
| data2 = [[File:Nightwish wordmark.svg|200px]] |
|||
}} |
|||
| website = {{URL|nightwish.com}} |
|||
| current_members = {{plainlist| |
|||
* [[Tuomas Holopainen]] |
|||
* [[Emppu Vuorinen]] |
|||
* [[Troy Donockley]] |
|||
* [[Floor Jansen]] |
|||
* [[Kai Hahto]] |
|||
* [[Jukka Koskinen]] |
|||
}} |
|||
| past_members = <!--According to Wikipedia guidelines, members should be listed in the order of which they joined the band.-->{{plainlist| |
|||
* [[Tarja Turunen]] |
|||
* [[Jukka Nevalainen]] |
|||
* [[Sami Vänskä]] |
|||
* [[Marko Hietala]] |
|||
* [[Anette Olzon]] |
|||
}} |
|||
}} |
|||
'''Nightwish''' is a Finnish [[symphonic metal]] band from [[Kitee]]. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist [[Tuomas Holopainen]], guitarist [[Emppu Vuorinen]], and former lead singer [[Tarja Turunen]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://untitledinterviews.com/en/interview-nightwish-tuomas-holopainen |title=Interview with Tuomas Holopainen, of Nightwish |publisher=Untitled. |access-date=December 13, 2018 |date=December 7, 2018}}</ref> The band soon picked up drummer [[Jukka Nevalainen]], and then bassist [[Sami Vänskä]] after the release of their debut album, ''[[Angels Fall First]]'' (1997). In 2001, Vänskä was replaced by [[Marko Hietala]], who also took over the male vocalist role previously filled by Holopainen or guest singers. Although Nightwish have been prominent in their home country since ''Angels Fall First'', they did not achieve wider success until the release of the albums ''[[Oceanborn]]'' (1998), ''[[Wishmaster (album)|Wishmaster]]'' (2000) and ''[[Century Child]]'' (2002). |
|||
Their 2004 album, ''[[Once (Nightwish album)|Once]]'', has sold more than one million copies<ref name="nw sales">{{cite web |title=Spinefarm |work=Spinefarm.fi |url=http://www.spinefarm.fi/showband.php?id=1 |access-date=January 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527005147/http://www.spinefarm.fi/showband.php?id=1 |archive-date=May 27, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was the band's breakthrough in the United States. Their biggest US hit single, "[[Wish I Had an Angel]]" (2004), received [[MTV]] airplay and was included on three US film soundtracks.<ref name="nw bio">{{cite web |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/biography |title=Nightwish Official Biography |access-date=June 5, 2010 |work=Nightwish.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130702235353/http://nightwish.com/en/band/biography |archive-date=July 2, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="thecave">{{cite web |url=http://www.soundtrack.net/albums/database/?id=3772 |title=The Cave: Music theme |access-date=October 16, 2009| work=Soundtrack.net}}</ref> The band produced three more singles and two music videos for ''Once'', as well as a re-recording of "[[Sleeping Sun]]" for the compilation album, ''[[Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish]]'' (2005), before Turunen's dismissal in October 2005.<ref name="nw bio"/> In May 2007, Nightwish announced [[Anette Olzon]] as Turunen's replacement.<ref name="blabber">{{cite web|title=Nightwish Announces New Singer |work=RoadRunnerRecords.com |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=73176 |date=May 27, 2007 |access-date=July 9, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701180131/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=73176 |archive-date=July 1, 2007 }}</ref> That September, the band released their sixth album, ''[[Dark Passion Play]]'', which has sold almost 2 million copies. The album's lead single, "[[Amaranth (song)|Amaranth]]", became one of Nightwish's most successful in Europe.<ref name="dpprelease">{{cite web|title=Nightwish – The Official Website |work=Nightwish.com |url=http://nightwish.com/en/band/releases/details?id=27 |access-date=July 12, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070617021853/http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/releases/details?id=27 |archive-date=June 17, 2007 }}</ref> Their seventh studio album, ''[[Imaginaerum]]'', was released in November 2011.<ref name="nw sales" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/label/music/news/details/518491.nightwish-imaginaerum-release-date.html |title=NIGHTWISH: "Imaginaerum" – release date |work=Nuclearblast.de |access-date=April 17, 2012 |archive-date=January 23, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123092425/http://www.nuclearblast.de/en/label/music/news/details/518491.nightwish-imaginaerum-release-date.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Nightwish parted ways with Olzon in October 2012 and finished the [[Imaginaerum World Tour|tour]] with [[Floor Jansen]],<ref name="Nightwish Singer Anette Olzon Splits With Band">{{cite web |author=CROMCarl |title=Nightwish Singer Anette Olzon Splits With Band |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=85026 |work=Metalunderground.com |access-date=October 1, 2012}}</ref> who later became a permanent member of the band alongside longtime session [[uilleann pipes]] player [[Troy Donockley]] in October 2013. |
|||
Although they have been prominent in their home country since the release of their first [[Single (music)|single]], “[[The Carpenter]]” (1997) and debut album ''[[Angels Fall First]]'', they did not achieve worldwide fame until the release of the albums ''[[Oceanborn]]'', ''[[Wishmaster (album)|Wishmaster]]'' and ''[[Century Child]]'', which were released in 1998, 2000 and 2002 respectively. Their 2004 album, ''[[Once (Nightwish album)|Once]]'', which sold more than 1 million copies,<ref name="dpprelease">{{cite web | title=Spinefarm | work=Nightwish | url=http://www.spinefarm.fi/showband.php?id=1 | accessmonthday=September 5 | accessyear=2008}}</ref> led to Nightwish video clips being shown on [[MTV]] in the [[United States]] and inclusion of their music in US movie soundtracks. Their biggest US hit single, “[[Wish I Had an Angel]]” (2004), made it onto three US film soundtracks as a means to promote their North American tour.<ref name="imdb">{{cite web | title=IMDb | work=Nightwish | url=http://imdb.com/name/nm1743752/ | accessmonthday=June 17 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> The band produced three more singles and two music videos for the album, as well as “[[Sleeping Sun]]”, from the 2005 “[[Greatest hits|best of]]” compilation album, ''[[Highest Hopes]]'', prior to vocalist [[Tarja Turunen]]’s dismissal. |
|||
In July 2019, Nevalainen, who had been inactive since 2014 due to severe [[insomnia]], announced that he would not be returning to the band, with [[Kai Hahto]], who had acted as his replacement since 2014, becoming the official drummer. Bassist [[Marko Hietala]] parted ways with the band in January 2021, and [[Jukka Koskinen]] was announced as Hietala's replacement in August 2022. |
|||
In May 2007, former [[Alyson Avenue]] frontwoman, Swede [[Anette Olzon]], was revealed as [[Tarja Turunen|Turunen]]’s replacement,<ref name="blabber">{{cite web | title=BLABBERMOUTH.NET | work=NIGHTWISH Announces New Singer | url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=73176 | accessmonthday=June 17 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> and in the autumn, the band released a new album ''[[Dark Passion Play]]''.<ref name="dpprelease">{{cite web | title=Nightwish – The Official Website | work=The Band – Discography. Dark Passion Play (2007) | url=http://nightwish.com/en/band/releases/details?id=27 | accessmonthday=June 17 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> A tour supporting the album is currently in progress, planned to end in the spring of 2009. |
|||
Nightwish is the third-best-selling band and musical entity in Finland with [[List of music recording certifications|certified]] sales of nearly 900,000 [[List of music recording certifications|certified]] copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/artistit/nightwish|title=Nightwish|work=Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland|language=fi |access-date=January 29, 2012}}</ref><ref name="alltime-sales-finland-domalbums">{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/myydyimmat/kaikki/kotimaiset/albumit |title=Kaikkien aikojen myydyimmät kotimaiset albumit |work=Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland |language=fi |access-date=January 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022013852/http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/myydyimmat/kaikki/kotimaiset/albumit |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="alltime-sales-finland-foralbums">{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/myydyimmat/kaikki/ulkomaiset/albumit |title=Kaikkien aikojen myydyimmät ulkomaiset albumit |work=Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland |language=fi |access-date=January 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022013743/http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/myydyimmat/kaikki/ulkomaiset/albumit |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="alltime-sales-finland-domsingles">{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/myydyimmat/kaikki/kotimaiset/singlet |title=Kaikkien aikojen myydyimmät kotimaiset singlet |work=Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland |language=fi |access-date=January 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528205526/http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/myydyimmat/kaikki/kotimaiset/singlet |archive-date=May 28, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="alltime-sales-finland-forsingles">{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/myydyimmat/kaikki/ulkomaiset/singlet |title=Kaikkien aikojen myydyimmät ulkomaiset singlet |work=Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland |language=fi |access-date=January 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131022014549/http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/myydyimmat/kaikki/ulkomaiset/singlet |archive-date=October 22, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The group is also the most successful Finnish band worldwide, selling more than 10 million records<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nightwish.com/news/an-evening-with-nightwish-in-a-virtual-world-announced|title=An Evening With Nightwish in a Virtual World Announced|publisher=Nightwish.com}}</ref> and receiving more than 60 gold and platinum awards, having released six Number 1 albums and thirteen Number 1 singles.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://finnishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Nightwish&titel=Once&cat=a |title=Nightwish – Once |work=finnishcharts.com |year=2015 |access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref> On October 26, 2018, Nightwish was inducted into the Finnish Music Hall of Fame, becoming the honorary gallery's 11th member.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://finnishmusichalloffame.fi/en/finnish-music-hall-of-fame-announces-its-latest-inductee-a-year-before-opening-nightwish-to-join-sibelius-in-the-hall-of-fame/ |title=Finnish Music Hall of Fame announces its latest inductee a year before opening |work=Finnishmusichalloffame.fi |year=2018 |access-date=November 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109112116/http://finnishmusichalloffame.fi/en/finnish-music-hall-of-fame-announces-its-latest-inductee-a-year-before-opening-nightwish-to-join-sibelius-in-the-hall-of-fame/ |archive-date=November 9, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
|||
== History == |
|||
===''Nightwish demo'' (1996)=== |
|||
After playing [[musical keyboard|keyboards]] in several heavy metal bands in the 1990s, including for example [[Nattvindens Gråt]] and [[Darkwoods My Betrothed]], [[Tuomas Holopainen]] decided to create his own project while sitting around a campfire with friends in 1996.<ref>Once Upon a Nightwish: Official Biography 1996 - 2006</ref> He immediately had a clear idea of the music: experimentally acoustic music he wrote by himself, similar to the music usually played around campfires, but with a distinct sound of atmosphere, played on his keyboards. |
|||
==History== |
|||
He soon invited friend, schoolmate and ex-bandmate [[Emppu Vuorinen|Erno "Emppu" Vuorinen]] to play [[Steel-string guitar|acoustic guitar]]s, and the classical vocalist [[Tarja Turunen]], who had the same music teacher as they, Plamen Dimov. The three musicians recorded their self-titled acoustic [[Demo (music)|demo]] in the winter of 1996. The name “Nightwish” was derived from the first song the band recorded together, and the demo also included the song “The Forever Moments”, and an early version of and “Etiäinen”. |
|||
===1996: Formation=== |
|||
After recording the ''Nightwish demo'', Holopainen decided that Turunen’s operatic voice was too powerful for an acoustic band, and decided to add in [[heavy metal]] elements, including electric guitars and drums.<ref name="Official Biography">{{cite web | title=Nightwish.com official biography| work= | url=http://nightwish.com/en/band/biography | accessmonthday=January 27 |accessyear=2008}}</ref> |
|||
[[File:Tuska 20130630 - Nightwish - 56.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tuomas Holopainen]] (left) and [[Emppu Vuorinen]] (right), two of the band's founding members, and the only founding members still left in the band.]] |
|||
After playing keyboards in several heavy metal bands in the 1990s, including [[Darkwoods My Betrothed]], [[Tuomas Holopainen]] decided to create his own project while sitting around a campfire with friends on July 6, 1996.<ref name="OUaN"/><ref name="MHammer">{{cite web|last1=Everley|first1=Dave|title=How Nightwish became a modern metal phenomenon|url=http://metalhammer.teamrock.com/features/2015-12-08/how-nightwish-became-a-modern-metal-phenomenon|website=[[Metal Hammer]]|publisher=Team Rock|access-date=January 2, 2016|date=December 8, 2015}}</ref><ref name="anniversary">{{cite web |title=On this day, 25 years ago, Nightwish was born! |url=https://web.facebook.com/nightwish/posts/353390046148952?_rdc=1&_rdr |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/100044338783954/353390046148952 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|website=Nightwish's official [[Facebook]] page |publisher=[[Meta Platforms|Meta]] |access-date=9 November 2021 |date=6 July 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He immediately had a clear idea of the music: experimental acoustic music he had written himself during his time in the [[Finnish Army]],<ref name="MHammer"/> similar to the music usually played around campfires, but with a distinct sound and atmosphere<ref name="nw bio"/> and played on his keyboards. |
|||
{{blockquote|We were sitting by the fire, Teemu Kautonen, Tero Leinonen, the whole old gang. It was there that I got the idea: what if I put together my own project? I hadn't yet come up with the name 'Nightwish', but the concept was already in my head. The band would be acoustic and its style would be mood music. It wouldn't be heavy metal at all – we'd have acoustic guitar, some flutes, strings, piano, keyboards, and definitely a female vocalist. It was clear that it had to have a female singer, because at the time, [[The Third and the Mortal|The 3rd and the Mortal]], [[Theatre of Tragedy]] from Norway, and [[The Gathering (band)|The Gathering]] from Holland were a big thing to me. [[Ulver]]'s album ''[[Kveldssanger]]'' was also a big influence. I listened to ''Kveldssanger'' a lot and thought that maybe I should try to do that kind of stuff even better.<br>— Tuomas Holopainen<ref name="OUaN"/>}} |
|||
===''Angels Fall First'' (1997)=== |
|||
{{main|Angels Fall First}} |
|||
He soon invited friend and schoolmate [[Emppu Vuorinen|Erno "Emppu" Vuorinen]] to play [[Steel-string guitar|acoustic guitars]], and the classical vocalist [[Tarja Turunen]], who had shared the same music teacher, [[Plamen Dimov (musician)|Plamen Dimov]], a few years earlier. The three musicians recorded their self-titled acoustic demo in late 1996. The name "Nightwish" was derived from their first song together – the demo also included the song "The Forever Moments", and an early version of "Etiäinen".<ref name="nw bio"/> |
|||
In early 1997, following the release of the ''Nightwish demo'', [[Jukka Nevalainen|Jukka “Julius” Nevalainen]] joined the band, and acoustic guitar was replaced with [[electric guitar]]. The addition of [[heavy metal]] elements to the band's existing experimental style gave the band a unique sound, forming the core of the Nightwish sound. |
|||
===1997–1998: Debut album and first tour=== |
|||
The band entered the studio in April 1997 to record seven songs for their second demo, entitled ''Angels Fall First''. As a precursor to their debut full length album of the same name, the demo made its way to the Finnish record label [[Spinefarm Records]] in May 1997. The label signed Nightwish to a two album deal, and the band returned to the studio to re-record songs from their second demo. The full length album ''Angels Fall First'' was released internationally in November 1997 and reached number 31 on the Finnish album charts, with the single “[[The Carpenter]]” reaching number 3 on the Finnish singles chart. “The Carpenter” single was released as a split with label mates [[Children of Bodom]] and [[Thy Serpent]]. |
|||
{{Main|Angels Fall First}} |
|||
[[File:Tarja Turunen Pukkelpop 2005.jpg|thumb|right|[[Tarja Turunen]] was the band's first lead vocalist from 1996 to 2005.]] |
|||
In early 1997, [[Jukka Nevalainen|Jukka "Julius" Nevalainen]] joined the band,<ref name="nw bio"/> and acoustic guitar was replaced with electric guitar. The addition of [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] elements to Nightwish's existing experimental music gave the band a different sound, forming the core of the band's distinct style.<ref name="nw bio"/> |
|||
The band entered the studio in April 1997 to record seven songs for their second demo, titled ''[[Angels Fall First]]''. In May 1997, the demo made its way to the Finnish record label [[Spinefarm Records]], who wanted to release it as the band's debut album.<ref name="nw bio"/> The label offered Nightwish a record deal, and the band returned to the studio to record four more songs to complement the tracks of the demo. The full-length ''Angels Fall First'' album was released in November 1997 and reached number 31 on the Finnish album charts, with the single "[[The Carpenter (Nightwish song)|The Carpenter]]" reaching number 3 on the Finnish singles chart;<ref name="nw bio"/> "The Carpenter" single was released as a split with fellow Spinefarm artists [[Children of Bodom]] and [[Thy Serpent]].<ref name="allmusic">{{AllMusic |class = album |id = r502851 |tab = review |label = Review of ''Angels Fall First'' |first = Eduardo |last = Rivadavia |access-date = July 9, 2010}}</ref> The album is also one of the two releases which features Holopainen's vocals, appearing on four of the album's eleven tracks alongside Turunen's.<ref name="allmusic" /> |
|||
''Angels Fall First'' is one of the two albums which features keyboardist [[Tuomas Holopainen]]'s vocals, appearing on four of the album's eleven tracks, alongside vocalist Tarja Turunen. |
|||
The band made their live debut in their hometown [[Kitee]] at the Huvikeskus on December 31, 1997, in front of 400 people. The band recalled being both nervous and terrified when performing for the first time.<ref name="nw bio"/><ref name="OUaN"/> Since they were missing a bass player, Samppa Hirvonen joined them as a sessional live member. Marianna Pellinen was also a sessional live member as an additional keyboard player and a backing vocalist for Turunen.<ref name="nw bio"/><ref name="OUaN"/> There were plans to make Hirvonen a permanent member, but he joined the army as part of Finnish army conscription just as they began recording ''[[Oceanborn]]'', so they asked [[Sami Vänskä]] to join instead, since Tuomas knew him from the band Nattvindens Gråt.<ref name="sami">{{cite web |title=Sami Vänskä |work=Dmusic.com |url=http://www.dmuzic.com/nightwish/9/personel/sami-vanska/7/ |access-date=July 10, 2010 |archive-date=September 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924075912/http://www.dmuzic.com/nightwish/9/personel/sami-vanska/7/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> During early 1998, the band performed seven concerts, while Turunen was finishing her schooling, and Nevalainen and Vuorinen were serving their obligatory Finnish military service. They played warm-up shows for bands Babylon Whores, [[Children of Bodom]] and [[Tarot (band)|Tarot]].<ref name="nw bio"/><ref name="OUaN"/> |
|||
Critical reception of ''Angels Fall First'' was mixed, with [[Allmusic]] rating the album 2 out of 5 stars,<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web | title=allmusic | work=Angels Fall First | url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:lza9qj1qojfa | accessmonthday=January 1 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> and ''The Metal Observer'' stating that Nightwish’s debut album “paled drastically in comparison to their later work".<ref name="metalobsv">{{cite web | title=The Metal Observer | work=Review – Nightwish – Angels Fall First | url=http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=2621 | accessmonthday=January 1 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> |
|||
===1998–2000: International success with ''Oceanborn'' and ''Wishmaster''=== |
|||
In December 1997, after over a year of existence, Nightwish made their live debut in their hometown [[Kitee]], [[Finland]]. Since they were missing a bass player, [[Samppa Hirvonen]] joined them as a sessional live member. [[Marjaana Pellinen]] were also a sessoinal live member on [[Keyboard instrument|additional keyboard]] and [[backing vocalist]] for Tarja. They were thinking about making Samppa Hirvonen a real member until they met, [[Sami Vänskä]] in 1998. During the winter of 1997 and 1998, the band performed only seven times, due to Nevalainen and Vuorinen’s obligatory Finnish military service, and Turunen finishing her schooling. |
|||
{{Main|Oceanborn| Wishmaster (album)}} |
|||
Nightwish returned to the studio in August 1998 as a five-piece to record a follow-up for Spinefarm Records, which would become their second full-length album, ''Oceanborn''. Adopting a more technical and progressive sound than ''Angels Fall First'',<ref name="jamesbyrd">{{cite web |title=James Byrd Tribute |work=GeoCities.com |url=http://www.geocities.com/byrdtribute/nightwishocean.html |access-date=December 27, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050223205632/http://www.geocities.com/byrdtribute/nightwishocean.html|archive-date=February 23, 2005}}</ref> ''Oceanborn'' saw the band abandon much of the ambient and folk elements present on their debut release, with the exception of the song "Moondance". In contrast to the female vocals of Turunen, the album also featured guest growling vocals by [[Tapio Wilska]] (ex-[[Finntroll]]), since Tuomas did not want to sing again. Wilska is also a former member of Nattvindens Gråt.{{cn|date=June 2023}} |
|||
===''Oceanborn'' (1998–1999)=== |
|||
[[Image:Nightwish live 1999.jpg|thumb|225px|left|Nightwish live at [[Finland]] in 1999 during the ''National [[Oceanborn]] tour''.]] |
|||
{{main|Oceanborn}} |
|||
{{Sound sample box align right|Music sample:}} |
|||
{{Listen |
|||
|filename= Nightwish-sacramentofwilderness.ogg |
|||
|title="Sacrament of Wilderness" |
|||
|description= Sacrament of Wilderness, Nightwish’s breakout single, garnered the band its first success outside of Finland. |
|||
|format=[[Ogg]]}} |
|||
{{sample box end}} |
|||
The [[AllMusic]] review said that the album "as a whole works great", with songs that are "very strong".<ref name="AllOcean">{{AllMusic |class = album |id = r429983 |tab = review |label = Review of ''Oceanborn'' |first = Antti J |last = Ravelin |access-date = January 27, 2008}}</ref> ''Oceanborn'' was released on December 7, 1998 in Finland only.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nightwish.com/en/news/1998/12/oceanborn-is-released |title="Oceanborn" Is Released |publisher=Nightwish's Official Website |date=7 December 1998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102064638/http://nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=12&year=1998 |archive-date=2 January 2010 |access-date=25 August 2014 }}</ref> It was an instant success, reaching number 5 on the Finnish album charts.<ref name="fin charts">{{cite web |url=http://finnishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Nightwish |title=Nightwish charts in Finland |access-date=June 1, 2010| work=Finnishcharts.com}}</ref> The album's first single, "[[Sacrament of Wilderness]]", hit number 1 on the Finnish singles charts, where it stayed for several weeks.<ref name="fin charts" /> The album's release was initially limited to Finland, but because of the success of "Sacrament of Wilderness", Spinefarm released ''Oceanborn'' internationally in the spring of 1999.<ref name="ocean world">{{cite web|title=Oceanborn releases worldwide|work=Nightwish.com|url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=02&year=1999|date=February 16, 1999|access-date=June 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605033430/http://www.nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=02&year=1999|archive-date=June 5, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> In May 1999, Nightwish recorded the song "[[Sleeping Sun]]",<ref name="sleeping ger"/> and 13,000 copies of its single were purchased in pre-release sales in Germany alone.<ref name="sleeping ger">{{cite web|title=Sleeping Sun Sells Well|work=Nightwish.com|url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=07&year=1999|date=July 1, 1999|access-date=May 11, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027111253/http://nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=07&year=1999|archive-date=October 27, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the band's first international success, Nightwish was added as the opening band for [[Rage (German band)|Rage]]'s 1999 European tour.<ref name="europetour">{{cite web |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/live/archive?year=1999 |title=Nightwish Live −1999 |access-date=October 14, 2009 |work=Nightwish.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080315034027/http://www.nightwish.com/en/live/archive?year=1999 |archive-date=March 15, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both the album ''Oceanborn'' and the singles "Sacrament of Wilderness" and "[[Walking in the Air]]" were certified [[Gold album|gold]] in Finland in August 1999.<ref name="sales fin">{{cite web |url=http://www.ifpi.fi/tilastot/artistit/nightwish |title=Tilastot: Nightwish |access-date=June 1, 2010| work=Ifpi.fi}}</ref> |
|||
Following a string of live shows in Finland, the band filmed their first video clip for “The Carpenter” in April 1998. Nightwish completed their touring line up in the summer of 1998 when [[Bass guitar|bassist]] [[Sami Vänskä]], an old friend of Holopainen, joined the band. Nightwish then returned to the studio in August 1998 as a five-piece, to record their follow up album for Spinefarm records. |
|||
While in the studio in early 2000 working on their third album, Nightwish was accepted in the Finnish [[2000 Eurovision Song Contest|Eurovision Song Contest]] preselection final with the song "Sleepwalker". Despite winning the public vote, Nightwish eventually finished in third place, with the jury choosing gospel singer [[Nina Åström]] to represent Finland.<ref name="nw bio"/> |
|||
On October 7, 1998, Nightwish released their second full length album, ''Oceanborn'', in Finland only. Adopting a more technical and progressive sound than ''Angels Fall First'',<ref name="jamesbyrd">{{cite web | title=James Byrd Tribute | work=Nightwish – Oceanborn | url=http://www.geocities.com/byrdtribute/nightwishocean.html | accessmonthday=December 27 |accessyear=2005}}</ref> ''Oceanborn'' saw the band abandon much of the ambient and folk elements present on their debut release, the only folk song is "Moondance". In contrast to the female vocals of Turunen, the album also featured guest growling vocals by [[Tapio Wilska]] (ex-[[Finntroll]]). |
|||
On 19 May 2000, Nightwish released their third studio album, ''[[Wishmaster (album)|Wishmaster]]''. It debuted and spent three weeks at number one on the Finnish album charts, selling enough records to be certified gold in Finland.<ref name="fin charts" /><ref name="sales fin"/> Critical response to the album was mixed, with AllMusic calling the album repetitive, and saying "as a whole album, it can be a little annoying, even frustrating".<ref name="AllWish">{{AllMusic |class = album |id = r491543 |tab = review |label = Review of ''Wishmaster'' |first = Antti J |last = Ravelin |access-date = July 10, 2010}}</ref> However, German magazine ''Rock Hard'' declared ''Wishmaster'' "Album of the Month", despite competing against long-awaited May releases from [[Iron Maiden]] and [[Bon Jovi]].<ref name="nw bio" /> Following the release of ''Wishmaster'', Nightwish embarked on their first world tour, playing dates in South America, Mexico and Canada. In the summer, the band returned to Europe for their first headlining European tour with [[Sinergy]] and [[Eternal Tears of Sorrow]], appearing at the [[Wacken Open Air]] festival and the Biebop Metal Fest.<ref name="wishtour">{{cite web |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/live/archive?year=2000 |title=Nightwish Live- 2000 |access-date=July 10, 2010 |work=Nightwish.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105103609/http://www.nightwish.com/en/live/archive?year=2000 |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
|||
''Oceanborn'' was well received, with Allmusic writing that the album “as a whole works great”, with songs that are “very strong”.<ref name="AllOcean">{{cite web |author=Ravelin, Antti J. |title=''Oceanborn'' review |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gpfixq8kldte |publisher=[[Allmusic]] |accessmonthday=January 27 |accessyear=2008}}</ref> ''Oceanborn'' was an instant success in Finland, reaching number 5 on the Finnish album charts. The album’s first single, “[[Sacrament of Wilderness]]”, hit number 1 on the Finnish singles charts, where it stayed for several weeks.<ref name="Official Biography">{{cite web | title=Nightwish.com official biography| work=Nightwish – Oceanborn | url=http://nightwish.com/en/band/biography | accessmonthday=January 27 |accessyear=2008}}</ref> The album’s release was initially limited to Finland, but due to the success of “Sacrament of Wilderness”, Spinefarm released ''Oceanborn'' internationally in the spring of 1999.<ref name="Official Biography"/> |
|||
===2001–2003: Arrival of Hietala and symphonic elements with ''Century Child''=== |
|||
In May 1999, Nightwish recorded the single “[[Sleeping Sun (Four Ballads of the Eclipse)]]”. In one month the single sold 15,000 copies in Germany alone. Following the band’s first international success, Nightwish was added as the opening band for [[Rage (band)|Rage]]’s 1999 European tour. Both the album ''Oceanborn'' and the single “Sacrament of Wilderness” were certified [[Gold album|gold]] in Finland in August 1999.<ref name="Official Biography"/> |
|||
{{Main|Over the Hills and Far Away (EP)| Century Child}} |
|||
[[File:Marko Hietala Tavastia 2019 5.jpg|thumb|left|Former bassist and vocalist [[Marko Hietala]], replaced [[Sami Vänskä]] in late 2001 and performed with the band until his departure in 2021.]] |
|||
In 2001, Nightwish recorded a cover of [[Gary Moore]]'s "[[Over the Hills and Far Away (Gary Moore song)|Over the Hills and Far Away]]" together with two new songs ("10th Man Down", unreleased from ''Oceanborn'' sessions, and "Away", unreleased from ''Wishmaster'' sessions){{Citation needed|reason=The booklet does not state that "10th Man Down" and "Away" were recorded during the Oceanborn and Wishmaster sessions.|date=January 2018}} and a remake of "[[Astral Romance]]" (from the ''Angels Fall First'' album) with [[Tony Kakko]] ([[Sonata Arctica]]) singing Tuomas' part. This new material was released as their first (and until 2009 the only) [[Extended play|EP]], ''[[Over the Hills and Far Away (album)|Over the Hills and Far Away]]''.<ref name="over">{{AllMusic |class = album |id = r723600 |label = ''Over the Hills and Far Away'' |access-date = July 10, 2010}}</ref> |
|||
The record also included guest performances by Tapio Wilska once again on "10th Man Down".<ref name="over" /> Nightwish's version of "Over the Hills and Far Away" was well received by fans, becoming a frequent part of the band's live performances, but the other songs never broke through and have not been re-released, with the exception of a live performance of "10th Man Down" on the ''[[End of Innocence (Nightwish)|End of Innocence]]'' DVD with [[Marko Hietala]].<ref name="summer">{{cite web|url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/releases/details?id=18 |title="End Of Innocence" (2003) |access-date=November 8, 2009 |work=Nightwish.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091205010013/http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/releases/details?id=18 |archive-date=December 5, 2009 }}</ref> In the same year, they also released (as [[VHS]], DVD and CD) their first live album, ''[[From Wishes to Eternity]]'', recorded during a show in [[Tampere]], Finland, on 29 December 2000.<ref name="cd">{{cite web |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=01&year=2001 |title=Limited editions of Tampere concert |date=January 16, 2001 |access-date=November 7, 2009 |work=Nightwish.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105103534/http://www.nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=01&year=2001 |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
|||
===''Wishmaster'' (2000)=== |
|||
{{main|Wishmaster (album)}} |
|||
While in the studio in early 2000 working on their third album, Nightwish was accepted in the [[Finland|Finnish]] [[2000 Eurovision Song Contest|Eurovision Song Contest]] with the song “[[Sleepwalker (Nightwish song)|Sleepwalker]]”. ({{audio| Nightwish-sleepwalker.ogg|sample}}) Despite winning the public vote, Nightwish eventually finished in second place, with the jury choosing local gospel singer [[Nina Åström]] to represent Finland.<ref name="Official Biography"/> |
|||
Soon after the release of ''Over the Hills and Far Away'', Nightwish met what has been described as one of hardest points of their career.<ref name="nw bio" /> The issues centered on the bassist, Sami Vänskä, who had started misbehaving towards the band, according to Holopainen, by missing appointments and failing to take concerts as seriously as the other members did.<ref name="nw bio" /> After the band discussed his behavior with Vänskä several times, without getting any change, everyone simply stopped caring and tensions grew.<ref name="OUaN">Once Upon a Nightwish: Official Biography 1996–2006</ref> Meanwhile, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen had started complaining about his role in the band, feeling like "a hired gun who would only do what he's asked to". According to their music teacher, Plamen Dimov, he and Holopainen have totally different characters, and thus difficulties were expected to arise.<ref name="nw bio" /> But Vuorinen was told to stay cool and "bite the bullet", and the problem was never addressed again.<ref name="OUaN"/> |
|||
In May 2000, Nightwish released their third studio album ''Wishmaster'' which debuted at #1 on the Finnish album charts, and following three weeks at number one, was certified gold in Finland.<ref name="Official Biography"/> |
|||
Later, Holopainen confessed that, at that time, he seriously started thinking about breaking Nightwish up. After a show in Russia, he sent a text message to fellow musician Tony Kakko of metal band Sonata Arctica, telling him that he did not think he had a band any longer, and asking him what plans he had for next year.<ref name="OUaN"/> After the ''Over the Hills and Far Away'' tour in 2001, Holopainen called their labels [[Drakkar Productions|Drakkar]] and Spinefarm, unofficially declaring Nightwish was over. He told them he might produce another album, but he'd never perform another show with the band. The same message was also written on the band's message board.<ref name="OUaN"/> |
|||
Critical response to the album was mixed, with Allmusic citing the album as repetitive, and saying “as a whole album, it can be a little annoying, even frustrating”. However, German magazine ''[[Rock Hard (magazine)|Rock Hard]]'' declared ''Wishmaster'' “Album of the Month”, despite competing against long-awaited May releases from [[Iron Maiden]] and [[Bon Jovi]]. |
|||
Straight after the last show of the tour, Holopainen went on a week-long hiking trip to [[Lapland (region)|Lapland]] with Tony Kakko, where they talked about the band, leading Holopainen to decide that he could not break Nightwish up that easily.<ref name="summer" /> When he returned from Lapland he immediately received a phone call from Ewo Pohjola, CEO of Spinefarm, offering to become their manager and help him straighten things up, and Holopainen agreed.<ref name="OUaN"/> |
|||
Following the release of ''Wishmaster'', Nightwish embarked on their first world tour, playing dates in South America, Mexico, Canada, and the first headlining European tour with [[Sinergy]] and [[Eternal Tears of Sorrow]]. In the summer the band returned to Europe, appearing at the [[Wacken Open Air]] festival and the Biebop Metal Fest. |
|||
To continue with Nightwish, Holopainen decided some changes were in order. Beside choosing Ewo as their new manager, he also asked Vänskä to leave the band. He would later cite musical differences as another reason for the breakup.<ref name="MHammer"/> Marko Hietala ([[Tarot (band)|Tarot]]) was asked to replace Vänskä, effectively leaving his previous band, Sinergy. In addition to playing bass guitar, Hietala would also perform male vocals. Holopainen has since said publicly that he and Vänskä still keep in touch, contrary to rumours saying that they have not met since. However, they are not interested in making another project together.<ref name="OUaN"/> |
|||
===''Over the Hills and Far Away EP'' (2001)=== |
|||
{{main|Over the Hills and Far Away (album)}} |
|||
[[Image:Live From Wishes to Eternity.jpg|thumb|225px|right|Nightwish live at [[From Wishes to Eternity]].]] |
|||
In 2001, Nightwish recorded a cover of [[Gary Moore]]’s “Over the Hills and Far Away” together with two new songs (“10th Man Down” and “Away”) and a remake of “[[Astral Romance]]” (from the ''Angels Fall First'' album) with [[Tony Kakko]] ([[Sonata Arctica]]) singing Tuomas' part. This was released as their first, and so far only, [[Extended play|EP]] - "[[Over the Hills and Far Away (album)|Over the Hills and Far Away]]".<ref name="officialdiscography">{{cite web | title=Nightwish.com | work=Discography | url=http://nightwish.com/en/band/releases/details?id=4 | accessmonthday=October 30 | accessyear=2008}}</ref> |
|||
In 2002, Nightwish released ''[[Century Child]]'', along with the singles "[[Ever Dream]]" and "[[Bless the Child (song)|Bless the Child]]". ''Century Child'' was certified gold two hours after its release,<ref>{{cite web |title=Century Child Sells Gold |work=Nightwish.com |url=http://nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=05&year=2002 |date=May 25, 2002| access-date=February 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027110515/http://nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=05&year=2002|archive-date=October 27, 2011}}</ref> and platinum two weeks afterwards. It set a record on the Finnish album charts of most distance between a first place album and the second place.<ref>{{cite web |title=Century Child Sells Gold |work= Nightwish.com |url=http://nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=06&year=2002 |date=June 4, 2002| access-date=February 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111027111345/http://nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=06&year=2002|archive-date=October 27, 2011}}</ref> A music video was filmed for "Bless the Child", with a second one filmed for "End of All Hope" later, without any single support. It contains clips from the Finnish movie ''[[Kohtalon kirja]]'' (English: ''The Book of Fate'').<ref name="kohtalon">{{cite web|title=Kohtalon Kirja DVD|work=KohtalonKirja.com|url=http://www.kohtalonkirja.com/dvd|access-date=July 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218140903/http://www.kohtalonkirja.com/dvd|archive-date=February 18, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
|||
The record also included guest performances by [[Tapio Wilska]] (ex-[[Finntroll]]) once again.<ref name="officialdiscography"/> They also released a [[VHS]], [[DVD]] and [[Compact disc|CD]] with live material recorded in a show in [[Tampere]], on [[December 29]], [[2000]]. All of these were entitled ''[[From Wishes to Eternity]]''. |
|||
The main difference from previous albums is the use of a live Finnish orchestra on the tracks "Bless the Child", "Ever Dream", "Feel For You" and "The Beauty of the Beast".<ref name="phantom">{{cite web |title=Nightwish Interview |website=Blabbermouth.net |date=September 5, 2007 |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-mainman-talks-about-new-singer-upcoming-tour/ |access-date=December 14, 2017}}</ref> An enduring favorite of fans is the band's version of "[[The Phantom of the Opera (Andrew Lloyd Webber song)|The Phantom of the Opera]]", from the famous [[The Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)|musical of the same name]] by composer [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]. The song was routinely played in concerts until October 21, 2005, when vocalist Tarja Turunen was fired from the band and later replaced with [[Anette Olzon]], whereupon the band announced that they would never play the song live again.<ref name="phantom" /> This would hold true for 17 years until 27 and 28 November 2022, when Nightwish was joined by Dutch singer [[Henk Poort]] on stage at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam to perform the song.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bravewords.com/news/nightwish-perform-the-phantom-of-the-opera-for-the-first-time-in-17-years-amsterdam-show-filmed-for-future-dvd-release-video|title=Nightwish Perform "The Phantom Of The Opera" For The First Time In 17 Years; Amsterdam Show Filmed For Future DVD Release (Video) |website=BraveWords.com}}</ref> |
|||
Nightwish’s version of "Over the Hills and Far Away" was well received by fans, being a repeating part of the band’s live performances and featuring on several compilation albums as well as the ''[[End of an Era]]'' DVD released in 2006. However, the other new songs never had a great break-through nor has been re-released (unless 10th Man Down on the DVD "[[End of Innocence]]" with [[Marco Hietala]] (later permanent bass player and male vocalist) on male vocals. |
|||
In 2003, Nightwish released their second DVD, the documentary ''End of Innocence''. It tells the story of the band in Holopainen, Nevalainen and Tapio Wilska's words for two hours.<ref name="innocence">{{cite web|title=DVD Review – Nightwish – End of innocence|work=Revelationz.net|url=http://www.revelationz.net/index.asp?ID=951|access-date=July 10, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121034329/http://www.revelationz.net/index.asp?ID=951|archive-date=November 21, 2008}}</ref> The documentary also features live performances and other exclusive footage. Vocalist Tarja Turunen got married during the summer of 2003, and there were rumours that the band was about to be dissolved. These rumors were, at the time, proven to be false, as the band continued to play concerts for another year and released another album. Tarja's marriage later played a part in her dismissal from the band in the autumn of 2005.<ref name="nw bio"/> |
|||
Soon after the release, Nightwish met what's been described as one of their hardest points as a band. The problem mostly relied on the bassist, [[Sami Vänskä]] who had started misbehaving towards the band by for example missing appointments, and not taking gigs a hundred procent, as the other members would. After the band discussed this with Vänskä several times, without change, everyone simply stopped caring and tensions would grow.<ref name="OUaN">Once Upon a Nightwish: Official Biography 1996 - 2006</ref> |
|||
===2004–2005: Chart-topping success with ''Once'' and Turunen's dismissal=== |
|||
Meanwhile, guitarist [[Emppu Vuorinen]] had started complaining about his role in the band, feeling like "a hired gun who would only do what he's asked to". According to their both's music teacher, Plamen Dimov, he and Holopainen were totally different characters, and thus difficulties were expected to arise. But Vuorinen was told to simply stay cool and "bite the bullet", and none more was spoken about the problem.<ref name="OUaN"/> |
|||
{{main|Once (Nightwish album)}} |
|||
[[Image:Nightwish live 2001.jpg|thumb|225px|left|Nightwish live in 2001.]] |
|||
Soon, Holopainen seriously started thinking of breaking Nightwish up. After a gig in Russia, he had suddenly sent a text message to fellow musician [[Tony Kakko]] of power metal band [[Sonata Arctica]], telling him he does not think he has a band any longer, and asking him what plans he has for next year. After Nightwish' last gig for the ''Over the Hills and Far Away'' tour in 2001, Holopainen simply called [[Drakkar]] and [[Spinefarm Records|Spinefarm]], unofficially declaring Nightwish over. He told them he might produce another album, but he will never perform another show with the band. The same message was also written on the band's message board.<ref name="OUaN"/> |
|||
{{Listen |
|||
Straight after the last gig, Holopainen went on a week long hiking trip with Tony Kakko to Lapland, feeling relieved after finally breaking Nightwish up, though just unofficially. But during the hiking trip, obviously something happened and even though they barely discussed the matter alone in the wilderness, they both understood he could not call Nightwish quit that easily. And after he had returned, he immediately had a phone call from Ewo Pohjola, who offered himself to become their manager, help him straighten things up. And Holopainen agreed.<ref name="OUaN"/> |
|||
| filename = Nightwish - Nemo.ogg |
|||
| title = Nightwish – Nemo |
|||
| description = Nightwish's style in this period made heavy use of Tarja's soprano lead against an orchestral background |
|||
| pos = right |
|||
}} |
|||
Nightwish released their fifth album, ''[[Once (Nightwish album)|Once]]'', on 7 June 2004, along with its first single, "[[Nemo (song)|Nemo]]". The popularity of [[Evanescence]] in 2003 had piqued international and especially American interest in symphonic goth metal bands like Nightwish, [[Lacuna Coil]], and [[Within Temptation]]. Consequently, ''Once'' sold triple platinum in Finland,<ref name="sales fin" /> platinum in Germany,<ref name="sales ger">{{cite certification|region=Germany|artist=Nightwish |access-date=June 1, 2010}}</ref> and gold in 6 other countries; it also reached No. 1 in the [[Greek Albums Chart|Greek]],<ref name="gre charts">{{cite web |url=http://greekhcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Nightwish |title=Nightwish charts in Greece |access-date=June 1, 2010 |work=Greekcharts.com }}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> [[VG-lista|Norwegian]]<ref name="nor charts">{{cite web |url=http://norwegiancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Nightwish |title=Nightwish charts in Norway |access-date=June 1, 2010| work=Norwegiancharts.com}}</ref> and [[Media Control Charts|German]] album charts,<ref name="ger charts">{{cite web |url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Nightwish/longplay |title=Nightwish charts in Germany |access-date=June 1, 2010 |work=Musicline.de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830001226/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/Nightwish/longplay |archive-date=August 30, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and charted the Top 10 in [[Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|France]],<ref name="fra charts">{{cite web |url=http://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Nightwish |title=Nightwish charts in France |access-date=June 1, 2010| work=Lescharts.com}}</ref> [[Mahasz|Hungary]]<ref name="hun charts">{{cite web |url=http://www.mahasz.hu/?menu=slagerlistak&menu2=archivum |title=Archive: Nightwish |access-date=June 1, 2010| work=Mahasz.hu}}</ref> and [[Sverigetopplistan|Sweden]].<ref name="swe charts">{{cite web |url=http://swedishcharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Nightwish |title=Nightwish charts in Sweden |access-date=June 1, 2010| work=Swedishcharts.com}}</ref> "Nemo" topped the charts in Finland<ref name="fin charts"/> and Hungary,<ref name="hun charts"/> and reached the charts in six additional countries. The following singles were: "[[Wish I Had an Angel]]" (featured on the soundtrack of the film ''[[Alone in the Dark (2005 film)|Alone in the Dark]]''), "[[Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan]]" (released only in Finland and Japan) and "[[The Siren (song)|The Siren]]". Besides the commercial success, ''Once'' was also well received by critics, with many positive reviewers drawing comparisons with ''Oceanborn''.<ref name="once" /> "Nemo" remains the band's most successful single release to date. |
|||
In order to continue with Nightwish, Holopainen decided there had to be changes, and except for Ewo becoming their new manager, he also decided to ask [[Sami Vänskä]] to leave the band, and soon [[Marco Hietala]] ([[Tarot (band)|Tarot]], [[Sinergy]]) joined the band, effectively leaving Sinergy. Hietala would, apart from playing his instrument, also perform male vocals. Earlier, when needed, either Holopainen (on the ''Angels Fall First'' album) or a guest musician performed the male vocals. Holopainen has afterwards said that he and Vänskä still keep in touch, contrary to rumours saying that they have not met since. However, they are not interested in making another project together.<ref name="nightmailnovember06">{{cite web | title=Nightwish.com | work=Nightmail, November 2006 | url=http://nightwish.com/en/community/nightmail?month=11&year=2006 | accessmonthday=October 30 | accessyear=2008}}</ref> |
|||
''Once'' utilizes a full orchestra in nine of the eleven songs on the album. Unlike for ''Century Child'', Nightwish looked for an orchestra outside of Finland this time, choosing the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]].<ref name="once">{{AllMusic |class = album |id = r701351 |label = ''Once'' |access-date = July 10, 2010}}</ref> It is also their second album to feature a full-length song in Finnish, "[[Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan]]" (English: "Death Makes an Artist"). |
|||
===''Century Child'' (2002–2003)=== |
|||
[[File:NightwishJune2005.jpg|thumb|right|Nightwish live in [[Jämsä]], Finland, on 25 June 2005]] |
|||
{{main|Century Child}} |
|||
The production cost of ''Once'' totaled approximately 250,000 euros (over 1,000,000 including video production), making it Finland's most expensive recording in history. The band would go on to break this record again later in their career. |
|||
In 2002, Nightwish released ''Century Child'', along with the singles “[[Ever Dream]]” and “[[Bless the Child (song)|Bless the Child]]”. The main difference from previous albums is the use of a live [[orchestra]] from Finland on “Bless the Child”, “Ever Dream”, “Feel For You” and “The Beauty of the Beast”, to get a more present feeling of [[European classical music|classical music]]. An enduring favorite of fans, though, is the band’s version of “[[The Phantom of the Opera]]”, from the famous musical of the same name by composer [[Andrew Lloyd Webber]]. The song was repeatedly played on concerts until vocalist [[Tarja Turunen]] was replaced with [[Anette Olzon]], whereupon the band announced that they would never play the song live again. |
|||
The success of the album allowed them to perform the [[Once Upon a Tour]], in which the band played in many countries they had never visited before.<ref name="oncetour">{{cite web |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/live/archive?year=2004 |title=Nightwish Live −2004 |access-date=July 10, 2010 |work=Nightwish.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605032730/http://www.nightwish.com/en/live/archive?year=2004 |archive-date=June 5, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Nightwish performed at the opening ceremony of the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics]], held in [[Helsinki]], highlighting the acclaim the band had gained.<ref>{{cite web |title=Helsinki skies open as World Championships get under way |work=[[Helsingin Sanomat]] |date=9 August 2005 |url=http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1101980518329 |access-date=1 August 2023}}</ref> A "best of" album, ''[[Highest Hopes]]'', was released in September 2005. The compilation also featured a live cover "[[High Hopes (Pink Floyd song)|High Hopes]]" (from the [[Pink Floyd]] album ''[[The Division Bell]]''). Besides "High Hopes", a remake of "[[Sleeping Sun]]" (from ''Oceanborn'') was included on the album and released as a single. A video for the remake was shot, featuring a medieval battle, and can be found on the German release of the single and as a separate DVD released by Spinefarm.<ref name="nw bio"/> |
|||
''Century Child'' was certified gold two hours after its release, and platinum two weeks afterwards. It set a record on the Finnish album charts as well; never before had the second been so distant from the first place. After the “[[Bless the Child (song)|Bless the Child]]” video, a second one was recorded, without any single support. The chosen track was “[[End of All Hope]]”. The clip contains pieces from the Finnish movie, ''[[Kohtalon kirja]]'' (English: ''The Book of Fate'').<ref name="kohtalon">{{cite web | title=Kohtalon Kirja | work=Kohtalon Kirja DVD | url=http://www.kohtalonkirja.com/dvd | accessmonthday=December 30 | accessyear=2005}}</ref> |
|||
The four other members of Nightwish had decided that it was best to continue Nightwish without Turunen. After a concert in the [[Hartwall Areena]] (Helsinki) on 21 October 2005, recorded for the live DVD ''End of an Era'' (released June 2006), they expressed their decision through an open letter which was given to Turunen by Holopainen, and afterwards posted on the band's website.<ref name="letter">{{cite web|url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/article/6|title=Open Letter to Tarja|date=October 22, 2005|work=Nightwish.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060410185248/http://nightwish.com/en/article/6|archive-date=April 10, 2006|access-date=October 22, 2005}}</ref> It was written by Holopainen and signed by all four band members. The main justification given in the letter for Turunen's dismissal was that the band felt that both her husband Marcelo Cabuli (an Argentine businessman) and [[Commercialism|commercial]] interests had changed her attitude towards the band.<ref name="letter" /> |
|||
In 2003, Nightwish released their second DVD, entitled ''[[End of Innocence]]''. The DVD tells the story of the band in Holopainen, Nevalainen and Tapio Wilska’s words for two hours. The documentary also features bits of live concerts, exclusive footage, etc. |
|||
Turunen responded to the incident twice, during press conferences in Finland and Germany, saying that her dismissal came entirely as a shock to her, given that she had not been notified before the letter was given to her.<ref name="tarjafirement">{{cite web|url=http://www.metalyou.com/band/nightwish/news/nightwish_tarja_turunen_letter_to_the_band_fans_and_media/|title=Nightwish: Tarja Turunen letter to the band, fans and media|date=October 26, 2005|work=MetalYou.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060516032753/http://www.metalyou.com/band/nightwish/news/nightwish_tarja_turunen_letter_to_the_band_fans_and_media/|archive-date=May 16, 2006|url-status=live|access-date=October 26, 2005}}</ref> She felt that the personal attacks on her husband were unwarranted, and that playing the issue out in public was "senselessly cruel". She expressed these feelings through her own open letter, which was published on her personal website,<ref name="tarjafirement" /> and through various TV, magazine, and newspaper interviews.<ref name="tarjafirement" /> |
|||
[[Singer|Vocalist]] [[Tarja Turunen]] also got married during the summer of 2003, and there were rumours that the band was about to be dissolved. These rumours were, at the time, proven to be false, as the band continued on to play concerts for another year and released another album. The marriage later meant a great part in Tarja’s dismissal from the band in the autumn of 2005. |
|||
===2006–2009: Arrival of Anette Olzon and ''Dark Passion Play''=== |
|||
===''Once'' (2004–2005)=== |
|||
{{Main|Dark Passion Play}} |
|||
To find a replacement for Turunen as the female vocalist of the band, on 17 March 2006, the band allowed interested vocalists to send in demo tapes as an audition for the spot.<ref name="tape">{{cite web |work=Nightwish.com |title=Nightmail – April 2006 |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/community/nightmail?month=04&year=2006 |access-date=January 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102063215/http://nightwish.com/en/community/nightmail?month=04&year=2006 |archive-date=January 2, 2010 }}</ref> During this time, speculation emerged about who would eventually be chosen and the band stated on their website that fans should not believe any source other than the band itself for information regarding the new vocalist.<ref name="nw bio" /> In the end, the 35-year-old Alyson Avenue's ex-lead singer, [[Anette Olzon]], from Sweden, was chosen.<ref name="anette">{{cite web |work=Nightwish.com |title=The New Singer |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=05&year=2007 |date=May 24, 2007 |access-date=January 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105103607/http://www.nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=05&year=2007 |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
|||
{{main|Once (Nightwish album)}} |
|||
In September 2006, the band entered the studio to record their sixth studio album, ''[[Dark Passion Play]]''.<ref name="nw bio" /> In May, next year, Anette Olzon was announced to replace Turunen. Holopainen has said in interviews that he did not wish to reveal her identity until new material was available because he did not want fans judging her by nothing more than a picture, or past work.<ref name="anette" /> |
|||
[[Image:NightwishJune2005.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Nightwish]] live in June 2005, during their “Once World Tour”. Left to right: [[Marco Hietala|Hietala]] (bass and vocals), [[Tuomas Holopainen|Holopainen]] (keyboards), [[Tarja Turunen|Turunen]] (vocals), [[Jukka Nevalainen|Nevalainen]] (drums), and [[Emppu Vuorinen|Vuorinen]] (guitars).]] |
|||
The day after this revealing, 25 May 2007, charity single "[[Eva (Nightwish song)|Eva]]" was released for download only as the first offering from the new album, and the first featuring Olzon.<ref name="eva">{{cite web |work=Metal-Archives.com |title=Nightwish- Eva |url=http://metal-archives.com/release.php?id=153428 |access-date=January 13, 2010}}</ref> It was originally scheduled for release on 30 May, but the date was changed because of a leak on a British music download site.<ref name="eva" /> On June 13, Nightwish revealed the title and artwork for the new album on their official website, as well as the name and cover of the second single (this time CD), "[[Amaranth (song)|Amaranth]]";<ref name="amaranth">{{cite web |work=MetalFromFinland.com |title=Nightwish's 'Amaranth' Single Available As Flower-Fragrance-Shaped Picture Disc |url=http://www.metalfromfinland.com/news/2010-01-29_11:19/nightwishs_amaranth_single_available_as_flowerfragranceshaped_picture_disc |date=January 29, 2010 |access-date=January 13, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302021004/http://www.metalfromfinland.com/news/2010-01-29_11:19/nightwishs_amaranth_single_available_as_flowerfragranceshaped_picture_disc/ |archive-date=March 2, 2010 }}</ref> it was released in Finland on August 22 and included a bonus track entitled "[[While Your Lips Are Still Red]]" written by Tuomas as the main theme for the upcoming Finnish feature film ''Lieksa!''.<ref name="amaranth" /> The single achieved gold status in Finland after less than two days in stores.<ref name="sales fin" /> |
|||
[[File:Nightwish em sessão de autógrafos.jpg|thumb|left|Nightwish at signing session in [[Hamburg]], 2007]] |
|||
''[[Dark Passion Play]]'' was released around Europe in the last week of September 2007, in the UK on October 1 and the United States on October 2. It was awarded double platinum in Finland the second day after its release<ref name="sales fin" /> and took the number one position on the charts of Germany,<ref name="ger charts"/> Finland,<ref name="fin charts" /> Switzerland,<ref name="swi charts">{{cite web |url=http://hitparade.ch/search.asp?search=nightwish&cat=a |title=Nightwish charts in Switzerland |access-date=June 1, 2010| work=HitParade.ch}}</ref> Hungary<ref name="hun charts"/> and Croatia<ref name="cro charts">{{cite web |url=http://www.hdu.hr/ |title=Croatian Music Industry |access-date=June 1, 2010 |work=HDU.ht |archive-date=April 23, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423202227/https://hdu.hr/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and got in top 100 in other 16 countries, including the United States.<ref name="billboard">{{cite web |work=Nightwish.com |title=Chart positions and Gold Awards |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=10&year=2007 |date=October 11, 2007 |access-date=January 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102065113/http://nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=10&year=2007 |archive-date=January 2, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
|||
A new album entitled ''Once'' was released on [[June 7]], [[2004]], along with their first single, “[[Nemo (song)|Nemo]]” (Latin: “Nobody”), from that album. The single topped the charts in Finland and [[Hungary]], and reached the top ten in five additional countries. “Nemo” therefore remains their most successful single release to date. |
|||
''Dark Passion Play'' broke the band's previous record for Finland's most expensive audio recording, with the final production cost coming in at over 500,000 euros (twice the cost of ''Once'', the previous record-setter, and approximately $675,000). |
|||
With ''Once'', Nightwish started to produce [[orchestra|orchestral versions]] of some of their songs. Songs that so far have been produced as orchestral versions include “Nemo”, “[[Ghost Love Score]]”, “[[Eva (song)|Eva]]” and “[[Amaranth (song)|Amaranth]]”. |
|||
On this album, male vocalist [[Marko Hietala]] had more freedom in the use of his voice: he sings backup on the songs "Cadence of Her Last Breath" and "Sahara", lead vocals on the songs "[[The Islander (song)|The Islander]]", "Master Passion Greed" and "[[While Your Lips Are Still Red]]" and chorus on the songs "[[Bye Bye Beautiful]]" and "7 Days to the Wolves".<ref name="nw bio"/> He also sings one part in "The Poet and the Pendulum", besides singing backup in the chorus. Before the band found the new singer and the album was recorded, Marko sang on all the demo versions. Holopainen also sang on the demo versions of "Bye Bye Beautiful" and "Master Passion Greed" but these songs have never been released.<ref name="nw bio"/> |
|||
''Once'' utilizes a full orchestra in nine of the eleven songs on the album. Unlike ''Century Child'', Nightwish decided to look for an orchestra outside of Finland this time, choosing the [[London Philharmonic Orchestra]]. It is also their second album to feature a full-length song in Finnish, “[[Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan|Kuolema tekee taiteilijan]]” (English: “Death Makes an Artist”). ''Once'' has sold triple platinum in Finland, platinum in [[Germany]], gold in [[Sweden]] and reached #1 in the [[Greece|Greek]], [[Norway|Norwegian]] and Hungarian album charts. The following singles were: “[[Wish I Had an Angel]]” (featured on the soundtrack of the film ''[[Alone in the Dark (2005 film)|Alone in the Dark]]''), “[[Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan]]” (released only in Finland and [[Japan]]) and “[[The Siren (song)|The Siren]]”. Besides the commercial success, ''Once'' was also accepted by critics, with many positive reviewers drawing comparisons with ''Oceanborn''. |
|||
On 22 September 2007, the band hosted a secret concert at Rock Café in [[Tallinn]], Estonia, disguising itself as a Nightwish [[cover band]] called Nachtwasser.<ref>{{cite news|work=Blabbermouth.net |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=81338 |title=Nightwish performs secret gig in Estonia |date=September 23, 2007 |access-date=October 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011071711/http://roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=81338 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}</ref> Their first official concert with Olzon was in [[Tel Aviv]], Israel, on 6 October 2007.<ref>{{cite news|work=RoadRunnerRecords.com |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=82280 |title=Nightwish performs first official concert with new singer |date=October 6, 2007 |access-date=October 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011004826/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=82280 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}</ref> The ''Dark Passion Play'' tour thus started, visiting the United States, Canada, most of Europe, Asia, and Australia.<ref name="dpptour">{{cite web |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/live/archive?year=2007 |title=Nightwish Live −2007 |access-date=July 10, 2010 |work=Nightwish.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616051646/http://www.nightwish.com/en/live/archive?year=2007 |archive-date=June 16, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="dpptour3">{{cite web |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/live/archive?year=2008 |title=Nightwish Live −2008 |access-date=July 10, 2010 |work=Nightwish.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718001429/http://www.nightwish.com/en/live/archive?year=2008 |archive-date=July 18, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Blabbermouth.net |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=82169 |title=Nightwish Australian tour dates announced |date=October 5, 2007 |access-date=October 7, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011084519/http://roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=82169 |archive-date=October 11, 2007 }}</ref> |
|||
The success of the album allowed them to perform the ''Once World Tour'', which enabled them to play in many countries the band had never visited before. Nightwish performed at the opening ceremony of the [[2005 World Championships in Athletics]], held in [[Helsinki]], highlighting acclaim the band has recently gained. |
|||
[[File:Nightwish Paris 2008.jpg|thumb|upright|Nightwish live in Paris, France, on 6 April 2008]] |
|||
A “best of” album was released in September 2005, containing songs from their whole discography. The compilation is entitled ''[[Highest Hopes]]'', also featuring a live cover of [[Pink Floyd]]’s song “[[High Hopes (Pink Floyd song)|High Hopes]]” (from the ''[[The Division Bell]]'' album) ([[Media:Nightwish-highhopes.ogg|sample]]). Besides ''High Hopes'', a remake of “[[Sleeping Sun]]” (from ''Oceanborn'') was put on the album, which was also released as a single. A new video for “Sleeping Sun” was shot, featuring a [[medieval]] battle, and can be found on the German release of the single and as a separate DVD released by Spinefarm. |
|||
The third single of the album was "[[Erämaan viimeinen]]", a previously unreleased vocal version of the instrumental "Last of the Wilds". It was released in Finland only on 5 December 2007.<ref name="jonsu">{{cite news|work = ProQuest|title = Ferguson, Tom. "Global Pulse". Billboard- The International Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment Aug 07 2010: 26–7. ProQuest.|date = August 7, 2010|id = {{ProQuest|820997410}}}}</ref> On this song, Jonsu of the Finnish pop and rock band [[Indica (Finnish band)|Indica]] performs the Finnish vocals.<ref name="jonsu" /> "[[Bye Bye Beautiful]]", the fourth single, was released on 15 February 2008, and concerns the 2005 dismissal of Turunen, as does one other song on the album ("Master Passion Greed"). The single includes yet another bonus track, "Escapist", which is also included on the Japanese version of ''Dark Passion Play''.<ref name="nwshop">{{cite web |title=Dark Passion Play= JPN Version |work=NwShop.fi |url=http://www.nwshop.fi/productinfo.cfm?tuotenumero=196964&from=startpage&lang=en |access-date=October 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105073925/http://www.nwshop.fi/productinfo.cfm?tuotenumero=196964&from=startpage&lang=en |archive-date=November 5, 2008 }}</ref> Within a week after the release, the fifth single was announced to be "[[The Islander (song)|The Islander]]". It was released over a month after the release of its music video, shot in late 2007 in [[Rovaniemi]] in Finnish [[Lapland (Finland)|Lapland]].<ref name="nw bio"/> |
|||
The Dark Passion Play tour turned out to be Nightwish's longest tour yet, lasting from late 2007 to September 2009, when it ended with a concert in Hartwall Arena – the band's second concert there – with the band [[Apocalyptica]]. |
|||
===''End of an Era'' (2005–2006)=== |
|||
{{main|End of an Era}} |
|||
On 6 March 2009,<ref name="kong">{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-made-in-hong-kong-cover-artwork-revealed/|title=Nightwish: 'Made In Hong Kong' Cover Artwork Revealed|date=January 7, 2009|work=blabbermouth.net}}</ref> Nightwish released a new live [[Extended play|EP]]/DVD entitled ''[[Made in Hong Kong (And in Various Other Places)]]''. The eight live tracks were recorded during the "[[Dark Passion Play]] World Tour" in 2007–2008, and the album also includes one [[B-side]] from the "[[Bye Bye Beautiful]]" single, one B-side from the "[[Amaranth (song)|Amaranth]]" single, a previously unreleased demo version of "Cadence of Her Last Breath", and a bonus DVD with three music videos as well as a 37-minute documentary called ''[[Back in the Day is Now]]''.<ref name="kong" /> |
|||
After the recording in the [[Hartwall Areena]] (Helsinki) on [[October 21]], [[2005]], of the new live DVD ''End of an Era'' (released June 2006), the four other members of Nightwish decided that it was best to continue Nightwish without Tarja Turunen,<ref name="wikisource">{{cite web | publisher=Wikisource | title=Open letter to Tarja Turunen | url=http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Open_Letter_To_Tarja_Turunen | accessmonthday=October 23 |accessyear=2005}}</ref> a feeling they expressed through an [[open letter]] which was given to Turunen by Tuomas Holopainen after the concert, and afterwards posted on the band’s website. It was written by Holopainen but signed by the other band members. The main justification of Turunen’s dismissal given in the letter was that the band felt that both her husband Marcelo Cabuli (an Argentine businessman) and [[Commercialism|commercial]] interests had changed her attitude towards the band. |
|||
===2009–2012: ''Imaginaerum'' and Olzon's dismissal=== |
|||
Turunen responded to the incident twice, during a press conference in Finland and in Germany, saying that her dismissal came entirely as a shock to her, given that she had not been notified before the letter was given to her. She felt that the personal attacks on her husband were unwarranted, and that playing the issue out to the public was “senselessly cruel”. She expressed these feelings through her own open letter, which was published on her personal website,<ref name="tarjaturunena">{{cite web | publisher=METALYOU.COM | title=Tarja Turunen Letter to the band, fans and media | url=http://www.metalyou.com/band/nightwish/news/nightwish_tarja_turunen_letter_to_the_band_fans_and_media/ | accessmonthday=August 16 | accessyear=2006}}</ref> and through various TV, magazine, and newspaper interviews. |
|||
{{main|Imaginaerum|Imaginaerum (film)}} |
|||
In the June 2009 edition of the Finnish magazine ''Soundi'', Holopainen stated that he had started work on a new Nightwish album. In October 2009, rumors about the new album's name were going around with the title ''Wind Embraced'', but lead vocalist [[Anette Olzon]] listed the rumors as "not true" and said that the songs for the new album had not yet been completed apart from three songs written before May 2009.<ref name="new">{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/ |title=Nightwish Completes Work on New Pre-Production Demo |work=RoadRunnerRecords.com |date=December 2, 2010 |access-date=August 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100807124026/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/ |archive-date=August 7, 2010 }}</ref> Holopainen said in a 2010 interview that "[...]I can't reveal to you any more but there is going to be a big twist so to say, on the next album."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.metalreviews.com/interviews/interviews.php?id=130 |title=Tuomas Holopainen Interview |work=MetalReviews.com |date=May 18, 2009 |access-date=August 7, 2010}}</ref> In an interview with [[Uilleann pipes|Uilleann piper]] [[Troy Donockley]] (who recorded with the band on ''[[Dark Passion Play]]''), when asked about his involvement in the new album, he stated "Oh yes, I ''will'' be playing on the next album and from what Tuomas has told me, it is going to be something extraordinary..."<ref name="new" /> |
|||
On 1 February 2010, Olzon stated on her blog that Holopainen had nine songs ready for the new album. In April 2010, Holopainen revealed on the Nightwish homepage that he had finished writing the songs,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/community/nightmail?month=03&year=2010 |title=NightwishNightmail |work=Nightwish.com |access-date=August 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100720011606/http://www.nightwish.com/en/community/nightmail?month=03&year=2010 |archive-date=July 20, 2010 }}</ref> and on June 2, it was announced that he had finished recording the pre-production demo.<ref name="new" /> |
|||
===''Dark Passion Play'' (2006–2008)=== |
|||
The band announced in late 2010 that more information on the album's actual content would be released in late January,<ref name="new" /> but on February 1, the official website bore a statement written by Holopainen that because of the schedule changes he can't yet give away as many details as he would have wanted, but more information will be out after a couple of months. He added, however, that "it still is the [[Tim Burton|Burton]]-[[Neil Gaiman|Gaiman]]-[[Salvador Dalí|Dalí]] – amusement park we are about to enter".<ref name="new" /> In the same statement, it was revealed that the album would be a theme album and "mood changes seem to be more present than ever before", and the orchestration demos he had received from [[Pip Williams]] were described as "beautiful, twisted, tribal and cinematic stuff".<ref name="new" /> In the Finnish version of the statement, it was also revealed that a few songs will not get any orchestrations at all, differing from their latest album on which all songs had the background orchestra.<ref name="new" /> |
|||
{{main|Dark Passion Play}} |
|||
[[ |
[[File:Nightwish in Denver (Colorado) 2.jpg|thumb|left|Nightwish performing in [[Denver]], Colorado with [[Elize Ryd]] and [[Alissa White-Gluz]], who filled in for Anette Olzon, who parted ways with the band afterwards.]] |
||
Announcements continued throughout 2011. On February 10, Nightwish announced on their website that the new album title would be ''[[Imaginaerum]]''. They also declared that the band had been preparing [[Imaginarium (movie)|a movie]] based on the album, which would be released in 2012 and directed by Stobe Harju, who previously directed the music video for "[[The Islander (song)|The Islander]]".<ref name="new" /> On 22 August 2011, the band's official website announced that the album of ''Imaginaerum'' would be released at the end of the year.<ref name="Nightwish Official Website">{{cite web |url=http://nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=08&year=2011 |title=Album release |access-date=August 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816045359/http://nightwish.com/en/news/archive?month=08&year=2011 |archive-date=August 16, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On August 31, Nightwish announced on its website a change in title, from ''Imaginarium'' to ''Imaginaerum'', "to avoid mix-ups with various things named 'Imaginarium{{'"}}. On September 2, the group announced on its website that the new single, "[[Storytime (song)|Storytime]]", would be released on Friday, November 11, and on September 9, Nightwish revealed the cover and track list.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/imaginaerumteaser |title=Imaginaerum Teaser |work=Nightwish.com |access-date=October 23, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924231709/http://www.nightwish.com/en/imaginaerumteaser |archive-date=September 24, 2011 }}</ref> |
|||
On 11 January 2012, Nightwish announced on its website that the second single, "[[The Crow, the Owl and the Dove]]", would be released on February 29. Roadrunner Records announced that Nightwish would be releasing a 10-inch LP titled ''Trials of Imaginaerum'' in conjunction with Record Store Day<ref>{{cite web|title=Nightwish Issues Record Store Day 10|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/nightwish-vinyl-20120314|access-date=March 14, 2012|archive-date=March 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321075310/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/news/nightwish-vinyl-20120314|url-status=dead}}</ref> (21 April 2012). The 10-inch LP is a two-sided picture disk that contains four early demos of "Storytime", "The Crow, The Owl and The Dove", "I Want My Tears Back" and "Slow, Love, Slow". |
|||
In 2006–2007, the band recorded their sixth full-length studio album, ''Dark Passion Play''. The process began with drum recordings, then guitar, bass and demo keyboards. Orchestral and choir recordings took place in [[Abbey Road Studios]]. After those, the final synthesizers and vocals were recorded.<ref name="NWofficialnews"> {{cite web | title=Nightwish.com | work=News | url=http://nightwish.com/en/news/ | accessmonthday=December 19 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> |
|||
On 1 October 2012, Nightwish announced via its Facebook page that they were parting ways with Olzon.<ref name="press statement">[http://www.facebook.com/nightwish/posts/10152150753945068 Press statement] at Nightwish's official Facebook page</ref> According to the press statement, "it has become increasingly obvious that the direction and the needs of the band were in conflict, and this has led to a division from which we cannot recover".<ref name="press statement"/> This announcement came days after Olzon fell ill at a show in [[Denver]], Colorado, and was unable to perform. Nightwish used replacement singers from the opening band, [[Kamelot]], and Olzon later expressed her disappointment, saying "I was never asked if it was okay that they used [[Elize Ryd|Elize]] and [[Alissa White-Gluz|Alissa]] in the show [Friday] night [...] I don't think it's a good decision they made and I'm sorry for those of you who came to see the whole band but got something else. But I was very ill and this decision wasn't mine."<ref name="Nightwish and Anette Olzon Part Ways">{{cite web |url=http://www.upvenue.com/article/1687-nightwish-part-ways-with-vocalist-anette-olzon.html |title=Nightwish and Anette Olzon Part Ways |work=Upvenue |author=Sheila}}</ref> According to the statement, Dutch singer [[Floor Jansen]] (ex-[[After Forever]], [[ReVamp]]) would sing for the remainder of the Imaginaerum World Tour. |
|||
To find a replacement for Turunen as the female vocalist of the band, on [[March 17]], [[2006]] the band allowed vocalists interested for the position to send in demo tapes as an audition for the spot. During this time, speculation began to emerge as to who would eventually succeed Turunen as the female vocalist for the band. In April 2007, the heavy metal magazine [[Terrorizer]] as an April fools joke reported that [[Sarah Brightman]] would be the new vocalist. In response to this and other rumors, the band stated on their website that fans should not believe any source other than the band itself for information regarding the new vocalist.<ref name="NWofficialnews"/> Some rumors also said that [[Vibeke Stene]], the former singer of the [[gothic metal]] band [[Tristania (band)|Tristania]], would join the band. For the same reason, the identity of the new singer was to be published earlier, and on Thursday 24 May, the 35-year-old [[Alyson Avenue]] lead singer [[Anette Olzon]] from [[Katrineholm]], [[Sweden]] was announced to replace Turunen.<ref name="NWofficialnews"/> The replacement of the lead vocalist has lead to many fans calling the band 'new' Nightwish. Holopainen has said in interviews he did not wish to reveal her identity until new material was available because he did not want fans judging her by nothing more than a picture, or past work. |
|||
On 11 January 2013, Olzon announced on her official blog that she was pregnant with her third child, due in spring 2013, which she claimed was a contributing factor to her being dismissed.<ref name="Anette Olzon Blog: The Secret Is...">{{cite web |url=http://anetteolzon2.blogspot.se/2013/01/the-secret-is.html |work=Anette Olzon Blog |title=The Secret Is... |date=January 11, 2013 |access-date=October 17, 2015}}</ref> The band then released a statement on its website counterclaiming that the reason Olzon gave for her dismissal and other statements she made were untrue and that Olzon herself had agreed to help find a replacement while she was on maternity leave.<ref name="Nightwish state on news page Anette's untruths">{{cite web |url=http://nightwish.com/fi/news |title=The Official Website |work=Nightwish |access-date=April 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418010840/http://www.nightwish.com/fi/news |archive-date=April 18, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Later, Olzon gave several interviews in which she said she never agreed with a replacement, even when she was pregnant, and proposed to the band to postpone the tour, which culminated in her firing. She also added that she was against Jansen joining the band in her period of maternity, mainly because of the difference in their vocal styles.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://carlbegai.com/2014/02/02/anette-olzon-careful-what-you-wish-for/ |title=Anette Olzon – Careful What You 'Wish For |work=Carl Begai |date=February 2, 2014 |access-date=April 4, 2014}}</ref> |
|||
{{Wikinews|Nightwish release 'Dark Passion Play', most expensive album in Finnish history}} |
|||
In a 2015 interview, Holopainen said the band "emerged stronger" from the line-up changes it went through.<ref name="MHammer"/> |
|||
The day after this revealing, charity single “[[Eva (song)|Eva]]” was released as the first off the album, as download only. It was originally scheduled for release on [[May 30]], but due to a leak on a British music download site the single was released on [[May 25]]. This was the first published song (excluding short audio samples on the website) to feature Olzon. On 13 June, Nightwish released the title, ''Dark Passion Play'', and artwork to the new album on their official website, as well as the name and the cover of the second single (this time CD), “[[Amaranth (song)|Amaranth]]”. The single, that first was released in Finland on [[August 22]], included a bonus track entitled “[[While Your Lips Are Still Red]]” written by Tuomas as the main theme track for the upcoming Finnish feature film “Lieksa!”. Technically, it is not a Nightwish-track as it only features [[Marco Hietala]] on vocals and acoustic bass, [[Tuomas Holopainen]] on keys and [[Jukka Nevalainen]] on drums. The song’s video was officially released on [[June 15]]. “Amaranth” achieved gold status in Finland after less than two days in stores. |
|||
=== 2013–2018: Arrival of Floor Jansen and Troy Donockley with ''Endless Forms Most Beautiful'' === |
|||
''Dark Passion Play'' was released around Europe in the last week of September, 2007, in the UK on October 1st, and the United States on October 2nd. There were three separate releases: 1) a single-disc standard version and 2) a 2-CD Special Edition which contains 1 bonus track on the 1st disc and a 2nd CD comprised of orchestral versions of every song on the album and 3) a limited edition 3CD version with the two CDs from version two and a third one with some demo versions (of for example “The Poet and the Pendulum”) as well as some bonus tracks (for example “[[Bye Bye Beautiful]]” CD-single’s b-side “The Escapist” and the third single “[[Erämaan Viimeinen]]”, a vocal version of “Last of the Wilds". In this album, male vocalist [[Marco Hietala]] achieves more freedom in his vocals, singing at least back up in every single song of the album with the exceptions of “Eva” and “Amaranth”, singing lead vocals in several songs, such as “[[The Islander (song)|The Islander]]”, “Master Passion Greed”, “While Your Lips Are Still Red” and “Reach”, (demo version of “Amaranth”), and singing chorus in songs such as “[[Bye Bye Beautiful]]” and “7 Days to the Wolves”.<ref name="NWofficialnews"/> |
|||
{{main|Endless Forms Most Beautiful (album)}} |
|||
{{multiple image |
|||
| footer = [[Floor Jansen]] (left) and [[Troy Donockley]] (right) were made official members in 2013, turning the band into a sextet for the first time. |
|||
| image1 = 20151121 Oberhausen Nightwish Nightwish 0243.jpg |
|||
| width1 = 250 |
|||
| image2 = Troydonockley2014.jpg |
|||
| width2 = 181 |
|||
}} |
|||
In an interview with ''Metal Hammer'' in November 2012, Tuomas Holopainen stated that they already had a rehearsal place booked from July 2014 to September 2014, but before they began rehearsing the band members would be taking a break from Nightwish for several months.<ref name="Rehearsal place booked for July 2014, says Tuomas Holopainen">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubbc7ja-bjQ | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/Ubbc7ja-bjQ| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=Rehearsal place booked for July 2014, says Tuomas Holopainen | date=19 November 2012|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> |
|||
On 9 October 2013, Nightwish announced Floor Jansen as the permanent replacement for Olzon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nightwish.com/en/news#2326 |title=Press release // October 9th 2013 |work=Nightwish.com |date=October 9, 2013 |access-date=October 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007214546/http://nightwish.com/en/news#2326 |archive-date=October 7, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Troy Donockley was also announced as a full-time member, making the band a [[sextet]] for the first time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/news#2326 |title=The Official Website |work=Nightwish |date=February 7, 2014 |access-date=April 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031001744/http://nightwish.com/en/news#2326 |archive-date=October 31, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a later interview, Tuomas said that Donockley's previous work with Nightwish had already made him "much a band member", so the band just "made it official".<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lach|first1=Stef |title=Mainman Tuomas says songs on Endless Forms Most Beautiful didn't require Floor's operatic style|url=http://metalhammer.teamrock.com/news/2015-04-13/nightwish-didn-t-use-jansen-to-show-off-in-studio|website=[[Loudwire]]|publisher=TeamRock |access-date=April 30, 2015 |date=April 13, 2015}}</ref> According to the band's webpage, the band would enter the studio in 2014 to record its eighth full-length album for a 2015 release. At that time, the band had already announced that it would contain Nightwish's longest song to date.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nightwish.com/en/band/biography |title=Biography // November 15th 2013 |work=Nightwish.com |date=November 15, 2013 |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826160213/http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/biography |archive-date=August 26, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
|||
Several magazines, including ''Kerrang!'' have noted how the departure of Tarja Turunen seems to have released the band from their shell and how restraint has been left to other bands. The use of some 175 additional musicians for the orchestral and solo parts of the album has resulted in the band now being described as “epic metal” by many people – especially in 14 minute album opener “The Poet and The Pendulum”. The album was awarded 5/5 (classic) by ''Kerrang!'' magazine.<ref>Kerrang!</ref> |
|||
At the end of November, the band released the live album ''[[Showtime, Storytime]]''. Despite the recording happening when they were only four members, it is the first Nightwish release to feature Jansen and to have her and Donockley credited as band members. The album also carries a documentary containing the behind-the-scenes of Jansen's first days in the band and the process of replacing Olzon.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bravewords.com/news/214461 |title=NIGHTWISH Release Showtime, Storytime; New Video Trailer Streaming |work=Bravewords.com |access-date=April 4, 2014 |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203195842/http://www.bravewords.com/news/214461 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/nightwish/posts/10153340500360068 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/14644790067/10153340500360068 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Nightwish – Ms. Floor Jansen is a keeper. Also, we will... |work=Facebook |access-date=April 4, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{Primary source inline|date=October 2019}} |
|||
On [[September 22]], [[2007]], the band hosted a secret concert at Rock Café in [[Tallinn]], [[Estonia]], disguising itself as a Nightwish [[cover band]] called “Nachtwasser”.<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=81338|title=Nightwish performs secret gig in Estonia|date=September 23, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-07}}</ref> Their first official concert with the new singer was in [[Tel Aviv]], [[Israel]] on [[October 6]], [[2007]].<ref>{{cite news|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=82280|title=Nightwish performs first official concert with new singer|date=October 7, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-07}}</ref> The ''Dark Passion Play'' tour has now visited the [[United States]], [[Canada]], most of [[Europe]], and have (as of December 18, 2007) a planned tour in parts of Asia and [[Australia]], a second tour in North America, Europe and more.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nightwish.com/en/band/tour|title=Nightwish – Tour Info|publisher=Nightwish.com|accessdate=2007-10-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|publisher=Blabbermouth.net|url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=82169|title=Nightwish Australian tour dates announced|date=October 5, 2007|accessdate=2007-10-07}}</ref> |
|||
In May 2014, Holopainen updated his official website, stating that he and producer Tero "TeeCee" Kinnunen had been recording 12 demos (and possibly three bonus tracks) for the new album in [[Hattula]], Finland.<ref name=12demos>{{cite web |title=Nightwish's Tuomas Holopainen Records Demo Of 12 Songs For Next Album|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwishs-tuomas-holopainen-records-demo-of-12-songs-for-next-album/#XOdAxHmkpPBOcMwG.99| work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |access-date=May 17, 2014 |date=May 16, 2014}}</ref> The band expected to start rehearsing in July in Eno, Finland, to complete recording by January 2015, and to release the album in spring of that year, "If everything goes as scheduled".<ref name=12demos/> Commenting on the music, Tuomas said:<ref name=12demos/> |
|||
The third single of the album was first reported to be “[[Bye Bye Beautiful]]”, and a music video to this song was recorded together with “Amaranth”’s, and released in September, 2007. However, changed minds resulted in the third single being “[[Erämaan Viimeinen]]”, a previously unreleased vocal version of the instrumental song “Last of the Wilds”. It was released in Finland only on [[December 5]], [[2007]]. On this song, Jonsu of the Finnish [[pop music|pop]]/[[rock music|rock]] band [[Indica (Finnish band)|Indica]] performs the Finnish vocals.<ref name="NWofficialnews"/> “Bye Bye Beautiful”, the fourth single, was released on [[February 15]], [[2008]] in two versions; DVD and CD.<ref name="nwshop">{{cite web | title=Nwshop.fi | work=Nightwish-Shop | url=http://www.nwshop.fi/productinfo.cfm?tuotenumero=196964&from=startpage&lang=en | accessmonthday=October 30 | accessyear=2008}}</ref> Within a week after the release, the fifth single was announced to be “[[The Islander (song)|The Islander]]”. “The Islander” features an orchestral version of the epic ballad "Meadows of Heaven" and also included an instrumental version of "Escapist" and a new edit version of "The Islander" itself. It was released over a month after the release of its music video, shot in late 2007 in [[Rovaniemi]] in the Finnish [[Lapland]]. Holopainen described the video as "the Lapp wilderness meets the surrealism of [[Salvador Dalí]]".<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F2BqFDYWVU Youtube - Tuomas Holopainen interview]</ref> He also said that the lyrics actually for once goes hand in hand with the video's storyline. Except for the band, the video shows actor Hannu Vuorinen in the role of the old sailor, and features guest musician [[Troy Donockley]] in a [[bagpipe]] solo.<ref name="youtube2">{{cite web | title=Youtube.com | work=Video - The Making of The Islander | url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlsRNm9eI1w | accessmonthday=October 30 | accessyear=2008}}</ref> |
|||
{{blockquote|It's still too early to analyze the material more closely, but the album will once again explore all the ends of the spectrum, bringing the very best out of the newcomers' Floor and Troy. And stealthily the album ended up having a theme running through it.}} |
|||
On [[December 13]], [[2007]], Nightwish opened an official account on [[YouTube]], linked to from their official website. On this, they've uploaded live filmings from their concerts.<ref name="youtube1">{{cite web | title=Youtube.com | work=Account: Nightwishofficial | url=http://www.youtube.com/nightwishofficial | accessmonthday=October 30 | accessyear=2008}}</ref> |
|||
On August 6, the band announced that founding member and drummer Jukka Nevalainen would not be part of the upcoming album due to his debilitating [[insomnia]].<ref name=jukkaleft>{{cite web |title=Nightwish Drummer Jukka Nevalainen Forced To Take Break From Band Due To Health Issues|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-drummer-jukka-nevalainen-forced-to-take-break-from-band-due-to-health-issues/|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |access-date=August 6, 2014 |date=August 6, 2014}}</ref> [[Kai Hahto]] ([[Wintersun]]) would be taking his place on the album<ref name=jukkaleft/> and the upcoming tour.<ref name=kaitour>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/wintersun/photos/a.10151063141622402/10153049520967402/?type=3 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/8120427401/10153049520967402 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=Wintersun|website=Facebook.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> |
|||
According to Holopainen, this will be the longest tour the band has yet attempted, and will probably last about two and a half years.<ref name="toumasholopainennet">{{cite web | title=TuomasHolopainen.net | work=Interview | url=http://www.tuomasholopainen.net/int-thnet2.html | accessmonthday=October 30 | accessyear=2008}}</ref> As of February, 2008, tour dates for the second leg of the North American tour are booked through May 2008. John Two Hawks performed at the last two shows of this leg. Several summer/fall dates in Europe have been added, largely festivals, including the [[Bloodstock Open Air|Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival]] in August 2008. They will also be performing at [[Rock am Ring and Rock im Park]] in June 2008 and at [[EXIT (festival)|EXIT festival]] on July 10.<ref>[http://www.metalfromfinland.com/news/2008-02-11_15:02/nightwish_confirmed_for_serbias_exit_festival_ NIGHTWISH Confirmed For Serbia's EXIT Festival]</ref> Nightwish has confirmed that they will do a third US tour in 2008’s second semester, with dates starting at the end of August and carrying on through the autumn. |
|||
[[File:20151121 Oberhausen Nightwish Nightwish 0082.jpg|thumb|right|Nightwish performing in Oberhausen, Germany, in November 2015]] |
|||
On March 3, 2008, Nightwish lost by a single vote to the American power metal band [[Kamelot]], in the Metal Storm Awards 2007. Both Nightwish and Kamelot were among the nominees for Best Power Metal Album of 2007 (''Dark Passion Play'', and ''[[Ghost Opera]]'' respectively). They suffered another loss to Kamelot in the category for Best Music Video, their nominated video being for the song “Amaranth”. They, however won Biggest Surprise of 2007. |
|||
Evolutionary biologist and author [[Richard Dawkins]] was announced as a guest star on the album, with Holopainen stating that he had "been so enthusiastic about this kind of literature for the past few months, and will be for the upcoming months, that it's going to come out somehow."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/news#2490 |title=Latest News – Nightwish – The Official Website |work=Nightwish.com |access-date=December 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121031001744/http://nightwish.com/en/news#2490 |archive-date=October 31, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwishs-next-album-to-feature-guest-appearance-by-atheist-writerleader-richard-dawkins/ |title=Nightwish's Next Album To Feature Guest Appearance By British Professor Richard Dawkins |work=Blabbermouth.net|date=October 16, 2014 }}</ref> |
|||
In November, the band filmed a music video for "[[Élan (song)|Élan]]", one of the tracks of the album.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-films-new-music-video/ |title=Nightwish Films New Music Video |work=Blabbermouth.net|date=November 22, 2014 }}</ref> On December 8, the band announced that it would be the first single from the album, which would be released on February 13, 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nightwish.com/en/news#2516 |title=Latest News – Nightwish – The Official Website |work=Nightwish.com |access-date=December 19, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219060105/http://www.nightwish.com/en/news/#2516 |archive-date=December 19, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
|||
In August, Nightwish announced that the album will be followed by a photobook, entitled ''Dark Passion Gallery'', with photos by Finnish photographer Ville Akseli Juurikkala and with captions by the band members, as well as a [[foreword]] by Holopainen.<ref>[http://nightwish.com/en/photobook Nightwish.com - Dark Passion Gallery]</ref> The photobook will be released on October 22.<ref>[http://nightwish.com/en/news/ Nightwish.com - News]</ref> |
|||
The new album's cover art and its title, ''[[Endless Forms Most Beautiful (album)|Endless Forms Most Beautiful]]'', were revealed on 22 December, and the album was released on 27 March 2015, produced by Tero "TeeCee" Kinnunen.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nightwish To Release 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful' Album In March|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-to-release-endless-forms-most-beautiful-album-in-march/#zhOvKcPD3rF0CByp.99|publisher=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|access-date=March 21, 2016|date=December 22, 2014}}</ref> The title for Endless Forms Most Beautiful was taken from the writings of English naturalist [[Charles Darwin]]. The album features the participation of [[Metro Voices|London's The Metro Voices]] choir group, London's Young Musicians Children's Choir, and the Orchestre De Grandeur, led by the esteemed orchestral arranger Pip Williams, who teaches music and music technology at the London College of Music. Professor [[Richard Dawkins]] not only narrates the introduction to the album's opener, "Shudder Before the Beautiful", but also the album's closer, "The Greatest Show on Earth", which takes its name from his 2009 book on evolution. To promote the album's release, the band went on the [[Endless Forms Most Beautiful World Tour]], which started on April 9, 2015, in New York City<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bowar |first1=Chad |title=Nightwish Reveal Dates for Spring 2015 North American Tour |url=https://loudwire.com/nightwish-spring-2015-north-american-tour/ |website=Loudwire |access-date=January 10, 2024 |language=en |date=September 23, 2014}}</ref> and concluded on October 9, 2016, in Saitama, Japan. |
|||
===Planned new album (2008-)=== |
|||
In July, 2008, Holopainen claimed that he has started working on Nightwish's seventh studio album, probably to be released in late 2009 or early 2010.<ref>[http://nightwish.com/en/community/nightmail?month=07&year=2008 Nightwish.com - Nightmail (July 2008)]</ref> Holopainen will start working full time on the album sometime in 2009, after their ''Dark Passion Play'' tour has ended in the spring. |
|||
[[FIle:Nightwish à Genève (45850147611).jpg|thumb|left|Nightwish live at the [[SEG Geneva Arena]] in 2018]] |
|||
In October, [[Marco Hietala|Hietala]], who is the writer of "The Islander" and co-writer of several songs (eg. "7 Days to the Wolves", "Romanticide", "Higher than Hope") on ''Dark Passion Play'' and ''Once'' , said he has got material ready for their next album, but it "has to go through Tuomas' filter first".<ref>[http://nightwish.com/en/community/nightmail?month=09&year=2008 Nightwish.com - Nightmail (October 2008)]</ref> |
|||
In July 2015, it was announced that [[Sonata Arctica]]'s vocalist [[Tony Kakko]] would replace Jukka Nevalainen as the band's special guest at [[Rock in Rio#Rock in Rio 6|the 2015 edition of Rock in Rio]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Rock in Rio: Jukka Nevalainen cancela participação no show do Nightwish; Tony Kakko substitui|url=http://oglobo.globo.com/cultura/musica/rock-in-rio-jukka-nevalainen-cancela-participacao-no-show-do-nightwish-tony-kakko-substitui-16868880|website=[[O Globo]]|publisher=[[Grupo Globo]] |access-date=July 22, 2015|language=pt |date=July 21, 2015}}</ref> In December 2015, Nightwish became the first Finnish band to headline a show at the [[Wembley Arena]], in London.<ref name="MHammer"/> The sold-out show featured guest performer Richard Dawkins, who spoke his parts on stage. The Tampere and London shows were filmed for a live album release known as ''[[Vehicle of Spirit (album)|Vehicle of Spirit]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shutt|first1=Dan|title=Nightwish, Wembley Arena, gig review: Closing with The Greatest Show on Earth too much for sell-out audience to handle|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/live-music/live-reviews/nightwish-wembley-arena-gig-review-closing-with-the-greatest-show-on-earth-too-much-for-sell-out-a6781496.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/music-magazine/live-music/live-reviews/nightwish-wembley-arena-gig-review-closing-with-the-greatest-show-on-earth-too-much-for-sell-out-a6781496.html |archive-date=June 21, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|publisher=Independent Print Limited|access-date=January 3, 2016|date=December 21, 2015}}</ref> |
|||
On 20 August 2016, the band played a special 20th-anniversary show at Himos Areena in Finland. The show featured original bassist [[Sami Vänskä]] on the song "Stargazers" and drummer [[Jukka Nevalainen]] on the song "Last Ride of the Day".<ref>{{cite web|title=NIGHTWISH Perform With Original Bassist SAMI VÄNSKÄ At Himos Park Show, Video Available|url=http://bravewords.com/news/nightwish-perform-with-original-bassist-sami-vanska-at-himos-park-show-video-available|website=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]]|access-date=November 10, 2016|date=September 2, 2016}}</ref> The band took a break in 2017, during which Jansen was focusing on her first child. Holopainen said that the band would continue between the years of 2018 and 2020, with another album that would continue the themes explored in ''Endless Forms Most Beautiful''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Beebee|first1=Steve|title=Nightwish – The BIG Uber Rock Interview Exclusive|url=http://www.uberrock.co.uk/interviews/62-november-interviews/18703-nightwish-the-big-uber-rock-interview-exclusive.html|website=Uberrock.co.uk|access-date=November 10, 2016|date=November 5, 2016|archive-date=January 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103164444/http://www.uberrock.co.uk/interviews/62-november-interviews/18703-nightwish-the-big-uber-rock-interview-exclusive.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
|||
==Music== |
|||
On 9 June 2017, the band announced that 9 March 2018 would mark not only the debut of a nine-month world tour titled ''[[Decades: World Tour]]'', which had concluded in December that same year, but also the release of a new compilation album, titled ''[[Decades (Nightwish album)|Decades]]''. The tour featured "rarely heard material" and a special set for fans.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nightwish.com/en/news/2017/06/170906-decades |title=Announcing The "decades" World Tour 2018 |publisher=Nightwish.com |date=June 9, 2017 |access-date=June 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170616121248/http://nightwish.com/en/news/2017/06/170906-decades |archive-date=June 16, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> During the Latin American leg of the tour, the Buenos Aires show was filmed for a live DVD known as ''[[Decades: Live in Buenos Aires]]'' which was released on December 6, 2019.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-sao-paulo-and-buenos-aires-concerts-to-be-filmed-for-upcoming-dvd/|title=NIGHTWISH: São Paulo And Buenos Aires Concerts To Be Filmed For Upcoming DVD|work=Blabbermouth |date=September 17, 2018 |access-date=September 18, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-to-release-decades-live-in-buenos-aires-in-december/|title=Nightwish To Release 'Decades: Live In Buenos Aires' In December|work=Blabbermouth|date=October 11, 2019|access-date=October 11, 2019}}</ref> |
|||
===Lyrical themes=== |
|||
[[Image:PitandthePendulum-Clarke.jpg|170px|thumb|right|“The Poet and the Pendulum” is inspired by the [[Edgar Allan Poe]] story ''[[The Pit and the Pendulum]]''.]] |
|||
In the beginning, Holopainen mainly wrote on [[Mythology|mythological]] and [[fantasy]] themes,<ref>lancelot: [http://www.yopi.de/rev/206437 ''Nightwish: Oceanborn --> einfach genial!!!''] at Yopi.de, 11. Mai 2005 (German, viewed on August 3, 2007)</ref> and often used references to "metaphysics and nature".<ref>Matthias Mineur: ''Nightwish. Suomi Superstars'' in ''EMP 4/99'', p. 26</ref> Through the years the lyrics became obviously more personal. On ''Wishmaster'', the title track is still a "tribute to Tolkien and all the other fantasy writers",<ref name="powermetal/00">Georg Weihrauch: [http://power-metal.de/interview/interview-27.html ''Interview Nightwish - Tuomas Holopainen''] at Power-Metal.de. November 12, 2000 (German, viewed on August 15, 2007)</ref>, but with "Dead Boy's Poem", the album also includes a very emotional piece, which Holopainen calls his "legacy and […] testament for the whole world. […] I wanted to do this song before I die, because I wanted to tell the whole world what I think and feel. It expresses a lot of myself."<ref name="powermetal/00" /> |
|||
===2019–2023: Further lineup changes and ''Human. :II: Nature.''=== |
|||
This development became even more obvious on the ''Wishmaster''-successor ''Century Child''. Turunen thinks that the lyrics don't anymore deal "with the dreamland we were used to, but with the brutal reality of life."<ref>Tom Klaner: [http://www.bright-eyes.de/baseportal/Stories/interviewdetail&Id==386 ''NIGHTWISH''] at Bright-Eyes.de (German, viewed on August 3, 2007)</ref> "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" (en. "Death makes an Artist") from the ''Once'' album describes the experience of loss and its impact on art, "Nemo" deals with the feeling of being lost.<ref name="u-empire/holo">Klaudia Weber: [http://www.underground-empire.com/article.php?idx=611 ''Nightwish Interview''] at Underground-Empire.com (german, viewed on August 3, 2007)</ref> |
|||
{{main|Human. :II: Nature.}} |
|||
In the opposite, "Creek Mary's Blood" is based on [[Dee Brown]]'s story of the same name, which presents the situation of [[Native Americans in the United States|native americans]] in the end of the 19th century.<ref name="u-empire/holo" /> ''Dark Passion Play'', aside from single songs depicting Holopainen's childhood, Turunen and his husband Marcelo Cabuli, contains many refenrences to [[Edgar Allan Poe]] and [[Stephen King]].<ref name="pm 7/07">Ricarda Schwoebel: [http://powermetal.de/interview/interview-1325.html ''Interview Nightwish - Anette, Tuomas''] at [[Powermetal.de]], August 3, 2007 (German, viewed on November 4, 2007)</ref> |
|||
{{multiple image |
|||
| align = left |
|||
| image1 = Tuska 20130628 - Wintersun - 33.jpg |
|||
| width1 = 234 |
|||
| alt1 = |
|||
| caption1 = |
|||
| image2 = Wintersun Rockharz 2019 04.jpg |
|||
| width2 = |
|||
| alt2 = |
|||
| caption2 = |
|||
| footer = ''(Left)'': Kai Hahto was made an official member in July 2019; ''(right)'': Jukka Koskinen joined the band as an official member in August 2022 |
|||
}} |
|||
In July 2018, Holopainen stated that he had written "80 or 90%" of the material for Nightwish's next album, which would consist of ten or eleven songs. He stated that the inspiration for the new album came from the completion of the 2018 [[Auri (album)|self-titled debut album]] of [[Auri (band)|Auri]], a band he created with Donockley and [[Johanna Kurkela]] the previous year. Recording would start in July 2019, with a planned spring 2020 release. The band would "use the [orchestral] instrumentation in a different way than before", with Holopainen stating, "You want to search for some new ways of using it so that it doesn't end up sounding the same as before".<ref name=Louder90>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/nightwish-have-written-up-to-90-of-new-album|title=Nightwish have written up to 90% of new album|website=[[Metal Hammer|Louder]]|date=July 23, 2018|access-date=November 16, 2018}}</ref> Jansen stated in November that she believed the recording process would be similar to ''Endless Forms Most Beautiful''{{'}}s, for which the band went through lengthy rehearsals before starting to record.<ref name=JansenExciting>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/floor-jansen-on-songwriting-process-for-next-nightwish-album-its-very-exciting/|title=FLOOR JANSEN On Songwriting Process For Next NIGHTWISH Album: 'It's Very Exciting'|website=[[Blabbermouth.net]]|date=November 15, 2018|access-date=November 16, 2018}}</ref> |
|||
On 15 July 2019, the band announced that Kai Hahto would permanently take over for Jukka Nevalainen as the band's drummer. In a statement, Nevalainen explained that while he was managing his insomnia well and having few issues, he did not want to 'push his luck' by returning to the band as a full-time member. He did confirm, however, that he would continue to take care of band-related business behind the scenes.<ref name=kainightwish>{{cite web|url=http://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwishs-jukka-nevalainen-officially-exits-band-kai-hahto-named-permanent-drummer/|title=Nightwish's Jukka Nevalainen Officially Exits Band; KAI HAHTO Named Permanent Drummer|publisher=Blabbermouth|date=July 15, 2019|access-date=July 15, 2019}}</ref> |
|||
On their debut album ''Angels Fall First'' several songs were written in Finnish language, but since the band has only written songs in English. The only exceptions are "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" from the ''Once'' album and the single "Erämaan Viimeinen", which is a version of the instrumental "Last of the Wilds" that features vocals. Holopainen thought that he was very uncertain about the lyrics of that song, because he is of the opinion that writing in Finnish is rather hard, and stated "Finnish [could] quickly sound really cheesy."<ref>Ricarda Schwoebel: [http://www.powermetal.de/interview/interview-1038.html ''Interview Nightwish - Tuomas Holopainen, Mape Ollila''] at Powermetal.de, Juli 14, 2006 (german, viewed on August 10, 2007)</ref> |
|||
On 31 October 2019, Floor Jansen confirmed that recording for the new album had been completed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-has-completed-recording-new-album-im-very-very-happy-with-it-says-floor-jansen/|title=Nightwish Has Completed Recording New Album: 'I'm Very, Very Happy With It,' Says Floor Jansen|publisher=Blabbermouth|date=October 31, 2019|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref> On 18 December 2019, it was confirmed that Tuomas Holopainen was at Finnvox Studios mixing Nightwish's next studio album, set for release in the first quarter of 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-is-still-mixing-new-album/|title=NIGHTWISH Is Still Mixing New Album|publisher=Blabbermouth|date=2019-12-18|access-date=2019-12-19}}</ref> Holopainen confirmed on 10 January 2020 that mixing and mastering for the album had finished and it was ready for release, with the album title and other details to be released soon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soundi.fi/uutiset/kerromme-teille-nyt-ilouutisen-nightwishin-uusi-studioalbumi-on-valmis/|title=Kerromme teille nyt ilouutisen: Nightwishin uusi studioalbumi on valmis|publisher=Soundi|date=January 10, 2020|access-date=January 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200110215332/https://www.soundi.fi/uutiset/kerromme-teille-nyt-ilouutisen-nightwishin-uusi-studioalbumi-on-valmis/|archive-date=January 10, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
|||
===Influence=== |
|||
{{main|Tuomas Holopainen}} |
|||
Tuomas Holopainen, writer of most of the band’s lyrics and [[Sheet music|musical score]]s, says that he gets most of the inspiration for Nightwish’s songs from [[Film score|film music]].<ref name="tuomasprofile">{{cite web | title=Nightwish.com | work=Profile of Tuomas Holopainen | url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/members/facts?id=1 | accessmonthday=December 28 | accessyear=2005}}</ref> Songs like “Beauty of the Beast” (from ''[[Century Child]]''), “Ghost Love Score” (from ''[[Once (Nightwish album)|Once]]'') and “The Poet and the Pendulum” (from ''[[Dark Passion Play]]'') are examples of this influence. Other songs, such as “[[Bye Bye Beautiful]]” (from ''Dark Passion Play''), and “[[Wish I Had an Angel]]” (from ''Once'') have elements of [[industrial metal]], and some others, like “[[The Islander]]” and “Last of the Wilds” (from ''Dark Passion Play''), “[[Creek Mary's Blood]]” (from ''Once''), and the ''[[Angels Fall First]]'' album have elements of [[folk metal]]. Holopainen has also said that film music is the music he listens to for leisure.<ref name="tuomasprofile"/> He likes, for example, the musical scores to ''[[Van Helsing (film)|Van Helsing]]'' and ''[[Crimson Tide]]'', and practically everything written by [[Hans Zimmer]].<ref name="tuomasprofile"/> Holopainen has also stated that [[Children of Bodom]] is an influence.<ref>Once Upon a Nightwish: Official Biography 1996 - 2006</ref> |
|||
The new album's cover and track list, along with its title, ''[[Human. :II: Nature.]]'', were revealed on 16 January 2020, and the album was released on 10 April 2020.<ref name="kainightwish2">{{cite web|url=http://nightwish.com/en/news/2020/01/200116-human-nature|title=Announcing the new album "HUMAN. :{{!}}{{!}}: NATURE."|publisher=Nightwish|date=January 16, 2020|access-date=January 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200116133641/http://nightwish.com/en/news/2020/01/200116-human-nature|archive-date=January 16, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/nightwish-announce-new-album-human-ii-nature/|title=Nightwish Announce New Album ''Human. :II: Nature.''|magazine=[[Kerrang!]]|date=January 16, 2020|access-date=January 16, 2020}}</ref> The first single of the album, titled "[[Noise (Nightwish song)|Noise]]" was released on 7 February 2020, with an accompanying music video.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.inferno.fi/uutiset/nightwish-soitti-infernolle-tulevan-albuminsa-lue-ensitunnelmat/|title=Nightwish soitti Infernolle tulevan albuminsa – lue ensitunnelmat|publisher=Inferno|date=January 21, 2020|access-date=January 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200119055146/https://www.inferno.fi/uutiset/nightwish-soitti-infernolle-tulevan-albuminsa-lue-ensitunnelmat/|archive-date=January 19, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The second single from the album, "Harvest", was released on 6 March 2020, with a lyric video to accompany its release.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/nightwish-launch-lyric-video-for-their-new-single-harvest|title=Nightwish launch lyric video for their new single Harvest|publisher=Louder|date=March 6, 2020|access-date=March 6, 2020}}</ref> On the day the album was released, Nightwish released lyric videos for all of the songs on the album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-releases-lyric-video-for-every-song-on-human-ii-nature-album/|title=NIGHTWISH Releases Lyric Video For Every Song On 'Human. :II: Nature.' Album|publisher=Blabbermouth|date=April 10, 2020|access-date=April 10, 2020}}</ref> The album debuted in the top 10 charts as number one in Finland, Spain, Switzerland and Germany, as well as being charted in other countries including Canada, Austria, Hungary, Poland and the United States.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwishs-human-ii-nature-debuts-in-top-10-in-more-than-dozen-countries/|title=NIGHTWISH's 'Human. :II: Nature.' Debuts In Top 10 In More Than Dozen Countries|publisher=Blabbermouth|date=April 24, 2020|access-date=April 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spanishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Nightwish&titel=Human.+:II:+Nature.&cat=a|title=spanishcharts.com - Nightwish - Human. :II: Nature.|website=spanishcharts.com|access-date=2020-04-28}}{{Dead link|date=January 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.20min.ch/fr/story/top-10-des-ventes-d-albums-et-de-singles-273130433902|title=Top 10 des ventes d'albums et de singles|date=2020-04-26|website=[[20 minutes (Switzerland)|20 minutes]]|language=fr|access-date=2020-04-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9365596/nightwish-floor-jansen-interview|title=Nightwish's Floor Jansen Interview|date=2020-04-24|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2020-04-28}}</ref> |
|||
Fantasy novels are also a big influence on Nightwish’s music. Many of the lyrics make fairly clear references to fantasy novels, especially the ''Dragonlance'' series and [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. Songs such as “Wishmaster” and “Wanderlust” seem to be heavily influenced by the novels. References to The Kharolis Mountains, 'Shalafi' and Krynn, as well as 'Elbereth' and 'Gray Havens', can be found in these songs. The music of “7 Days to the Wolves” is inspired by [[Stephen King]]’s ''[[The Dark Tower (series)|The Dark Tower]]'' series. |
|||
Nightwish announced on 11 March 2020 that they had joined a partnership with an international conservation charity organization named [[World Land Trust]]. With their announcement was a video that promoted the organization, which in turn features the song "Ad Astra" from their ninth album.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/nightwish-announce-partnership-with-world-land-trust-international-conservation-charity-organization-video-featuring-new-track-ad-astra-posted|title=Nightwish Announce Partnership With World Land Trust International Conservation Charity Organization; Video Featuring New Track 'Ad Astra' Posted|publisher=BraveWords|date=March 11, 2020|access-date=March 11, 2020}}</ref> When asked about the partnership with the organization in an interview, Floor commented: |
|||
On the other hand, Nightwish has also been noted as a source of inspiration for other bands. [[Simone Simons]], lead singer of [[The Netherlands|Dutch]] [[gothic metal#Symphonic gothic metal|symphonic/gothic metal]] band [[Epica (band)|Epica]], stated that she began singing due to Nightwish' 1998 ''[[Oceanborn]]'' album.<ref name="epica">{{cite web | title=Epica Online | work=Profile Simone | url=http://www.epica.nl/index.php?id=45§ion=band | accessmonthday=December 28 | accessyear=2005}}</ref> Ex-singer of [[symphonic metal]] band [[Visions of Atlantis]], [[Nicole Bogner]], also acknowledged that Nightwish had greatly inspired them for their first album.<ref name="musdiscvisions">{{cite web | title=Musical Discoveries | work=Visions of Atlantis (Nicole Bogner) | url=http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/voa.htm | accessmonthday=December 30 |accessyear=2005}}</ref> [[Sander Gommans]] of [[After Forever]] said that Nightwish “will certainly influence us in creating new songs”.<ref name="musdiscafter">{{cite web | title=Musical Discoveries | work=After Forever | url=http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/aftfor.htm | accessmonthday=December 30 | accessyear=2005}}</ref> [[Power metal]] band [[Sonata Arctica]]’s lead singer [[Tony Kakko]] has explained how much of an influence Nightwish is to him.<ref name="gauntlet">{{cite web | title=The Gauntlet | work=Sonata Arctica Interview | url=http://euro.thegauntlet.com/interviews/1159/Sonata%20Arctica.html | accessmonthday=June 17 | accessyear=2007}}</ref> |
|||
{{blockquote|They're a great organisation. The video for the last song on the album, 'Ad Astra', was filmed in conjunction with them. They work to preserve our planet by buying up areas of land and preserving them. I think it's hypocritical that we're telling Brazil that they need to save their rainforest when Europeans have absolutely decimated their own. But at the same time, we really do need to save the rainforest or we're facing a climate crisis. The World Land Trust works with governments to find alternative financial outlets for local people to stop logging and deforestation. You can't just say to people, 'Stop doing this'. You need to consider the human impact, then the environmental one.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/music-interviews/nightwish-interview-2020-new-album-human-ii-nature-floor-jansen-beste-zangers-2667724|title=Metal behemoths Nightwish: "David Attenborough wrote to personally decline appearing on our album"|website=NME|date=May 13, 2020|access-date=May 15, 2020}}</ref>}} |
|||
[[File:HF2022Nightwish 8.jpg|thumb|left|280px|Nightwish live at Hellfest concert in June 2022]] |
|||
On 10 July 2020, a new crab species, the ''Tanidromites nightwishorum'', which was discovered by curator of palaeontology Dr. Adiel A. Klompmaker of the Alabama Museum of Natural History, was named in honor of the band, in particular for their 2015 album ''Endless Forms Most Beautiful''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/new-crab-species-named-after-nightwish/|title=New Crab Species Named After Nightwish|work=Blabbermouth|date=July 10, 2020|access-date=July 12, 2020}}</ref> On 12 August 2020, a prehistoric rockshelter called the ''Alpenglow Rockshelter'', that was discovered in Pennsylvania, USA was, too, named for Nightwish, particularly in honor of their ninth track, ''Alpenglow'', from their 2015 album.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nightwish.com/news/another-scientific-discovery-named-for-nightwish|title=Another scientific discovery named for Nightwish!|work=Nightwish|date=August 12, 2020|access-date=August 13, 2020|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925164742/https://nightwish.com/news/another-scientific-discovery-named-for-nightwish|url-status=dead}}</ref> |
|||
On 12 January 2021, Marko Hietala announced his departure from the band, citing his struggles with chronic depression and his disillusionment with the music scene in general. The band released another statement, that a temporary member would fill in on bass for the tour.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish's Longtime Bassist/Vocalist Marko 'Marco' Hietala Announces His Departure From Band |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwishs-longtime-bassist-vocalist-marko-marco-hietala-announces-his-departure-from-band/ |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |access-date=12 January 2021 |date=12 January 2021}}</ref> In his statement, Hietala wrote: |
|||
{{blockquote|Conspiracy is the word of the day. For the people who like them I need to say that my 55th birthday is now on 14th of Jan and I’ve certainly done my time for now. Blaming for instance Tuomas is an insult to both him and my free thinking. This is a very sad thing to all of us too. Have a care please. [...] There are a couple of things agreed on that I will do on 2021. Otherwise I kindly and with respect ask the media, bands, artists projects etc. to not ask me for anything within the next year. I have some reinventing to do. I hope to tell you about it on 2022. It's not a promise though. |
|||
I am so sorry about this.<ref>{{cite web |title=Marko Hietala leaves Nightwish |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/marko-hietala-leaves-nightwish |website=Metal Hammer |date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=12 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref>}} |
|||
The band began their [[Human. :II: Nature. World Tour|world tour]] in support of the album in May 2021 with an interactive [[Livestreaming|livestream]] experience in a [[virtual reality]] tavern which featured songs from the album, as well as revealed the identity of the session bass player, [[Jukka Koskinen]], via VIP virtual session.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish will kick off their 2021 tour with a gig in an imaginary pub |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/nightwish-livestream-2021-tour |website=Louder |date=December 17, 2020 |access-date=December 17, 2020 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NIGHTWISH To Start 'Human. :II: Nature.' World Tour In Virtual Reality |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-to-start-human-ii-nature-world-tour-in-virtual-reality/ |website=Blabbermouth |access-date=December 17, 2020 |date=December 17, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=NIGHTWISH - Upcoming Human. :II: Nature. Virtual Livestream Show Rescheduled For May 2021 |url=https://bravewords.com/news/nightwish-upcoming-human-ii-nature-virtual-livestream-show-rescheduled-for-may-2021 |website=BraveWords |access-date=February 4, 2021 |language=en |date=February 4, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish paljasti uuden basistinsa |url=https://www.is.fi/musiikki/art-2000008010761.html |website=Ilta-Sanomat |access-date=28 May 2021 |language=fi |date=28 May 2021}}</ref> Both of the performances had broken records with the first drawing 150,000 viewers and setting it as the most viewed virtual performance in Finland, with the box office exceeding one million in euros.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish's virtual concert broke records |url=https://www.helsinkitimes.fi/culture/19316-nightwish-s-virtual-concert-broke-records.html |website=Helsinki Times |access-date=May 30, 2021 |language=en-gb |date=May 30, 2021}}</ref> The virtual performances were released on DVD on 11 March 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mäenpää |first1=Arto |title=Tuomas Holopainen and Troy Donockley to Chaoszine: "There will be a DVD coming from the Nightwish virtual shows" |url=https://chaoszine.net/tuomas-holopainen-and-troy-donocley-to-chaoszine-there-will-be-a-dvd-coming-from-the-nightwish-virtual-shows/ |website=Chaoszine |access-date=12 August 2021 |date=5 August 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish - Human. :II: Nature. Live In a Virtual World 2021 Available On DVD |url=https://bravewords.com/news/nightwish-human-ii-nature-live-in-a-virtual-world-2021-available-on-dvd |website=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]] |access-date=February 1, 2022 |language=en |date=January 29, 2022}}</ref> The band resumed their tour in Finland in late July 2021 with a "secret" performance in Oulu.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nevski & The Prospectsin konsertti Club Teatrialla järjestetään heinäkuun loppupuolella – tapahtuma siirtynyt yli vuodella |url=https://www.kaleva.fi/nevski-the-prospectsin-konsertti-club-teatrialla-j/3770421 |website=Kaleva |access-date=12 August 2021 |language=fi}}</ref> The tour was originally scheduled to begin in spring 2020, but due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the band postponed the tour to the next year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nightwish.com/news/re-scheduled-nightwish-usa-2021-dates-are-here|title=Nightwish - Re-Scheduled Nightwish USA 2021 Dates Here|work=Nightwish|date=August 10, 2020|access-date=September 30, 2020|archive-date=September 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200925180100/https://nightwish.com/news/re-scheduled-nightwish-usa-2021-dates-are-here|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/nightwish-announce-rescheduled-tour-for-2021/|title=Nightwish Announce Rescheduled Tour For 2021|work=Kerrang!|date=September 4, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nightwish.com/news/postponed-russian-belarus-ukranian-tour-dates|title=NIGHTWISH - Postponed Russian, Belarus, Ukrainian Tour Dates|date=May 9, 2020|access-date=December 17, 2020|archive-date=January 12, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112014226/https://nightwish.com/news/postponed-russian-belarus-ukranian-tour-dates|url-status=dead}}</ref> The tour concluded in June 2023.<ref name="nightwish2023">{{cite web |title=Nightwish: "Vi älskar världen vi bor i" |url=https://www.gp.se/kultur/kultur-nöje/nightwish-vi-älskar-världen-vi-bor-i-1.74584847 |website=Göteborgs-Posten |access-date=June 12, 2022 |language=sv |date=June 10, 2022}}</ref> |
|||
On 21 January 2021, the band were nominated by the Finnish Emma Awards for the categories of Album of the Year, Band of the Year and Viewer's Choice of the Year, winning the category of Metal Album of the Year.<ref>{{cite web |title=NIGHTWISH Wins Emma Gaala Award 2021 For Best Metal Album Of The Year |url=https://bravewords.com/news/nightwish-wins-emma-gaala-award-2021-for-best-metal-album-of-the-year |website=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]] |access-date=17 May 2021 |language=en}}</ref> The awards ceremony in which they were nominated was held on 14 May 2021, at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish has been nominated for the prestigious Finnish Emma Awards! |url=https://nightwish.com/news/nightwish-has-been-nominated-for-the-prestigious-finnish-emma-awards |website=Nightwish |access-date=January 28, 2021 |language=en |date=January 21, 2021}}</ref> |
|||
Following a number of summer festivals in Europe, the band announced the addition of Jukka Koskinen as the band's permanent bass player on 21 August 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish announces Jukka Koskinen as band's new permanent bassist |url=https://chaoszine.net/nightwish-announces-jukka-koskinen-as-bands-new-permanent-bassist/ |website=Chaoszine |access-date=21 August 2022 |date=21 August 2022}}</ref> |
|||
===2023–present: ''Yesterwynde'' and touring hiatus=== |
|||
{{main|Yesterwynde}} |
|||
In April 2021, Holopainen had said in an interview that he started sketching drafts for the next Nightwish album.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tuomas Holopainen avoimena Nightwishin vaikeasta alkuvuodesta – Marko Hietalan shokki-ilmoitusta seurasi solistin joutuminen sairaalahoitoon |url=https://www.is.fi/musiikki/art-2000007933762.html |website=Ilta-Sanomat |access-date=25 April 2021 |language=fi |date=22 April 2021}}</ref> He stated in May 2021 that he had been working on new material for "the past month or two" while he was busy with his side projects [[Auri (band)|Auri]] and the reunited [[Darkwoods My Betrothed]] in which he became a full-time member.<ref>{{cite web |title=NIGHTWISH Keyboardist TUOMAS HOLOPAINEN's Black Metal Project DARKWOODS MY BETROTHED Signs With NAPALM RECORDS |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-keyboardist-tuomas-holopainens-black-metal-project-darkwoods-my-betrothed-signs-with-napalm-records/ |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |access-date=June 10, 2021 |date=2021-06-08}}</ref> He confirmed that the band booked a studio for the next album, which is set to happen in the summer of 2023 for three months at the Röskö campsite.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Everley |first1=Dave |title=Nightwish's Tuomas Holopainen: "I've been gathering up ideas for the new Nightwish album" |url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/nightwish-tuomas-holopainen-interview-livestream-marko-new-album |website=Metal Hammer |access-date=21 May 2021 |language=en |date=21 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish's Tuomas Holopainen reveals the band has plans to spend three months together making the upcoming album: "It has proven to be an extremely functional concept for us" |url=https://chaoszine.net/nightwishs-tuomas-holopainen-reveals-the-band-has-plans-to-spend-three-months-together-making-the-upcoming-album-it-has-proven-to-be-an-extremely-functional-concept-for-us/ |website=Chaoszine |access-date=6 April 2023 |date=6 April 2023}}</ref> On 2 March 2022, it was confirmed that Holopainen was in the studio, writing demos for the next Nightwish album,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mäenpää |first1=Arto |title=Nightwishin leiristä hyviä uutisia: yhtye aloittanut säveltämään musiikkia seuraavaa albumia varten |url=https://kaaoszine.fi/nightwishin-leirista-hyvia-uutisia-yhtye-aloittanut-saveltamaan-musiikkia-seuraavaa-albumia-varten/ |website=KaaosZine |access-date=March 2, 2022 |language=fi |date=2 March 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish Is Working On Material For Tenth Studio Album |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-is-working-on-material-for-tenth-studio-album/ |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=March 2, 2022 |date=2 March 2022}}</ref> which were finished in June 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish To Begin Recording Next Album In Summer Of 2023 |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/nightwish-to-begin-recording-next-album-in-summer-of-2023 |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=3 August 2022 |language=en |date=3 August 2022}}</ref> |
|||
Jansen, who was at the time working on her debut solo album, ''Paragon'', stated on 10 June 2022 that the sound of the upcoming new album would be heavier, but would retain the band's sound, while she also kept the concept for the album a secret.<ref name="nightwish2023"/> Holopainen confirmed in an interview before the band's performance at Knotfest in Turku, Finland on 12 August 2022, that the band had listened to the demos.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nightwish have recently been working on the demo material for their new album: "Tuomas has been really productive" |url=https://chaoszine.net/nightwish-have-recently-been-working-on-the-demo-material-for-their-new-album-tuomas-has-been-really-productive/ |access-date=18 August 2022 |work=Chaoszine |date=15 August 2022}}</ref> Holopainen later confirmed that the next album would be both a follow-up to ''Human. :II: Nature.'' and the third and final part of a trilogy which started with ''Endless Forms Most Beautiful'', as well as stating that the album would come out around early 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish's Next Album Will Be Third Part Of A Trilogy |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/nightwishs-next-album-will-be-third-part-of-a-trilogy |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=18 September 2022 |language=en |date=17 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Tuomas Holopainen reveals "major surprises" on next Nightwish album, admits he thought the band "were finished" when bassist Marko Hietala left |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/nightwish-new-album-tuomas-holopainen-surprises |website=Metal Hammer |access-date=8 December 2022 |language=en |date=7 December 2022}}</ref> The band confirmed that recording had begun for their upcoming tenth studio album following the completion of the demos.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Osuna |first1=Hernan |title=Nightwish have finished demoing new album - recording to begin in early August |url=https://chaoszine.net/nightwish-have-finished-demoing-new-album-recording-to-begin-in-early-august/ |website=Chaoszine |access-date=29 July 2023 |date=24 July 2023}}</ref> After the recording was finished, mixing and mastering for the album began in January 2024,<ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish - Mixing New Album |url=https://metalstorm.net/events/news_comments.php?news_id=52396 |website=Metal Storm |access-date=January 10, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> and was completed at the end of February.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mäenpää |first1=Arto |title=Nightwish has finished the mixing and mastering of their upcoming album |url=https://chaoszine.net/nightwish-has-finished-the-mixing-and-mastering-of-their-upcoming-album/ |website=Chaoszine |access-date=29 February 2024 |date=29 February 2024}}</ref> The band renewed a multi-album deal with Nuclear Blast in March 2024.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish Re-Sign With Nuclear Blast Records |url=https://bravewords.com/news/nightwish-re-sign-with-nuclear-blast-records |website=[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]] |access-date=11 March 2024 |language=en |date=11 March 2024}}</ref> |
|||
The name of the tenth studio album, ''[[Yesterwynde]]'', was announced on 30 April 2024, and the album was released on 20 September 2024.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mills |first1=Matt |title="A fantastical voyage through time, memory and the better angels of human nature": Nightwish announce long-awaited new album Yesterwynde |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/nightwish-announce-yesterwynde-album-2024 |website=Louder |access-date=April 30, 2024 |language=en |date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> Prior to the album's release, three singles were released in support of the album: "[[Perfume of the Timeless]]",<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baldin |first1=Benedetta |title=Nightwish announce new album "Yesterwynde" to be released on September 20th |url=https://chaoszine.net/nightwish-announce-new-album-yesterwynde-to-be-released-on-september-20th/ |website=Chaoszine |access-date=April 30, 2024 |date=April 30, 2024}}</ref> "[[The Day of...]]",<ref>{{cite news |title=Nightwish sound even more symphonic than usual on new single The Day Of... |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/nightwish-release-the-day-of-single-2024 |publisher=Louder Sound |access-date=August 8, 2024 |date=August 8, 2024 |language=en}}</ref> and "An Ocean of Strange Islands".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mäenpää |first1=Arto |title=Nightwish drops new song "An Ocean of Strange Islands": New album "Yesterwynde" out this Friday |url=https://chaoszine.net/nightwish-drops-new-song-an-ocean-of-strange-islands-new-album-yesterwynde-out-this-friday/ |website=Chaoszine |access-date=September 10, 2024 |date=September 10, 2024}}</ref> |
|||
There was no touring cycle in support of the album,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Childers |first1=Chad |title=Nightwish Taking Touring Hiatus, Announce New Album Timeline |url=https://loudwire.com/nightwish-touring-hiatus-new-album-timeline/ |website=Loudwire |access-date=April 6, 2023 |language=en |date=April 6, 2023}}</ref> as the band had issued a statement on April 6, 2023 that they would be going on a hiatus from touring for two to three years following the album's release.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Alderslade |first1=Merlin |title=Nightwish retire from touring for the foreseeable future: "we won't be touring the next album" |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/nightwish-wont-tour-next-album |website=Louder Sound |access-date=April 6, 2023 |language=en |date=April 6, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Mäenpää |first1=Arto |title="There won't be any Nightwish shows within the next two or three years" – Exclusive interview with Kai Hahto from Nightwish / Wintersun |url=https://chaoszine.net/there-wont-be-any-nightwish-shows-within-the-next-two-or-three-years-exclusive-interview-with-kai-hahto-from-nightwish-wintersun/ |website=Chaoszine |access-date=23 January 2024 |date=23 January 2024}}</ref> Donockley stated the reason behind the touring hiatus in a September 2024 interview, citing personal reasons and the dangers of burning out. In the same interview, he did not rule out the band performing some shows in 2027 for the band's 30th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nightwish's Troy Donockley On Band's Touring Hiatus: 'We Were In Danger Of Burning Out' |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/nightwishs-troy-donockley-on-bands-touring-hiatus-we-were-in-danger-of-burning-out |website=Blabbermouth.net |access-date=25 September 2024 |language=en |date=24 September 2024}}</ref> |
|||
==Music== |
|||
===Musical style=== |
===Musical style=== |
||
[[ |
[[File:Tuomas Holopainen, Palais.jpg|thumb|left|The use of keyboards is an important part of Nightwish's original music.]] |
||
Nightwish performs goth-influenced [[symphonic metal]] with female vocals.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/nightwish-mn0000868628/biography|title= Nightwish - Biography |publisher=ALLMusic |accessdate=6 July 2022}}</ref> Their music has been also described as [[symphonic gothic metal]] which mixes metal, [[opera]], weepy power ballads, and keyboard solos.{{sfn|Ladouceur|2011|p=196}} Although the combination of operatic vocals and melodic heavy metal made Nightwish famous,{{sfn|Ollila|2007|p=18}} they don't employ operatic vocals as much as they used to. On the ninth studio album, ''[[Human. :II: Nature.]]'', "Shoemaker" was the only song with an operatic vocal after [[Tarja Turunen]]'s departure.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nordicmusicreview.com/post/nightwish-human-ii-nature-album |title=Nightwish – Human. : II: Nature. (Album) |date=April 13, 2020 |publisher=Nordic Music Review |accessdate=25 January 2023}}</ref> They have also been known to play [[power metal]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dangerdog.com/2015-music-reviews/nightwish-endless-forms-most-beautiful.php|title=New Music Review : Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful : CD Album Music Review : Dangerdog Music Reviews by Craig Hartranft|website=Dangerdog.com}}</ref> [[progressive metal]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hartranft |first1=Craig |title=Nightwish: Imaginaerum |url=https://dangerdog.com/2011-music-reviews/nightwish-imaginaerum-review.php |website=Dangerdog Music Reviews |access-date=8 September 2024 |date=12 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pierce |first1=Ken |title=Nightwish: Dark Passion Play |url=https://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=5780 |website=Sea of Tranquility |access-date=8 September 2024 |date=28 November 2007}}</ref> [[folk metal]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Blackie |first1=Andrew |title=Nightwish: Dark Passion Play |url=https://www.popmatters.com/nightwish-dark-passion-play-2496208801.html |website=[[PopMatters]] |date=October 3, 2007 |access-date=October 3, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=TheKenWord |title=Yer Metal Is Olde: Nightwish – Oceanborn |url=https://www.angrymetalguy.com/yer-metal-is-olde-nightwish-oceanborn/ |website=Angrymetalguy.com |date=March 6, 2019 |access-date=March 6, 2019}}</ref> and [[gothic metal]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chartattack.com/news/2007/10/23/finnish-gothic-metallers-nightwish-want-to-grow-their-north-american-cult/|title=Finnish Gothic Metallers Nightwish Want To Grow Their North American Cult – Chart Attack|date=October 23, 2007|access-date=June 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829204706/http://www.chartattack.com/news/2007/10/23/finnish-gothic-metallers-nightwish-want-to-grow-their-north-american-cult/|archive-date=August 29, 2017|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/nightwish-dark-passion-play-2496208801.html|title=Nightwish: Dark Passion Play|date=October 3, 2007|website=PopMatters.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/nightwish-once-2496009270.html|title=Nightwish: Once / Over the Hills and Far Away|date=January 23, 2005|website=PopMatters.com}}</ref> |
|||
Nightwish performs a blend of [[power metal]] and [[symphonic metal]].<ref name="AllCentury">{{cite web |author=Rivadavia, Eduardo |title=''Century Child'' review |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wxftxqlald6e |publisher=[[Allmusic]] |accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Bowar, Chad |title=''Highest Hopes'' review |url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/fr/nightwish.htm |publisher=[[About.com]] |accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref> Their music has been described as "bombastic, symphonic and cinematic, with keyboards and strings creating a gothic atmosphere."<ref name="AboutDPP">{{cite web |author=Bowar, Chad |title=''Dark Passion Play'' review |url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/fr/nightwishdark.htm |publisher=[[About.com]] |accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref> While the music of Nightwish is "laced with accessible pop sensibilities,"<ref name="AllCentury"/> the band is also known to be complex<ref name="AboutEoAE">{{cite web |author=Bowar, Chad |title=''End of an Era'' review |url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/dvdreviews/fr/nightwishendofa.htm |publisher=[[About.com]] |accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref> and multi-layered.<ref name="AllEnd"/> Their approach is epic,<ref>{{cite web |author=Bowar, Chad |title=''Highest Hopes'' review |url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/cdreviews/fr/nightwish.htm |publisher=[[About.com]] |accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref> theatrical and operatic.<ref name="AllEnd">{{cite web |author=Fulton, Katherine |title=''End of an Era'' review |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:axfixqqdldde~T1 |publisher=[[Allmusic]] |accessdate=2008-07-14}}</ref> Critic Chad Bowar notes that the music is "always very melodic with memorable choruses and a lot of hooks."<ref name="AboutDPP"/> |
|||
The band's music is known to be complex<ref>{{cite web| url=https://whus.org/2020/04/nightwish-continues-to-dominate-the-soundscape-of-symphonic-metal/ |title=Nightwish continues to dominate the soundscape of symphonic metal |date=April 23, 2020 |publisher=[[WHUS]] |access-date= January 22, 2023}}</ref> and layered.<ref name="AllEnd"/> Their approach is epic, theatrical and operatic.<ref name="AllEnd">{{AllMusic |class = album |id = r842788 |tab = review |label = Review of ''End of an Era'' |first = Katherine |last = Fulton |access-date = July 14, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2022/4/19/nightwish-elan-single-2015-retrospective/ |title= 'Élan' Retrospective: Nightwish Have a Laugh at the Orthodox |publisher=[[The Harvard Crimson]] |accessdate=22 January 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.wearethepit.com/2020/03/nightwish-debut-epic-new-song-ad-astra-and-video-announcing-world-land-trust-partnership/ |title=Nightwish Debut Epic New Song "Ad Astra" and Video Announcing World Land Trust Partnership |date=March 11, 2020 |publisher=The Pit |accessdate=27 January 2023}}</ref> Critic Steve Huey notes "their rich melodicism, dynamic textures, and theatrical approach to performance make them a unique musical entity"<ref>{{AllMusic |class = artist |id = p373181 |tab = biography |label = Biography of Nightwish |first = Steve |last = Huey |access-date = January 22, 2023}}</ref> |
|||
Nightwish was early identified as pioneers in the field of female heavy metal vocalists, being laughed at in their early years as they followed bands such as [[The Gathering]] and [[Doro (band)|Doro]]<ref>Once Upon a Nightwish: Official Biography 1996 - 2006</ref>. According to Holopainen, the idea of Nightwish wasn't as brilliant as it may sound - to mix styles of female operatic vocals and metals - but it was a mere coincidence as Turunen was asked into the band while they still were an acoustic project, and then things eveloped by themselves. The usage of a female vocalist has however become a sort of trademark, though less so since the outbreak of new female fronted metal bands in the mid-2000s with the popularization of bands such as [[Evanescence]] and (the later) [[Within Temptation]], and several gothic metal bands mixing female and male vocals, such as [[Tristania]], [[Epica (band)|Epica]] and the early [[Within Temptation]]. |
|||
[[ |
[[File:Tarja Turunen at Obras Stadium 2008 09.jpg|thumb|right|A part of Nightwish's original sound was the soprano vocals of [[Tarja Turunen]], until her dismissal from the band in 2005.]] |
||
The usage of a female vocalist has become a sort of trademark, though less so since the outbreak of new female fronted metal bands in the mid-2000s with the popularization of bands such as [[Evanescence]] and [[Within Temptation]] as well as several gothic metal bands mixing female and male vocals, such as [[Lacuna Coil]], [[Tristania (band)|Tristania]], [[Epica (band)|Epica]] and [[After Forever]].<ref name="u-empire/holo" /> |
|||
Former bassist and vocalist [[Marko Hietala]] describes the style of the band's music as "melodic symphonic metal;"<ref>{{cite web |last=Dusedau |first=Zack |title=Interview with Marco Hietala and Emppu Vuorinen of Nightwish |work=Metalunderground.com |url=http://www.metalunderground.com/interviews/details.cfm?newsid=9240 |date=August 19, 2004 |access-date=July 14, 2008}}</ref> though this is not a view shared by all members of the group,<ref name="Hall of Metal">{{cite web |title=Interview with Tuomas Holopainen and Anette Olzon of Nightwish |url=http://hallofmetal.com/ver_entrevista.php?id=34&leng=en |work=Hallofmetal.com |access-date=March 16, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071231110506/http://www.hallofmetal.com/ver_entrevista.php?id=34&leng=en |archive-date = December 31, 2007}}</ref> including band composer [[Tuomas Holopainen]],<ref>{{cite video |people= Maria Paula Carvalho |date= December 23, 2004 |title= 'Nightwish Interview' in ''Almanaque'' TV program |medium= [[Globo News]] channel |location= Brazil |url= http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6553868459227033740 |access-date= March 13, 2009 |quote= '' Well, we kind of dress in black and we have a female singer, but that's pretty much it. I mean so many people consider us as a gothic metal band but I totally disagree. I don't think that... we can be put into any category'' |archive-date= April 17, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110417210543/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6553868459227033740 |url-status= dead }}</ref> who describes the band as simply [[symphonic metal]].<ref>{{ cite web |url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xnbb9w_tuomas-holopainen-genre-answer_music |title=Interview with Tuomas Holopainen, Nightwish interview in Brasil |year=2008 |work=dailymotion}}</ref> Some critics find that the band had a gothic sound since their debut.<ref>{{cite web |language=de |title=''Angels Fall First'' review |url=http://www.metal.de/gothic-metal-mittelalter/review/nightwish/6508-angels-fall-first/ |work=Metal.de |access-date=February 25, 2015}}</ref> The music of Nightwish had been "distinguished by the operatic voice" of soprano [[Tarja Turunen]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://muzicisifaze.com/interviu.php%EF%B9%96id=6.html |title=Interview with Tarja Turunen (ex Nightwish) |first1=Horia |last1=Diaconescu |first2=Ioan |last2=Cora |first3=Mihai |last3=Plămădeală |date=November 30, 2005 |access-date=March 4, 2008 |work=Muzici și Faze}}</ref> a "charismatic frontwoman with a powerful voice". Critics observed that her vocals became less operatic with the release of ''Once''.<ref name="soniconce">{{cite web |last=Grant |first=Sam |title=''Once'' review |url=http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=35 |work=Sonic Cathedral.com |date=May 7, 2004 |access-date=July 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216145312/http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=35 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 }}</ref> Following the departure of Tarja Turunen from the group, Nightwish left behind the "signature operatic vocals" of their earlier albums, though the band somewhat reintroduced this style when [[Floor Jansen]] became lead singer.<ref name="soniconce"/> |
|||
While the music of Nightwish is centered |
While the music of Nightwish is centered on a female lead singer,<ref name="PopOnce">{{cite web |last=Begrand |first=Adrien |title=''Once'' review |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/23597/nightwish-once/ |work=[[PopMatters]] |date=January 24, 2004 |access-date=July 14, 2008}}</ref> the band has also featured some male vocals on their albums ever since their debut release, ''[[Angels Fall First]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Grant |first=Sam |title=''Angel Fall First'' review |work=Sonic Cathedral.com |url=http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=35 |date=February 10, 2003 |access-date=July 14, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227100131/http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=82&Itemid=35 |archive-date=February 27, 2012 }}</ref> This debut album also included "elements of folk music and ambience" that were discarded on their subsequent album, ''Oceanborn''.<ref name="AllOcean"/> However, the song "Creek Mary's Blood" from the album ''Once'' featured some use of folk-oriented [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] melodies, and their 2007 release ''[[Dark Passion Play]]'' featured folk music elements on the songs "[[The Islander (song)|The Islander]]" and "[[Erämaan viimeinen|Last of the Wilds]]".<ref>{{cite web |last=Blackie |first=Andrew |title=''Dark Passion Play'' review |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/49140/nightwish-dark-passion-play/ |work=[[PopMatters]] |date=October 4, 2007 |access-date=July 14, 2008 |archive-date=June 11, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611004708/http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/49140/nightwish-dark-passion-play |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
||
===Lyrical themes=== |
|||
==Live== |
|||
In the beginning, Holopainen mainly wrote about mythological and fantasy themes,<ref>{{cite web |author=lancelot |url=http://www.yopi.de/rev/206437|title=Nightwish: Oceanborn --> einfach genial!!!'' |website=Yopi.de |date=May 11, 2005 |language=de |access-date=August 3, 2007}}</ref> and often used references to "metaphysics and nature".<ref>Matthias Mineur: ''Nightwish. Suomi Superstars'' in ''EMP 4/99'', p. 26</ref> Fantasy novels especially are a big influence on Nightwish's lyrics. Songs such as "Wishmaster," "Elvenpath," and "Wanderlust" make fairly clear references to fantasy novels, in this case the ''[[Dragonlance]]'' series and [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.<ref name="u-empire/holo" /> "FantasMic" from ''Wishmaster'' is a direct tribute to Walt Disney and Disney animated films, which Holopainen has said are among his influences.<ref name="powermetal/00">{{cite web |first=Georg |last=Weihrauch |url=http://power-metal.de/interview/interview-27.html |title=Interview Nightwish – Tuomas Holopainen |work=Power-Metal.de |date=November 12, 2000 |language=de |access-date=August 15, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928020413/http://power-metal.de/interview/interview-27.html |archive-date=September 28, 2007 }}</ref> ''Dark Passion Play'' featured the return to the fantasy theme with songs such as "Sahara", "Whoever Brings the Night" and "7 Days to the Wolves", which is loosely based on [[Stephen King]]'s novel ''[[The Dark Tower V: Wolves of the Calla|Wolves of the Calla]]'', the fifth book in the [[The Dark Tower (series)|Dark Tower]] series.<ref name="u-empire/holo" /><ref name="pm 7/07">{{cite web |first=Ricarda |last=Schwoebel |url=http://powermetal.de/interview/interview-1325.html |title=Interview Nightwish – Anette, Tuomas |website=Powermetal.de |date=August 3, 2007 |language=de |access-date=November 4, 2007}}</ref> The song "The Poet and the Pendulum's" first section is called "The White Lands of Empathica", which is a reference to [[The Dark Tower VII: The Dark Tower|the seventh book]] in the Dark Tower series.<ref name="tuomasholopainen.net"/> |
|||
[[Image:Nightwish-2.jpg|thumb|left|Holopainen, Vuorinen and Hietala in a live concert in [[Melbourne]], 2008.]] |
|||
Having their first concert in hometown [[Kitee]] on December 31st, 1997, Nightwish has throughout the years grown as a live act, always with the attitude "the more gigs managed in a year, the better".<ref>[http://nightwish.com/en/community/nightmail Nightwish.com - Nightmail]</ref> Early in their career, Nightwish gained a bad reputation for not being "metal" enough. "As anyone can see from early photos, our image was pretty far from Rock'n'Roll", drummer [[Jukka Nevalainen]] explains their early days. "We all looked like ol' goody-goody nerds!".<ref>Once Upon a Nightwish: Official Biography 1996 - 2006</ref> |
|||
Over the years, the lyrics became more personal.<ref name="powermetal/00"/> "Dead Boy's Poem" from ''Wishmaster'' is an emotional piece, which Holopainen calls his "legacy and [...] testament for the whole world. [...] I wanted to do this song before I die because I wanted to tell the whole world what I think and feel. It expresses a lot of myself."<ref name="powermetal/00" /> The personal development became even more obvious on the ''Wishmaster'' successor ''[[Century Child]]''. Turunen thinks that the lyrics no longer deal "with the dreamland we were used to, but with the brutal reality of life."<ref>{{Cite web |first=Tom |last=Klaner |url=http://www.bright-eyes.de/baseportal/Stories/interviewdetail&Id==386 |title=Nightwish |work=Bright-Eyes.de |language=de |access-date=August 3, 2007}}</ref> |
|||
As the band budget grew after the fame of ''[[Oceanborn]]'' and ''[[Wishmaster]]'', the live performances had more space and along with better arenas and a wilder crowd, they could also start the using of more professional lighting and pyrotechnics, which now is standard for most shows. The band also developed on stage, with wilder metal-like appearances.<ref>Once Upon a Nightwish: Official Biography 1996 - 2006</ref> |
|||
"Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" (in English, "Death Makes an Artist") from ''Once'' describes the experience of loss and its impact on art, "[[Nemo (song)|Nemo]]" deals with the feeling of being lost,<ref name="u-empire/holo">{{Cite web |first=Klaudia |last=Weber |url=http://www.underground-empire.com/article.php?idx=611 |title=Nightwish Interview |work=Underground-Empire.com |language=de |access-date=August 3, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930081918/http://www.underground-empire.com/article.php?idx=611 |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and "Dead Gardens" deals with a bout of [[writer's block]] Holopainen suffered.<ref name="u-empire/holo" /> "Creek Mary's Blood" is based on [[Dee Brown (writer)|Dee Brown]]'s story of the same name, which presents the situation of Native Americans at the end of the 19th century.<ref name="u-empire/holo" /> |
|||
[[Image:Nightwish- palais.jpg|thumb|right|Hietala, Vuorinen, Olzon and Nevalainen on tour in 2008.]] |
|||
2007's ''[[Dark Passion Play]]'' included an unusual number of personal songs, including "The Poet and the Pendulum", which has been described as Holopainen's life story, and about being a composer and musician.<ref name="tuomasholopainen.net"/> "Meadows of Heaven" is a depiction of Holopainen's childhood and the feeling that it'll never return. "[[Bye Bye Beautiful]]" and "Master Passion Greed" are about ex-member [[Tarja Turunen]] and her husband Marcelo Cabuli.<ref name="tuomasholopainen.net"/> "Cadence of Her Last Breath" is a "very personal song" about running away.<ref name="tuomasholopainen.net">{{cite web |url=http://tuomasholopainen.net/darkpassionplay.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724114248/http://tuomasholopainen.net/darkpassionplay.html |archive-date=July 24, 2011 |title=Tuomas about the DPP tracks |work=Tuomasholopainen.net |access-date=October 23, 2011}}</ref> The album also contains many references to authors such as [[Edgar Allan Poe]] and [[Walt Whitman]].<ref name="tuomasholopainen.net"/> |
|||
Their standard setlist has changed a lot through the years, but they have always tried mixing older songs with random ones from their latest album.<ref>[http://nightwish.com/en/community/nightmail Nightwish.com - Nightmail]</ref> For their Dark Passion Play and ''Once'' tourings, they have always finished with "[[Wish I Had an Angel]]", and (on ''Dark Plassion Play'' tourings alone) before that "Wishmaster" and "7 Days to the Wolves". During the ''Dark Passion Play'' tour, their standard setlist always include hit songs such as "[[Amaranth (song)|Amaranth]]", "[[Bye Bye Beautiful]]" and "[[Nemo (song)|Nemo]]". Every concert also includes the soft ballad "[[The Islander (song)|The Islander]]" halfway through, in which [[Anette Olzon]] can take a break for a few minutes. They usually include one more ballad as well, normally "[[Eva (song)|Eva]]" or "[[Sleeping Sun (Four Ballads of the Eclipse)|Sleeping Sun]]". They also have songs they only play on certain occassions: They only play "Creek Mary's Blood" when guest musician [[John Two-Hawks]] has the possibility to assist, "[[Erämaan Viimeinen|Last of the Wilds]]" only when Troy Donockley guest-plays on several instruments, and "Higher Than Hope" only when the family of Marc Brueland, who inspired the writing of the song, is present.<ref>[http://nightwish.com/en/community/nightmail?month=07&year=2008 Nightwish.com - Nightmail, July 2008]</ref> |
|||
''[[Imaginaerum]]'' has different lyrical themes. For example, the song "Ghost River" is about "a duel between the [[Devil]] and Mother Gaia", while "Scaretale" concerns "childhood nightmares and monsters". |
|||
When Tarja Turunen still was a member of the band, the band usually played a cover with only Hietala on vocals halfway through the set, while Turunen could rest for about five minutes. Since her dismissal and Anette Olzon's joining, they usually play "The Islander" instead, in which Hietala has the main vocal part and Olzon joins in the end. |
|||
<ref name="about">{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoAfwVaniac | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/qoAfwVaniac| archive-date=2021-10-30|title=Imaginaerum track by track |date=November 10, 2011 |via=YouTube |access-date=June 24, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref> |
|||
On ''[[Endless Forms Most Beautiful (album)|Endless Forms Most Beautiful]]'', lyrical themes included the beauty of the world and everything it has to offer ("Shudder Before The Beautiful"),<ref name=spaziorock>{{cite web|title=Nightwish: track by track di "Endless Forms Most Beautiful"!|url=http://www.spaziorock.it/speciale.php?&id=nightwish-esclusivo-track-by-track-di-endless-forms-most-beautiful|website=SpazioRock.it|access-date=June 24, 2015|date=March 17, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150704195744/http://www.spaziorock.it/speciale.php?&id=nightwish-esclusivo-track-by-track-di-endless-forms-most-beautiful|archive-date=July 4, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> criticism about how some religions restrict people's lives ("Weak Fantasy"),<ref name=FCMH1>{{cite web|title=Nightwish interview – Marco (part 1) |url=http://faceculture.nl/nightwish-interview-marco-part-1 |website=FaceCulture.nl |access-date=June 24, 2015 |date=February 23, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150415174949/http://faceculture.nl/nightwish-interview-marco-part-1 |archive-date=April 15, 2015 }}</ref> and the meaning of life, which can be something different for all of us ("[[Élan (song)|Élan]]"). |
|||
==Line-up== |
|||
{{main|List of Nightwish members}} |
|||
Nightwish' line-up has been a matter of discussion, more notably with the dismissal of female vocalist [[Tarja Turunen]] in 2005, and male vocalist/bassist [[Marco Hietala]]'s joining in 2002. Two members - [[Tuomas Holopainen|Holopainen]] and [[Emppu Vuorinen|Vuorinen]] - out of three has stayed since the first line-up in 1996. |
|||
The first disc of ''[[Human. :II: Nature.]]'' continues the theme of Nightwish's previous album, with the album's theme being based on human nature and how they are as a species, with songs about modern society ("[[Noise (Nightwish song)|Noise]]"),<ref>{{cite web |title=NIGHTWISH's TUOMAS HOLOPAINEN Says 'Noise' Video Is 'Not A Criticism About Technology Or Cell Phones' |url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwishs-tuomas-holopainen-says-noise-video-is-not-a-criticism-about-technology-or-cell-phones/ |website=Blabbermouth |access-date=December 22, 2020 |date=8 March 2020}}</ref> life ("Harvest"),<ref>{{cite web |title=NIGHTWISH's TROY DONOCKLEY Talks "Harvest" Single In New Countdown Video|url=https://bravewords.com/news/nightwish-s-troy-donockley-talks-harvest-single-in-new-countdown-video|website=BraveWords|access-date=December 22, 2020|date=April 5, 2020|language=en}}</ref> the human imagination ("Pan"), and an ode to human empathy ("How's the Heart?").<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/nightwishs-tuomas-holopainen-on-human-ii-nature-its-a-concept-album-without-intending-it-to-be/|title=NIGHTWISH's TUOMAS HOLOPAINEN On 'Human. :II: Nature': 'It's A Concept Album Without Intending It To Be'|work=Blabbermouth|date=February 4, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref> |
|||
===Current members=== |
|||
* [[Anette Olzon]] |
|||
**Female vocals (2007-Present) |
|||
* [[Tuomas Holopainen]] |
|||
**Male vocals (1996 - 2000) |
|||
**Keyboards (1996-Present) |
|||
* [[Erno Vuorinen|Erno “Emppu” Vuorinen]] |
|||
**Acoustic guitars (1996-Present) |
|||
**Bass guitar (1996-1998) |
|||
**Electric guitar (1997 -Present) |
|||
* [[Marko Hietala|Marko “Marco” Hietala]] |
|||
**Bass guitar (2002 -Present) |
|||
**Acoustic guitars (2007 -Present) |
|||
**Male vocals (2002-Present) |
|||
* [[Jukka Nevalainen|Jukka “Julius” Nevalainen]] |
|||
**Drums, Percussion (1997-Present) |
|||
''[[Yesterwynde]]'', the tenth studio album, continues the themes on the previous two studio albums: time, humanism and history.<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 April 2024 |title=Nightwish: "The whole theme of the album is time, history, humanism,... |url=https://www.kerrang.com/nightwish-album-yesterwynde-interview-tuomas-holopainen-first-look/ |access-date=1 May 2024 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}</ref> |
|||
===Former Members=== |
|||
Although the lyrics of Nightwish generally are serious with dark meanings, they have also produced several less serious songs, including the bonus track "Nightquest", which talks about the band members' (the three original members as well as [[Jukka Nevalainen|Nevalainen]]) connection as musicians, and the "quest" of Nightwish.<ref name="tuomasholopainen.net"/> |
|||
* [[Tarja Turunen]] - Female vocals (1996-2005) |
|||
* [[Sami Vänskä]] - Bass (1998-2000) |
|||
=== |
===Language=== |
||
Nightwish mainly writes songs in English, though a few are in Finnish: one song on band's debut album, ''[[Angels Fall First]]'' (1997); "[[Kuolema tekee taiteilijan]]", from the ''Once'' album (2004); the single "[[Erämaan viimeinen]]" (2007), which is a vocal version of the instrumental "Last of the Wilds"; and "Taikatalvi" ("Magic Winter"), from ''[[Imaginaerum]]'' (2011). Holopainen was very uncertain about the lyrics of "Erämaan viimeinen", because he thinks that writing in Finnish is rather hard, and has said that "Finnish [could] quickly sound really cheesy."<ref>{{cite web |first=Ricarda |last=Schwoebel |url=http://www.powermetal.de/interview/interview-1038.html |title=Interview Nightwish – Tuomas Holopainen, Mape Ollila |work=Powermetal.de |date=July 14, 2006 |language=de |access-date=August 10, 2007}}</ref> |
|||
===Influence=== |
|||
* Samppa Hirvonen - Bass (Sessional Live Member 1997-8) |
|||
[[File:Nightwish.jpg|thumb|Nightwish live in 2004. Band members from the left: Keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, lead vocalist Tarja Turunen, bassist Marko Hietala, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen.]] |
|||
* Marjaana Pellinen - Backing vocals, Second Keyboard (Sessional Live Member 1997-8) |
|||
Tuomas Holopainen, writer of most of the band's lyrics and music, says that he gets most of the inspiration for Nightwish's songs from [[Film score|film music]].<ref name="tuomasprofile">{{cite web |title=Nightwish.com |work=Profile of Tuomas Holopainen |url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/members/facts?id=1 |access-date=December 28, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060410190000/http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/members/facts?id=1 |archive-date=April 10, 2006 }}</ref> Songs like "Beauty of the Beast" (from ''[[Century Child]]''), "Ghost Love Score" (from ''[[Once (Nightwish album)|Once]]'') and "The Poet and the Pendulum" (from ''[[Dark Passion Play]]'') are examples of this influence. Holopainen has also said that film music is the music he listens to for leisure.<ref name="tuomasprofile"/> He likes, for example, the musical scores to ''[[The Village (2004 film)|The Village]]'', ''[[Van Helsing (film)|Van Helsing]]'', ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]'' and ''[[Crimson Tide (film)|Crimson Tide]]'', and practically everything written by [[Hans Zimmer]].<ref name="tuomasprofile"/> Other songs, such as "[[Bye Bye Beautiful]]" (from ''Dark Passion Play''), and "[[Wish I Had an Angel]]" (from ''Once'') have elements of [[industrial metal]], and some others, like "[[The Islander (song)|The Islander]]" and "Last of the Wilds" (from ''Dark Passion Play''), "[[Creek Mary's Blood]]" (from ''Once''), and the ''[[Angels Fall First]]'' album have elements of [[folk music]]. Bands stated as an influence on Nightwish include [[Children of Bodom]], [[Theatre of Tragedy]], [[The Gathering (band)|The Gathering]], [[My Dying Bride]], [[Tiamat (band)|Tiamat]] and [[The 3rd and the Mortal]].<ref name="OUaN"/> |
|||
* [[Tapio Wilska]] - Vocals on ''Oceanborn'' album and ''Over the Hills and Far Away'' EP |
|||
* [[Tony Kakko]] - Vocals and backing vocals on ''Over the Hills and Far Away'' EP |
|||
* [[Ike Vil]] - Vocals on ''Wishmaster'' album |
|||
* [[John Two-Hawks]] - Vocals and [[Native American flute]] on ''Once'' album |
|||
* [[Jouni Hynynen]] - Roar on ''Once'' album |
|||
* Johanna "Jonsu" Salomaa - Vocals on "Erämaan Viimeinen" |
|||
* [[Troy Donockley]] - [[Uilleann Pipes]], Low/[[Tin Whistle]] and [[Bodhran]] on ''Dark Passion Play'' |
|||
Nightwish has also been noted as a source of inspiration for other bands. [[Simone Simons]], lead singer of Dutch [[gothic metal#Symphonic gothic metal|symphonic/gothic metal]] band [[Epica (band)|Epica]], stated that she began singing in a classical style because of Nightwish's 1998 ''[[Oceanborn]]'' album.<ref name="epica">{{cite web|title=Epica Online |work=Profile Simone |url=http://www.epica.nl/index.php?id=45§ion=band |access-date=December 28, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060422002048/http://www.epica.nl/index.php?id=45§ion=band |archive-date=April 22, 2006 }}</ref> [[Sander Gommans]] of [[After Forever]] said that Nightwish "will certainly influence us in creating new songs".<ref name="musdiscafter">{{cite web |title=Musical Discoveries |work=After Forever |url=http://www.musicaldiscoveries.com/reviews/aftfor.htm |date=June 13, 2004 |access-date=January 13, 2011}}</ref> [[Power metal]] band [[Sonata Arctica]]'s lead singer [[Tony Kakko]] has explained how much of an influence Nightwish is to him.<ref name="gauntlet">{{cite web|title=The Gauntlet |work=Sonata Arctica Interview |url=http://euro.thegauntlet.com/interviews/1159/Sonata%20Arctica.html |date=March 31, 2007 |access-date=June 17, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070620091229/http://euro.thegauntlet.com/interviews/1159/Sonata%20Arctica.html |archive-date=June 20, 2007 }}</ref> In December 2015, ''[[Metal Hammer]]''{{'s}} Dave Everley described them as "mainland Europe's most successful metal band, give or take a [[Rammstein]]".<ref name="MHammer"/> |
|||
==Discography== |
|||
{{main|Nightwish discography}} |
|||
{{col-begin}} |
|||
{{col-2}} |
|||
==Band members== |
|||
=== Albums and EPs === |
|||
{{Main|List of Nightwish band members}} |
|||
'''Current members''' |
|||
* [[Tuomas Holopainen]] – keyboards (1996–present), male vocals (1996–1998) |
|||
* [[Emppu Vuorinen]] – guitars (1996–present), bass (1997–1998) |
|||
* [[Troy Donockley]] – [[uilleann pipes]], [[tin whistle]], [[low whistle]], guitars, [[bouzouki]], [[bodhrán]], male vocals (2013–present; session/touring musician 2007–2013) |
|||
* [[Floor Jansen]] – lead vocals (2013–present; touring musician 2012–2013) |
|||
* [[Kai Hahto]] – drums, percussion (2019–present; session/touring member 2014–2019) |
|||
* [[Jukka Koskinen]] – bass (2022–present; touring: 2021–2022) |
|||
==Discography== |
|||
{{Main|Nightwish discography}} |
|||
<!--For main studio albums only--> |
|||
* ''[[Angels Fall First]]'' (1997) |
* ''[[Angels Fall First]]'' (1997) |
||
* ''[[Oceanborn]]'' (1998) |
* ''[[Oceanborn]]'' (1998) |
||
* ''[[Wishmaster (album)|Wishmaster]]'' (2000) |
* ''[[Wishmaster (album)|Wishmaster]]'' (2000) |
||
* ''[[Over the Hills and Far Away (album)|Over the Hills and Far Away]]'' (2001) |
|||
* ''[[Century Child]]'' (2002) |
* ''[[Century Child]]'' (2002) |
||
* ''[[Once (Nightwish album)|Once]]'' (2004) |
* ''[[Once (Nightwish album)|Once]]'' (2004) |
||
* ''[[Dark Passion Play]]'' (2007) |
* ''[[Dark Passion Play]]'' (2007) |
||
* ''[[Imaginaerum]]'' (2011) |
|||
* ''[[Endless Forms Most Beautiful (album)|Endless Forms Most Beautiful]]'' (2015) |
|||
* ''[[Human. :II: Nature.]]'' (2020) |
|||
* ''[[Yesterwynde]]'' (2024) |
|||
== |
==Tours== |
||
* Summer of Wilderness (1999) |
|||
* ''[[Wishmastour 2000]]'' (2000) |
|||
* Oceanborn Europe Tour (1999) |
|||
* ''[[Tales from the Elvenpath]]'' (2004) |
|||
* Wishmaster World Tour (2000–2001) |
|||
* ''[[Bestwishes]]'' (2005) |
|||
* World Tour of the Century (2002–2003) |
|||
* ''[[Highest Hopes]]'' (2005) |
|||
* [[Once Upon a Tour]] (2004–2005) |
|||
* [[Dark Passion Play World Tour]] (2007–2009) |
|||
===DVDs/Live CDs=== |
|||
* |
* [[Imaginaerum World Tour]] (2012–2013) |
||
* [[Endless Forms Most Beautiful World Tour]] (2015–2016) |
|||
* ''[[End of Innocence]]'' (2003) |
|||
* |
* [[Decades: World Tour]] (2018) |
||
* [[Human. :II: Nature. World Tour]] (2021–2023) |
|||
{{col-2}} |
|||
===Singles=== |
|||
* "[[The Carpenter]]" (1997)<br/><small>(split with [[Children of Bodom]] and [[Thy Serpent]])</small> |
|||
* "[[Sacrament of Wilderness]]" (1998)<br/><small>(split with [[Darkwoods My Betrothed]] and [[Eternal Tears of Sorrow]])</small> |
|||
* "[[Passion and the Opera]]" (1998) |
|||
* "[[Walking in the Air (Nightwish song)|Walking in the Air]]" (1999) |
|||
* "[[Sleeping Sun (Four Ballads of the Eclipse)]]" (1999) |
|||
* "[[The Kinslayer]]" (2000) |
|||
* "[[Deep Silent Complete]]" (2000) |
|||
* "[[Ever Dream]]" (2002) |
|||
* "[[Bless the Child (song)|Bless the Child]]" (2002) |
|||
* "[[Nemo (song)|Nemo]]" (2004) |
|||
* "[[Wish I Had an Angel]]" (2004) |
|||
* "[[Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan|Kuolema tekee taiteilijan]]" (2004) |
|||
* "[[The Siren (song)|The Siren]]" (2005) |
|||
* "[[Eva (song)|Eva]]" (2007) |
|||
* "[[Amaranth (song)|Amaranth]]" (2007) |
|||
* "[[Erämaan Viimeinen|Erämaan viimeinen]]" (2007) |
|||
* "[[Bye Bye Beautiful]]" (2008) |
|||
* "[[The Islander (song)|The Islander]]" (2008) |
|||
{{col-end}} |
|||
==Bibliography== |
|||
* "Once Upon a Nightwish: The Official Biography 1996 - 2006" ([[Mape Ollila]], 2007) |
|||
* "Dark Passion Gallery" ([[Ville Akseli Juurikkala]], 2008)<ref>[http://nightwish.com/en/photobook Nightwish.com: Dark Passion Gallery]</ref> |
|||
==Media samples== |
|||
*"[[Sacrament of Wilderness]]" [http:/upwiki/wikipedia/en/8/8d/Nightwish-sacramentofwilderness.ogg] |
|||
*"[[Sleepwalker (Nightwish song)|Sleepwalker]]" [http:/upwiki/wikipedia/en/f/f2/Nightwish-sleepwalker.ogg] |
|||
*"[[Nemo (song)|Nemo]]" [http:/upwiki/wikipedia/en/a/a2/Nightwish_-_Nemo.ogg] |
|||
*"[[High Hopes (Pink Floyd song)|High Hopes]]" [http:/upwiki/wikipedia/en/6/69/Nightwish-highhopes.ogg] |
|||
==See also== |
==See also== |
||
* [[List of best-selling music artists in Finland]] |
|||
* [[List of heavy metal bands]] |
* [[List of heavy metal bands]] |
||
* [[List of symphonic metal bands]] |
|||
* [[Music of Finland]] |
* [[Music of Finland]] |
||
* [[Finnish rock|Rock music in Finland]] |
|||
* [[Tero Kinnunen]] |
|||
* [[Symphonic |
* [[Symphonic gothic metal]] |
||
* [[Symphonic metal]] |
|||
* [[Symphonic power metal]] |
|||
* [[Tarja Turunen discography]] |
|||
== |
==References== |
||
===Citations=== |
|||
* {{fi icon}} Ollila, Marko. ''Nightwish'', Like Kustannus Oy, 2006. ISBN 952-471-692-5 |
|||
{{reflist}} |
|||
* English translation: “Once Upon a Nightwish”, Deggael Communications, 2007. ISBN 978-952-99749-2-4 |
|||
===General bibliography=== |
|||
== References == |
|||
{{refbegin}} |
|||
* {{cite web | title=Nightwish.com | work=The band — Biography | url=http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/biography | accessmonthday=April 25 | accessyear=2007}} |
|||
* {{Cite book |last1=Sharpe-Young |first1=Garry |title=Metal: The Definitive Guide: Heavy, NWOBH, Progressive, Thrash, Death, Black, Gothic, Doom, Nu |date=2007 |publisher=Jawbone Press |location=London |isbn=978-1-906002-01-5 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KNrV3iQ_qrIC |language=en}} |
|||
* {{cite journal | author=Alexander Milas | title=Nightwish Is Not My Only Goal In Life | journal=[[Kerrang!]] | issue=1076 | date=[[October 1]], [[2005]]}} |
|||
* {{Cite book |last=Ollila |first=Mape |title=[[Once Upon a Nightwish]] |publisher=Deggael Communications |year=2007 |isbn=978-952-99749-2-4}} |
|||
* {{cite journal | author=Hannu Jarva | title=Interview with Tuomas | journal=Keskisuomalainen | date=[[October 29]], [[2005]]}} |
|||
* {{cite book |last=Ladouceur |first=Liisa |year=2011 |title=Encyclopedia Gothica |location=Toronto, Canada |publisher=ECW Press |isbn=9781770900790}} |
|||
* {{Cite book |last=Kangasluoma |first=Timo |title=Stainless? |date=2017 |publisher=Docendo Ltd |isbn=978-169-975-169-5 |edition=English |location=Jyväskylä}} |
|||
* {{Cite book |last=Isoaho |first=Timo |title=Nightwish – We Were Here |date=2018 |publisher=Deggael Communications |isbn=978-952-99749-3-1 |edition=English |location=Latvia}} |
|||
{{refend}} |
|||
== |
==External links== |
||
{{ |
{{Wikiquote|Nightwish}} |
||
{{Commons|Nightwish}} |
|||
<!--======================== {{No more links}} ============================ |
|||
| PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS IN ADDING MORE LINKS TO THIS ARTICLE. Wikipedia | |
|||
| is not a collection of links nor should it be used for advertising. | |
|||
| | |
|||
| Excessive or inappropriate links WILL BE DELETED. | |
|||
| See [[Wikipedia:External links]] & [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for details. | |
|||
| | |
|||
| If there are already plentiful links, please propose additions or | |
|||
| replacements on this article's discussion page, or submit your link | |
|||
| to the relevant category at the Open Directory Project (dmoz.org) | |
|||
| and link back to that category using the {{dmoz}} template. | |
|||
======================= {{No more links}} =============================--> |
|||
* {{Official website|http://www.nightwish.com}} |
|||
* [https://nightwishshop.com Nightwish Shop] |
|||
== External links == |
|||
{{Spoken Wikipedia|Nightwish-spoken.ogg|2005-09-15}} |
|||
{{Wikiquote|Nightwish}} |
|||
{{commons|Nightwish}} |
|||
{{Wikinews|:Category:Nightwish}} |
|||
{{wikinews|Nightwish announce Anette Olzon as new lead vocalist}} |
|||
<!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================--> |
|||
<!--| DO NOT ADD MORE LINKS TO THIS ARTICLE. WIKIPEDIA IS NOT A COLLECTION OF |--> |
|||
<!--| LINKS. If you think that your link might be useful, do not add it here, |--> |
|||
<!--| but put it on this article's discussion page first or submit your link |--> |
|||
<!--| to the appropriate category at the Open Directory Project (www.dmoz.org)|--> |
|||
<!--| and link back to that category using the {{dmoz}} template. |--> |
|||
<!--| |--> |
|||
<!--| Links that have not been verified WILL BE DELETED. |--> |
|||
<!--| See [[Wikipedia:External links]] and [[Wikipedia:Spam]] for details |--> |
|||
<!--===========================({{NoMoreLinks}})===============================--> |
|||
* [http://www.nightwish.com Nightwish.com] Official Site |
|||
* {{MySpace|nightwish|Nightwish}} |
|||
* {{musicbrainz artist|id=00a9f935-ba93-4fc8-a33a-993abe9c936b|name=Nightwish}} |
|||
* {{YouTube channel|nightwishofficial}} |
|||
{{Nightwish}} |
{{Nightwish}} |
||
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Finnish Act}} |
|||
{{World Music Award for Best Selling Scandinavian Artist}} |
|||
{{Authority control}} |
|||
[[Category:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[Category:1990s music groups]] |
|||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Nightwish| ]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:1996 establishments in Finland]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Articles which contain graphical timelines]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Finnish power metal musical groups]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Finnish symphonic metal musical groups]] |
||
[[Category:Finnish gothic metal musical groups]] |
|||
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1996]] |
[[Category:Musical groups established in 1996]] |
||
[[Category:Century Media Records artists]] |
|||
[[Category:Nuclear Blast artists]] |
|||
{{Link FA|tr}} |
|||
[[Category:Roadrunner Records artists]] |
|||
[[af:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[Category:Spinefarm Records artists]] |
|||
[[ang:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[Category:World Music Awards winners]] |
|||
[[ar:نايتويش]] |
|||
[[Category:Female-fronted musical groups]] |
|||
[[an:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[Category:Finnish musical sextets]] |
|||
[[bs:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[Category:Mixed-gender bands]] |
|||
[[bg:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[Category:English-language musical groups from Finland]] |
|||
[[ca:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[cs:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[da:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[de:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[et:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[el:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[es:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[eo:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[eu:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[fa:نایتویش]] |
|||
[[fo:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[fr:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[gl:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[ko:나이트위시]] |
|||
[[hr:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[it:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[he:נייטוויש]] |
|||
[[la:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[lt:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[hu:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[mn:Наитвиш]] |
|||
[[nl:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[ja:ナイトウィッシュ]] |
|||
[[no:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[nn:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[uz:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[pl:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[pt:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[ro:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[ru:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[sq:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[simple:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[sk:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[sl:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[sr:Најтвиш]] |
|||
[[fi:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[sv:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[vi:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[tr:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[uk:Nightwish]] |
|||
[[zh:夜愿]] |
Latest revision as of 06:32, 12 December 2024
Nightwish | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | Kitee, Finland |
Genres | |
Discography | Nightwish discography |
Years active | 1996–present |
Labels | |
Members | |
Past members | |
Website | nightwish |
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen.[1] The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Nevalainen, and then bassist Sami Vänskä after the release of their debut album, Angels Fall First (1997). In 2001, Vänskä was replaced by Marko Hietala, who also took over the male vocalist role previously filled by Holopainen or guest singers. Although Nightwish have been prominent in their home country since Angels Fall First, they did not achieve wider success until the release of the albums Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000) and Century Child (2002).
Their 2004 album, Once, has sold more than one million copies[2] and was the band's breakthrough in the United States. Their biggest US hit single, "Wish I Had an Angel" (2004), received MTV airplay and was included on three US film soundtracks.[3][4] The band produced three more singles and two music videos for Once, as well as a re-recording of "Sleeping Sun" for the compilation album, Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish (2005), before Turunen's dismissal in October 2005.[3] In May 2007, Nightwish announced Anette Olzon as Turunen's replacement.[5] That September, the band released their sixth album, Dark Passion Play, which has sold almost 2 million copies. The album's lead single, "Amaranth", became one of Nightwish's most successful in Europe.[6] Their seventh studio album, Imaginaerum, was released in November 2011.[2][7] Nightwish parted ways with Olzon in October 2012 and finished the tour with Floor Jansen,[8] who later became a permanent member of the band alongside longtime session uilleann pipes player Troy Donockley in October 2013.
In July 2019, Nevalainen, who had been inactive since 2014 due to severe insomnia, announced that he would not be returning to the band, with Kai Hahto, who had acted as his replacement since 2014, becoming the official drummer. Bassist Marko Hietala parted ways with the band in January 2021, and Jukka Koskinen was announced as Hietala's replacement in August 2022.
Nightwish is the third-best-selling band and musical entity in Finland with certified sales of nearly 900,000 certified copies.[9][10][11][12][13] The group is also the most successful Finnish band worldwide, selling more than 10 million records[14] and receiving more than 60 gold and platinum awards, having released six Number 1 albums and thirteen Number 1 singles.[15] On October 26, 2018, Nightwish was inducted into the Finnish Music Hall of Fame, becoming the honorary gallery's 11th member.[16]
History
[edit]1996: Formation
[edit]After playing keyboards in several heavy metal bands in the 1990s, including Darkwoods My Betrothed, Tuomas Holopainen decided to create his own project while sitting around a campfire with friends on July 6, 1996.[17][18][19] He immediately had a clear idea of the music: experimental acoustic music he had written himself during his time in the Finnish Army,[18] similar to the music usually played around campfires, but with a distinct sound and atmosphere[3] and played on his keyboards.
We were sitting by the fire, Teemu Kautonen, Tero Leinonen, the whole old gang. It was there that I got the idea: what if I put together my own project? I hadn't yet come up with the name 'Nightwish', but the concept was already in my head. The band would be acoustic and its style would be mood music. It wouldn't be heavy metal at all – we'd have acoustic guitar, some flutes, strings, piano, keyboards, and definitely a female vocalist. It was clear that it had to have a female singer, because at the time, The 3rd and the Mortal, Theatre of Tragedy from Norway, and The Gathering from Holland were a big thing to me. Ulver's album Kveldssanger was also a big influence. I listened to Kveldssanger a lot and thought that maybe I should try to do that kind of stuff even better.
— Tuomas Holopainen[17]
He soon invited friend and schoolmate Erno "Emppu" Vuorinen to play acoustic guitars, and the classical vocalist Tarja Turunen, who had shared the same music teacher, Plamen Dimov, a few years earlier. The three musicians recorded their self-titled acoustic demo in late 1996. The name "Nightwish" was derived from their first song together – the demo also included the song "The Forever Moments", and an early version of "Etiäinen".[3]
1997–1998: Debut album and first tour
[edit]In early 1997, Jukka "Julius" Nevalainen joined the band,[3] and acoustic guitar was replaced with electric guitar. The addition of heavy metal elements to Nightwish's existing experimental music gave the band a different sound, forming the core of the band's distinct style.[3]
The band entered the studio in April 1997 to record seven songs for their second demo, titled Angels Fall First. In May 1997, the demo made its way to the Finnish record label Spinefarm Records, who wanted to release it as the band's debut album.[3] The label offered Nightwish a record deal, and the band returned to the studio to record four more songs to complement the tracks of the demo. The full-length Angels Fall First album was released in November 1997 and reached number 31 on the Finnish album charts, with the single "The Carpenter" reaching number 3 on the Finnish singles chart;[3] "The Carpenter" single was released as a split with fellow Spinefarm artists Children of Bodom and Thy Serpent.[20] The album is also one of the two releases which features Holopainen's vocals, appearing on four of the album's eleven tracks alongside Turunen's.[20]
The band made their live debut in their hometown Kitee at the Huvikeskus on December 31, 1997, in front of 400 people. The band recalled being both nervous and terrified when performing for the first time.[3][17] Since they were missing a bass player, Samppa Hirvonen joined them as a sessional live member. Marianna Pellinen was also a sessional live member as an additional keyboard player and a backing vocalist for Turunen.[3][17] There were plans to make Hirvonen a permanent member, but he joined the army as part of Finnish army conscription just as they began recording Oceanborn, so they asked Sami Vänskä to join instead, since Tuomas knew him from the band Nattvindens Gråt.[21] During early 1998, the band performed seven concerts, while Turunen was finishing her schooling, and Nevalainen and Vuorinen were serving their obligatory Finnish military service. They played warm-up shows for bands Babylon Whores, Children of Bodom and Tarot.[3][17]
1998–2000: International success with Oceanborn and Wishmaster
[edit]Nightwish returned to the studio in August 1998 as a five-piece to record a follow-up for Spinefarm Records, which would become their second full-length album, Oceanborn. Adopting a more technical and progressive sound than Angels Fall First,[22] Oceanborn saw the band abandon much of the ambient and folk elements present on their debut release, with the exception of the song "Moondance". In contrast to the female vocals of Turunen, the album also featured guest growling vocals by Tapio Wilska (ex-Finntroll), since Tuomas did not want to sing again. Wilska is also a former member of Nattvindens Gråt.[citation needed]
The AllMusic review said that the album "as a whole works great", with songs that are "very strong".[23] Oceanborn was released on December 7, 1998 in Finland only.[24] It was an instant success, reaching number 5 on the Finnish album charts.[25] The album's first single, "Sacrament of Wilderness", hit number 1 on the Finnish singles charts, where it stayed for several weeks.[25] The album's release was initially limited to Finland, but because of the success of "Sacrament of Wilderness", Spinefarm released Oceanborn internationally in the spring of 1999.[26] In May 1999, Nightwish recorded the song "Sleeping Sun",[27] and 13,000 copies of its single were purchased in pre-release sales in Germany alone.[27] Following the band's first international success, Nightwish was added as the opening band for Rage's 1999 European tour.[28] Both the album Oceanborn and the singles "Sacrament of Wilderness" and "Walking in the Air" were certified gold in Finland in August 1999.[29]
While in the studio in early 2000 working on their third album, Nightwish was accepted in the Finnish Eurovision Song Contest preselection final with the song "Sleepwalker". Despite winning the public vote, Nightwish eventually finished in third place, with the jury choosing gospel singer Nina Åström to represent Finland.[3]
On 19 May 2000, Nightwish released their third studio album, Wishmaster. It debuted and spent three weeks at number one on the Finnish album charts, selling enough records to be certified gold in Finland.[25][29] Critical response to the album was mixed, with AllMusic calling the album repetitive, and saying "as a whole album, it can be a little annoying, even frustrating".[30] However, German magazine Rock Hard declared Wishmaster "Album of the Month", despite competing against long-awaited May releases from Iron Maiden and Bon Jovi.[3] Following the release of Wishmaster, Nightwish embarked on their first world tour, playing dates in South America, Mexico and Canada. In the summer, the band returned to Europe for their first headlining European tour with Sinergy and Eternal Tears of Sorrow, appearing at the Wacken Open Air festival and the Biebop Metal Fest.[31]
2001–2003: Arrival of Hietala and symphonic elements with Century Child
[edit]In 2001, Nightwish recorded a cover of Gary Moore's "Over the Hills and Far Away" together with two new songs ("10th Man Down", unreleased from Oceanborn sessions, and "Away", unreleased from Wishmaster sessions)[citation needed] and a remake of "Astral Romance" (from the Angels Fall First album) with Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) singing Tuomas' part. This new material was released as their first (and until 2009 the only) EP, Over the Hills and Far Away.[32]
The record also included guest performances by Tapio Wilska once again on "10th Man Down".[32] Nightwish's version of "Over the Hills and Far Away" was well received by fans, becoming a frequent part of the band's live performances, but the other songs never broke through and have not been re-released, with the exception of a live performance of "10th Man Down" on the End of Innocence DVD with Marko Hietala.[33] In the same year, they also released (as VHS, DVD and CD) their first live album, From Wishes to Eternity, recorded during a show in Tampere, Finland, on 29 December 2000.[34]
Soon after the release of Over the Hills and Far Away, Nightwish met what has been described as one of hardest points of their career.[3] The issues centered on the bassist, Sami Vänskä, who had started misbehaving towards the band, according to Holopainen, by missing appointments and failing to take concerts as seriously as the other members did.[3] After the band discussed his behavior with Vänskä several times, without getting any change, everyone simply stopped caring and tensions grew.[17] Meanwhile, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen had started complaining about his role in the band, feeling like "a hired gun who would only do what he's asked to". According to their music teacher, Plamen Dimov, he and Holopainen have totally different characters, and thus difficulties were expected to arise.[3] But Vuorinen was told to stay cool and "bite the bullet", and the problem was never addressed again.[17]
Later, Holopainen confessed that, at that time, he seriously started thinking about breaking Nightwish up. After a show in Russia, he sent a text message to fellow musician Tony Kakko of metal band Sonata Arctica, telling him that he did not think he had a band any longer, and asking him what plans he had for next year.[17] After the Over the Hills and Far Away tour in 2001, Holopainen called their labels Drakkar and Spinefarm, unofficially declaring Nightwish was over. He told them he might produce another album, but he'd never perform another show with the band. The same message was also written on the band's message board.[17]
Straight after the last show of the tour, Holopainen went on a week-long hiking trip to Lapland with Tony Kakko, where they talked about the band, leading Holopainen to decide that he could not break Nightwish up that easily.[33] When he returned from Lapland he immediately received a phone call from Ewo Pohjola, CEO of Spinefarm, offering to become their manager and help him straighten things up, and Holopainen agreed.[17]
To continue with Nightwish, Holopainen decided some changes were in order. Beside choosing Ewo as their new manager, he also asked Vänskä to leave the band. He would later cite musical differences as another reason for the breakup.[18] Marko Hietala (Tarot) was asked to replace Vänskä, effectively leaving his previous band, Sinergy. In addition to playing bass guitar, Hietala would also perform male vocals. Holopainen has since said publicly that he and Vänskä still keep in touch, contrary to rumours saying that they have not met since. However, they are not interested in making another project together.[17]
In 2002, Nightwish released Century Child, along with the singles "Ever Dream" and "Bless the Child". Century Child was certified gold two hours after its release,[35] and platinum two weeks afterwards. It set a record on the Finnish album charts of most distance between a first place album and the second place.[36] A music video was filmed for "Bless the Child", with a second one filmed for "End of All Hope" later, without any single support. It contains clips from the Finnish movie Kohtalon kirja (English: The Book of Fate).[37]
The main difference from previous albums is the use of a live Finnish orchestra on the tracks "Bless the Child", "Ever Dream", "Feel For You" and "The Beauty of the Beast".[38] An enduring favorite of fans is the band's version of "The Phantom of the Opera", from the famous musical of the same name by composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. The song was routinely played in concerts until October 21, 2005, when vocalist Tarja Turunen was fired from the band and later replaced with Anette Olzon, whereupon the band announced that they would never play the song live again.[38] This would hold true for 17 years until 27 and 28 November 2022, when Nightwish was joined by Dutch singer Henk Poort on stage at the Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam to perform the song.[39]
In 2003, Nightwish released their second DVD, the documentary End of Innocence. It tells the story of the band in Holopainen, Nevalainen and Tapio Wilska's words for two hours.[40] The documentary also features live performances and other exclusive footage. Vocalist Tarja Turunen got married during the summer of 2003, and there were rumours that the band was about to be dissolved. These rumors were, at the time, proven to be false, as the band continued to play concerts for another year and released another album. Tarja's marriage later played a part in her dismissal from the band in the autumn of 2005.[3]
2004–2005: Chart-topping success with Once and Turunen's dismissal
[edit]Nightwish released their fifth album, Once, on 7 June 2004, along with its first single, "Nemo". The popularity of Evanescence in 2003 had piqued international and especially American interest in symphonic goth metal bands like Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, and Within Temptation. Consequently, Once sold triple platinum in Finland,[29] platinum in Germany,[41] and gold in 6 other countries; it also reached No. 1 in the Greek,[42] Norwegian[43] and German album charts,[44] and charted the Top 10 in France,[45] Hungary[46] and Sweden.[47] "Nemo" topped the charts in Finland[25] and Hungary,[46] and reached the charts in six additional countries. The following singles were: "Wish I Had an Angel" (featured on the soundtrack of the film Alone in the Dark), "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" (released only in Finland and Japan) and "The Siren". Besides the commercial success, Once was also well received by critics, with many positive reviewers drawing comparisons with Oceanborn.[48] "Nemo" remains the band's most successful single release to date.
Once utilizes a full orchestra in nine of the eleven songs on the album. Unlike for Century Child, Nightwish looked for an orchestra outside of Finland this time, choosing the London Philharmonic Orchestra.[48] It is also their second album to feature a full-length song in Finnish, "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" (English: "Death Makes an Artist").
The production cost of Once totaled approximately 250,000 euros (over 1,000,000 including video production), making it Finland's most expensive recording in history. The band would go on to break this record again later in their career.
The success of the album allowed them to perform the Once Upon a Tour, in which the band played in many countries they had never visited before.[49] Nightwish performed at the opening ceremony of the 2005 World Championships in Athletics, held in Helsinki, highlighting the acclaim the band had gained.[50] A "best of" album, Highest Hopes, was released in September 2005. The compilation also featured a live cover "High Hopes" (from the Pink Floyd album The Division Bell). Besides "High Hopes", a remake of "Sleeping Sun" (from Oceanborn) was included on the album and released as a single. A video for the remake was shot, featuring a medieval battle, and can be found on the German release of the single and as a separate DVD released by Spinefarm.[3]
The four other members of Nightwish had decided that it was best to continue Nightwish without Turunen. After a concert in the Hartwall Areena (Helsinki) on 21 October 2005, recorded for the live DVD End of an Era (released June 2006), they expressed their decision through an open letter which was given to Turunen by Holopainen, and afterwards posted on the band's website.[51] It was written by Holopainen and signed by all four band members. The main justification given in the letter for Turunen's dismissal was that the band felt that both her husband Marcelo Cabuli (an Argentine businessman) and commercial interests had changed her attitude towards the band.[51]
Turunen responded to the incident twice, during press conferences in Finland and Germany, saying that her dismissal came entirely as a shock to her, given that she had not been notified before the letter was given to her.[52] She felt that the personal attacks on her husband were unwarranted, and that playing the issue out in public was "senselessly cruel". She expressed these feelings through her own open letter, which was published on her personal website,[52] and through various TV, magazine, and newspaper interviews.[52]
2006–2009: Arrival of Anette Olzon and Dark Passion Play
[edit]To find a replacement for Turunen as the female vocalist of the band, on 17 March 2006, the band allowed interested vocalists to send in demo tapes as an audition for the spot.[53] During this time, speculation emerged about who would eventually be chosen and the band stated on their website that fans should not believe any source other than the band itself for information regarding the new vocalist.[3] In the end, the 35-year-old Alyson Avenue's ex-lead singer, Anette Olzon, from Sweden, was chosen.[54]
In September 2006, the band entered the studio to record their sixth studio album, Dark Passion Play.[3] In May, next year, Anette Olzon was announced to replace Turunen. Holopainen has said in interviews that he did not wish to reveal her identity until new material was available because he did not want fans judging her by nothing more than a picture, or past work.[54] The day after this revealing, 25 May 2007, charity single "Eva" was released for download only as the first offering from the new album, and the first featuring Olzon.[55] It was originally scheduled for release on 30 May, but the date was changed because of a leak on a British music download site.[55] On June 13, Nightwish revealed the title and artwork for the new album on their official website, as well as the name and cover of the second single (this time CD), "Amaranth";[56] it was released in Finland on August 22 and included a bonus track entitled "While Your Lips Are Still Red" written by Tuomas as the main theme for the upcoming Finnish feature film Lieksa!.[56] The single achieved gold status in Finland after less than two days in stores.[29]
Dark Passion Play was released around Europe in the last week of September 2007, in the UK on October 1 and the United States on October 2. It was awarded double platinum in Finland the second day after its release[29] and took the number one position on the charts of Germany,[44] Finland,[25] Switzerland,[57] Hungary[46] and Croatia[58] and got in top 100 in other 16 countries, including the United States.[59]
Dark Passion Play broke the band's previous record for Finland's most expensive audio recording, with the final production cost coming in at over 500,000 euros (twice the cost of Once, the previous record-setter, and approximately $675,000).
On this album, male vocalist Marko Hietala had more freedom in the use of his voice: he sings backup on the songs "Cadence of Her Last Breath" and "Sahara", lead vocals on the songs "The Islander", "Master Passion Greed" and "While Your Lips Are Still Red" and chorus on the songs "Bye Bye Beautiful" and "7 Days to the Wolves".[3] He also sings one part in "The Poet and the Pendulum", besides singing backup in the chorus. Before the band found the new singer and the album was recorded, Marko sang on all the demo versions. Holopainen also sang on the demo versions of "Bye Bye Beautiful" and "Master Passion Greed" but these songs have never been released.[3]
On 22 September 2007, the band hosted a secret concert at Rock Café in Tallinn, Estonia, disguising itself as a Nightwish cover band called Nachtwasser.[60] Their first official concert with Olzon was in Tel Aviv, Israel, on 6 October 2007.[61] The Dark Passion Play tour thus started, visiting the United States, Canada, most of Europe, Asia, and Australia.[62][63][64]
The third single of the album was "Erämaan viimeinen", a previously unreleased vocal version of the instrumental "Last of the Wilds". It was released in Finland only on 5 December 2007.[65] On this song, Jonsu of the Finnish pop and rock band Indica performs the Finnish vocals.[65] "Bye Bye Beautiful", the fourth single, was released on 15 February 2008, and concerns the 2005 dismissal of Turunen, as does one other song on the album ("Master Passion Greed"). The single includes yet another bonus track, "Escapist", which is also included on the Japanese version of Dark Passion Play.[66] Within a week after the release, the fifth single was announced to be "The Islander". It was released over a month after the release of its music video, shot in late 2007 in Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland.[3]
The Dark Passion Play tour turned out to be Nightwish's longest tour yet, lasting from late 2007 to September 2009, when it ended with a concert in Hartwall Arena – the band's second concert there – with the band Apocalyptica.
On 6 March 2009,[67] Nightwish released a new live EP/DVD entitled Made in Hong Kong (And in Various Other Places). The eight live tracks were recorded during the "Dark Passion Play World Tour" in 2007–2008, and the album also includes one B-side from the "Bye Bye Beautiful" single, one B-side from the "Amaranth" single, a previously unreleased demo version of "Cadence of Her Last Breath", and a bonus DVD with three music videos as well as a 37-minute documentary called Back in the Day is Now.[67]
2009–2012: Imaginaerum and Olzon's dismissal
[edit]In the June 2009 edition of the Finnish magazine Soundi, Holopainen stated that he had started work on a new Nightwish album. In October 2009, rumors about the new album's name were going around with the title Wind Embraced, but lead vocalist Anette Olzon listed the rumors as "not true" and said that the songs for the new album had not yet been completed apart from three songs written before May 2009.[68] Holopainen said in a 2010 interview that "[...]I can't reveal to you any more but there is going to be a big twist so to say, on the next album."[69] In an interview with Uilleann piper Troy Donockley (who recorded with the band on Dark Passion Play), when asked about his involvement in the new album, he stated "Oh yes, I will be playing on the next album and from what Tuomas has told me, it is going to be something extraordinary..."[68]
On 1 February 2010, Olzon stated on her blog that Holopainen had nine songs ready for the new album. In April 2010, Holopainen revealed on the Nightwish homepage that he had finished writing the songs,[70] and on June 2, it was announced that he had finished recording the pre-production demo.[68]
The band announced in late 2010 that more information on the album's actual content would be released in late January,[68] but on February 1, the official website bore a statement written by Holopainen that because of the schedule changes he can't yet give away as many details as he would have wanted, but more information will be out after a couple of months. He added, however, that "it still is the Burton-Gaiman-Dalí – amusement park we are about to enter".[68] In the same statement, it was revealed that the album would be a theme album and "mood changes seem to be more present than ever before", and the orchestration demos he had received from Pip Williams were described as "beautiful, twisted, tribal and cinematic stuff".[68] In the Finnish version of the statement, it was also revealed that a few songs will not get any orchestrations at all, differing from their latest album on which all songs had the background orchestra.[68]
Announcements continued throughout 2011. On February 10, Nightwish announced on their website that the new album title would be Imaginaerum. They also declared that the band had been preparing a movie based on the album, which would be released in 2012 and directed by Stobe Harju, who previously directed the music video for "The Islander".[68] On 22 August 2011, the band's official website announced that the album of Imaginaerum would be released at the end of the year.[71] On August 31, Nightwish announced on its website a change in title, from Imaginarium to Imaginaerum, "to avoid mix-ups with various things named 'Imaginarium'". On September 2, the group announced on its website that the new single, "Storytime", would be released on Friday, November 11, and on September 9, Nightwish revealed the cover and track list.[72]
On 11 January 2012, Nightwish announced on its website that the second single, "The Crow, the Owl and the Dove", would be released on February 29. Roadrunner Records announced that Nightwish would be releasing a 10-inch LP titled Trials of Imaginaerum in conjunction with Record Store Day[73] (21 April 2012). The 10-inch LP is a two-sided picture disk that contains four early demos of "Storytime", "The Crow, The Owl and The Dove", "I Want My Tears Back" and "Slow, Love, Slow".
On 1 October 2012, Nightwish announced via its Facebook page that they were parting ways with Olzon.[74] According to the press statement, "it has become increasingly obvious that the direction and the needs of the band were in conflict, and this has led to a division from which we cannot recover".[74] This announcement came days after Olzon fell ill at a show in Denver, Colorado, and was unable to perform. Nightwish used replacement singers from the opening band, Kamelot, and Olzon later expressed her disappointment, saying "I was never asked if it was okay that they used Elize and Alissa in the show [Friday] night [...] I don't think it's a good decision they made and I'm sorry for those of you who came to see the whole band but got something else. But I was very ill and this decision wasn't mine."[75] According to the statement, Dutch singer Floor Jansen (ex-After Forever, ReVamp) would sing for the remainder of the Imaginaerum World Tour.
On 11 January 2013, Olzon announced on her official blog that she was pregnant with her third child, due in spring 2013, which she claimed was a contributing factor to her being dismissed.[76] The band then released a statement on its website counterclaiming that the reason Olzon gave for her dismissal and other statements she made were untrue and that Olzon herself had agreed to help find a replacement while she was on maternity leave.[77] Later, Olzon gave several interviews in which she said she never agreed with a replacement, even when she was pregnant, and proposed to the band to postpone the tour, which culminated in her firing. She also added that she was against Jansen joining the band in her period of maternity, mainly because of the difference in their vocal styles.[78]
In a 2015 interview, Holopainen said the band "emerged stronger" from the line-up changes it went through.[18]
2013–2018: Arrival of Floor Jansen and Troy Donockley with Endless Forms Most Beautiful
[edit]In an interview with Metal Hammer in November 2012, Tuomas Holopainen stated that they already had a rehearsal place booked from July 2014 to September 2014, but before they began rehearsing the band members would be taking a break from Nightwish for several months.[79]
On 9 October 2013, Nightwish announced Floor Jansen as the permanent replacement for Olzon.[80] Troy Donockley was also announced as a full-time member, making the band a sextet for the first time.[81] In a later interview, Tuomas said that Donockley's previous work with Nightwish had already made him "much a band member", so the band just "made it official".[82] According to the band's webpage, the band would enter the studio in 2014 to record its eighth full-length album for a 2015 release. At that time, the band had already announced that it would contain Nightwish's longest song to date.[83]
At the end of November, the band released the live album Showtime, Storytime. Despite the recording happening when they were only four members, it is the first Nightwish release to feature Jansen and to have her and Donockley credited as band members. The album also carries a documentary containing the behind-the-scenes of Jansen's first days in the band and the process of replacing Olzon.[84][85][non-primary source needed]
In May 2014, Holopainen updated his official website, stating that he and producer Tero "TeeCee" Kinnunen had been recording 12 demos (and possibly three bonus tracks) for the new album in Hattula, Finland.[86] The band expected to start rehearsing in July in Eno, Finland, to complete recording by January 2015, and to release the album in spring of that year, "If everything goes as scheduled".[86] Commenting on the music, Tuomas said:[86]
It's still too early to analyze the material more closely, but the album will once again explore all the ends of the spectrum, bringing the very best out of the newcomers' Floor and Troy. And stealthily the album ended up having a theme running through it.
On August 6, the band announced that founding member and drummer Jukka Nevalainen would not be part of the upcoming album due to his debilitating insomnia.[87] Kai Hahto (Wintersun) would be taking his place on the album[87] and the upcoming tour.[88]
Evolutionary biologist and author Richard Dawkins was announced as a guest star on the album, with Holopainen stating that he had "been so enthusiastic about this kind of literature for the past few months, and will be for the upcoming months, that it's going to come out somehow."[89][90]
In November, the band filmed a music video for "Élan", one of the tracks of the album.[91] On December 8, the band announced that it would be the first single from the album, which would be released on February 13, 2015.[92]
The new album's cover art and its title, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, were revealed on 22 December, and the album was released on 27 March 2015, produced by Tero "TeeCee" Kinnunen.[93] The title for Endless Forms Most Beautiful was taken from the writings of English naturalist Charles Darwin. The album features the participation of London's The Metro Voices choir group, London's Young Musicians Children's Choir, and the Orchestre De Grandeur, led by the esteemed orchestral arranger Pip Williams, who teaches music and music technology at the London College of Music. Professor Richard Dawkins not only narrates the introduction to the album's opener, "Shudder Before the Beautiful", but also the album's closer, "The Greatest Show on Earth", which takes its name from his 2009 book on evolution. To promote the album's release, the band went on the Endless Forms Most Beautiful World Tour, which started on April 9, 2015, in New York City[94] and concluded on October 9, 2016, in Saitama, Japan.
In July 2015, it was announced that Sonata Arctica's vocalist Tony Kakko would replace Jukka Nevalainen as the band's special guest at the 2015 edition of Rock in Rio.[95] In December 2015, Nightwish became the first Finnish band to headline a show at the Wembley Arena, in London.[18] The sold-out show featured guest performer Richard Dawkins, who spoke his parts on stage. The Tampere and London shows were filmed for a live album release known as Vehicle of Spirit.[96]
On 20 August 2016, the band played a special 20th-anniversary show at Himos Areena in Finland. The show featured original bassist Sami Vänskä on the song "Stargazers" and drummer Jukka Nevalainen on the song "Last Ride of the Day".[97] The band took a break in 2017, during which Jansen was focusing on her first child. Holopainen said that the band would continue between the years of 2018 and 2020, with another album that would continue the themes explored in Endless Forms Most Beautiful.[98]
On 9 June 2017, the band announced that 9 March 2018 would mark not only the debut of a nine-month world tour titled Decades: World Tour, which had concluded in December that same year, but also the release of a new compilation album, titled Decades. The tour featured "rarely heard material" and a special set for fans.[99] During the Latin American leg of the tour, the Buenos Aires show was filmed for a live DVD known as Decades: Live in Buenos Aires which was released on December 6, 2019.[100][101]
2019–2023: Further lineup changes and Human. :II: Nature.
[edit]In July 2018, Holopainen stated that he had written "80 or 90%" of the material for Nightwish's next album, which would consist of ten or eleven songs. He stated that the inspiration for the new album came from the completion of the 2018 self-titled debut album of Auri, a band he created with Donockley and Johanna Kurkela the previous year. Recording would start in July 2019, with a planned spring 2020 release. The band would "use the [orchestral] instrumentation in a different way than before", with Holopainen stating, "You want to search for some new ways of using it so that it doesn't end up sounding the same as before".[102] Jansen stated in November that she believed the recording process would be similar to Endless Forms Most Beautiful's, for which the band went through lengthy rehearsals before starting to record.[103]
On 15 July 2019, the band announced that Kai Hahto would permanently take over for Jukka Nevalainen as the band's drummer. In a statement, Nevalainen explained that while he was managing his insomnia well and having few issues, he did not want to 'push his luck' by returning to the band as a full-time member. He did confirm, however, that he would continue to take care of band-related business behind the scenes.[104]
On 31 October 2019, Floor Jansen confirmed that recording for the new album had been completed.[105] On 18 December 2019, it was confirmed that Tuomas Holopainen was at Finnvox Studios mixing Nightwish's next studio album, set for release in the first quarter of 2020.[106] Holopainen confirmed on 10 January 2020 that mixing and mastering for the album had finished and it was ready for release, with the album title and other details to be released soon.[107]
The new album's cover and track list, along with its title, Human. :II: Nature., were revealed on 16 January 2020, and the album was released on 10 April 2020.[108][109] The first single of the album, titled "Noise" was released on 7 February 2020, with an accompanying music video.[110] The second single from the album, "Harvest", was released on 6 March 2020, with a lyric video to accompany its release.[111] On the day the album was released, Nightwish released lyric videos for all of the songs on the album.[112] The album debuted in the top 10 charts as number one in Finland, Spain, Switzerland and Germany, as well as being charted in other countries including Canada, Austria, Hungary, Poland and the United States.[113][114][115][116]
Nightwish announced on 11 March 2020 that they had joined a partnership with an international conservation charity organization named World Land Trust. With their announcement was a video that promoted the organization, which in turn features the song "Ad Astra" from their ninth album.[117] When asked about the partnership with the organization in an interview, Floor commented:
They're a great organisation. The video for the last song on the album, 'Ad Astra', was filmed in conjunction with them. They work to preserve our planet by buying up areas of land and preserving them. I think it's hypocritical that we're telling Brazil that they need to save their rainforest when Europeans have absolutely decimated their own. But at the same time, we really do need to save the rainforest or we're facing a climate crisis. The World Land Trust works with governments to find alternative financial outlets for local people to stop logging and deforestation. You can't just say to people, 'Stop doing this'. You need to consider the human impact, then the environmental one.[118]
On 10 July 2020, a new crab species, the Tanidromites nightwishorum, which was discovered by curator of palaeontology Dr. Adiel A. Klompmaker of the Alabama Museum of Natural History, was named in honor of the band, in particular for their 2015 album Endless Forms Most Beautiful.[119] On 12 August 2020, a prehistoric rockshelter called the Alpenglow Rockshelter, that was discovered in Pennsylvania, USA was, too, named for Nightwish, particularly in honor of their ninth track, Alpenglow, from their 2015 album.[120]
On 12 January 2021, Marko Hietala announced his departure from the band, citing his struggles with chronic depression and his disillusionment with the music scene in general. The band released another statement, that a temporary member would fill in on bass for the tour.[121] In his statement, Hietala wrote:
Conspiracy is the word of the day. For the people who like them I need to say that my 55th birthday is now on 14th of Jan and I’ve certainly done my time for now. Blaming for instance Tuomas is an insult to both him and my free thinking. This is a very sad thing to all of us too. Have a care please. [...] There are a couple of things agreed on that I will do on 2021. Otherwise I kindly and with respect ask the media, bands, artists projects etc. to not ask me for anything within the next year. I have some reinventing to do. I hope to tell you about it on 2022. It's not a promise though. I am so sorry about this.[122]
The band began their world tour in support of the album in May 2021 with an interactive livestream experience in a virtual reality tavern which featured songs from the album, as well as revealed the identity of the session bass player, Jukka Koskinen, via VIP virtual session.[123][124][125][126] Both of the performances had broken records with the first drawing 150,000 viewers and setting it as the most viewed virtual performance in Finland, with the box office exceeding one million in euros.[127] The virtual performances were released on DVD on 11 March 2022.[128][129] The band resumed their tour in Finland in late July 2021 with a "secret" performance in Oulu.[130] The tour was originally scheduled to begin in spring 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the band postponed the tour to the next year.[131][132][133] The tour concluded in June 2023.[134]
On 21 January 2021, the band were nominated by the Finnish Emma Awards for the categories of Album of the Year, Band of the Year and Viewer's Choice of the Year, winning the category of Metal Album of the Year.[135] The awards ceremony in which they were nominated was held on 14 May 2021, at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki.[136]
Following a number of summer festivals in Europe, the band announced the addition of Jukka Koskinen as the band's permanent bass player on 21 August 2022.[137]
2023–present: Yesterwynde and touring hiatus
[edit]In April 2021, Holopainen had said in an interview that he started sketching drafts for the next Nightwish album.[138] He stated in May 2021 that he had been working on new material for "the past month or two" while he was busy with his side projects Auri and the reunited Darkwoods My Betrothed in which he became a full-time member.[139] He confirmed that the band booked a studio for the next album, which is set to happen in the summer of 2023 for three months at the Röskö campsite.[140][141] On 2 March 2022, it was confirmed that Holopainen was in the studio, writing demos for the next Nightwish album,[142][143] which were finished in June 2022.[144]
Jansen, who was at the time working on her debut solo album, Paragon, stated on 10 June 2022 that the sound of the upcoming new album would be heavier, but would retain the band's sound, while she also kept the concept for the album a secret.[134] Holopainen confirmed in an interview before the band's performance at Knotfest in Turku, Finland on 12 August 2022, that the band had listened to the demos.[145] Holopainen later confirmed that the next album would be both a follow-up to Human. :II: Nature. and the third and final part of a trilogy which started with Endless Forms Most Beautiful, as well as stating that the album would come out around early 2024.[146][147] The band confirmed that recording had begun for their upcoming tenth studio album following the completion of the demos.[148] After the recording was finished, mixing and mastering for the album began in January 2024,[149] and was completed at the end of February.[150] The band renewed a multi-album deal with Nuclear Blast in March 2024.[151]
The name of the tenth studio album, Yesterwynde, was announced on 30 April 2024, and the album was released on 20 September 2024.[152] Prior to the album's release, three singles were released in support of the album: "Perfume of the Timeless",[153] "The Day of...",[154] and "An Ocean of Strange Islands".[155]
There was no touring cycle in support of the album,[156] as the band had issued a statement on April 6, 2023 that they would be going on a hiatus from touring for two to three years following the album's release.[157][158] Donockley stated the reason behind the touring hiatus in a September 2024 interview, citing personal reasons and the dangers of burning out. In the same interview, he did not rule out the band performing some shows in 2027 for the band's 30th anniversary.[159]
Music
[edit]Musical style
[edit]Nightwish performs goth-influenced symphonic metal with female vocals.[160] Their music has been also described as symphonic gothic metal which mixes metal, opera, weepy power ballads, and keyboard solos.[161] Although the combination of operatic vocals and melodic heavy metal made Nightwish famous,[162] they don't employ operatic vocals as much as they used to. On the ninth studio album, Human. :II: Nature., "Shoemaker" was the only song with an operatic vocal after Tarja Turunen's departure.[163] They have also been known to play power metal,[164] progressive metal,[165][166] folk metal[167][168] and gothic metal.[169][170][171]
The band's music is known to be complex[172] and layered.[173] Their approach is epic, theatrical and operatic.[173][174][175] Critic Steve Huey notes "their rich melodicism, dynamic textures, and theatrical approach to performance make them a unique musical entity"[176]
The usage of a female vocalist has become a sort of trademark, though less so since the outbreak of new female fronted metal bands in the mid-2000s with the popularization of bands such as Evanescence and Within Temptation as well as several gothic metal bands mixing female and male vocals, such as Lacuna Coil, Tristania, Epica and After Forever.[177]
Former bassist and vocalist Marko Hietala describes the style of the band's music as "melodic symphonic metal;"[178] though this is not a view shared by all members of the group,[179] including band composer Tuomas Holopainen,[180] who describes the band as simply symphonic metal.[181] Some critics find that the band had a gothic sound since their debut.[182] The music of Nightwish had been "distinguished by the operatic voice" of soprano Tarja Turunen,[183] a "charismatic frontwoman with a powerful voice". Critics observed that her vocals became less operatic with the release of Once.[184] Following the departure of Tarja Turunen from the group, Nightwish left behind the "signature operatic vocals" of their earlier albums, though the band somewhat reintroduced this style when Floor Jansen became lead singer.[184]
While the music of Nightwish is centered on a female lead singer,[185] the band has also featured some male vocals on their albums ever since their debut release, Angels Fall First.[186] This debut album also included "elements of folk music and ambience" that were discarded on their subsequent album, Oceanborn.[23] However, the song "Creek Mary's Blood" from the album Once featured some use of folk-oriented Native American melodies, and their 2007 release Dark Passion Play featured folk music elements on the songs "The Islander" and "Last of the Wilds".[187]
Lyrical themes
[edit]In the beginning, Holopainen mainly wrote about mythological and fantasy themes,[188] and often used references to "metaphysics and nature".[189] Fantasy novels especially are a big influence on Nightwish's lyrics. Songs such as "Wishmaster," "Elvenpath," and "Wanderlust" make fairly clear references to fantasy novels, in this case the Dragonlance series and J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.[177] "FantasMic" from Wishmaster is a direct tribute to Walt Disney and Disney animated films, which Holopainen has said are among his influences.[190] Dark Passion Play featured the return to the fantasy theme with songs such as "Sahara", "Whoever Brings the Night" and "7 Days to the Wolves", which is loosely based on Stephen King's novel Wolves of the Calla, the fifth book in the Dark Tower series.[177][191] The song "The Poet and the Pendulum's" first section is called "The White Lands of Empathica", which is a reference to the seventh book in the Dark Tower series.[192]
Over the years, the lyrics became more personal.[190] "Dead Boy's Poem" from Wishmaster is an emotional piece, which Holopainen calls his "legacy and [...] testament for the whole world. [...] I wanted to do this song before I die because I wanted to tell the whole world what I think and feel. It expresses a lot of myself."[190] The personal development became even more obvious on the Wishmaster successor Century Child. Turunen thinks that the lyrics no longer deal "with the dreamland we were used to, but with the brutal reality of life."[193]
"Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" (in English, "Death Makes an Artist") from Once describes the experience of loss and its impact on art, "Nemo" deals with the feeling of being lost,[177] and "Dead Gardens" deals with a bout of writer's block Holopainen suffered.[177] "Creek Mary's Blood" is based on Dee Brown's story of the same name, which presents the situation of Native Americans at the end of the 19th century.[177]
2007's Dark Passion Play included an unusual number of personal songs, including "The Poet and the Pendulum", which has been described as Holopainen's life story, and about being a composer and musician.[192] "Meadows of Heaven" is a depiction of Holopainen's childhood and the feeling that it'll never return. "Bye Bye Beautiful" and "Master Passion Greed" are about ex-member Tarja Turunen and her husband Marcelo Cabuli.[192] "Cadence of Her Last Breath" is a "very personal song" about running away.[192] The album also contains many references to authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Walt Whitman.[192]
Imaginaerum has different lyrical themes. For example, the song "Ghost River" is about "a duel between the Devil and Mother Gaia", while "Scaretale" concerns "childhood nightmares and monsters". [194]
On Endless Forms Most Beautiful, lyrical themes included the beauty of the world and everything it has to offer ("Shudder Before The Beautiful"),[195] criticism about how some religions restrict people's lives ("Weak Fantasy"),[196] and the meaning of life, which can be something different for all of us ("Élan").
The first disc of Human. :II: Nature. continues the theme of Nightwish's previous album, with the album's theme being based on human nature and how they are as a species, with songs about modern society ("Noise"),[197] life ("Harvest"),[198] the human imagination ("Pan"), and an ode to human empathy ("How's the Heart?").[199]
Yesterwynde, the tenth studio album, continues the themes on the previous two studio albums: time, humanism and history.[200]
Although the lyrics of Nightwish generally are serious with dark meanings, they have also produced several less serious songs, including the bonus track "Nightquest", which talks about the band members' (the three original members as well as Nevalainen) connection as musicians, and the "quest" of Nightwish.[192]
Language
[edit]Nightwish mainly writes songs in English, though a few are in Finnish: one song on band's debut album, Angels Fall First (1997); "Kuolema tekee taiteilijan", from the Once album (2004); the single "Erämaan viimeinen" (2007), which is a vocal version of the instrumental "Last of the Wilds"; and "Taikatalvi" ("Magic Winter"), from Imaginaerum (2011). Holopainen was very uncertain about the lyrics of "Erämaan viimeinen", because he thinks that writing in Finnish is rather hard, and has said that "Finnish [could] quickly sound really cheesy."[201]
Influence
[edit]Tuomas Holopainen, writer of most of the band's lyrics and music, says that he gets most of the inspiration for Nightwish's songs from film music.[202] Songs like "Beauty of the Beast" (from Century Child), "Ghost Love Score" (from Once) and "The Poet and the Pendulum" (from Dark Passion Play) are examples of this influence. Holopainen has also said that film music is the music he listens to for leisure.[202] He likes, for example, the musical scores to The Village, Van Helsing, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Crimson Tide, and practically everything written by Hans Zimmer.[202] Other songs, such as "Bye Bye Beautiful" (from Dark Passion Play), and "Wish I Had an Angel" (from Once) have elements of industrial metal, and some others, like "The Islander" and "Last of the Wilds" (from Dark Passion Play), "Creek Mary's Blood" (from Once), and the Angels Fall First album have elements of folk music. Bands stated as an influence on Nightwish include Children of Bodom, Theatre of Tragedy, The Gathering, My Dying Bride, Tiamat and The 3rd and the Mortal.[17]
Nightwish has also been noted as a source of inspiration for other bands. Simone Simons, lead singer of Dutch symphonic/gothic metal band Epica, stated that she began singing in a classical style because of Nightwish's 1998 Oceanborn album.[203] Sander Gommans of After Forever said that Nightwish "will certainly influence us in creating new songs".[204] Power metal band Sonata Arctica's lead singer Tony Kakko has explained how much of an influence Nightwish is to him.[205] In December 2015, Metal Hammer's Dave Everley described them as "mainland Europe's most successful metal band, give or take a Rammstein".[18]
Band members
[edit]Current members
- Tuomas Holopainen – keyboards (1996–present), male vocals (1996–1998)
- Emppu Vuorinen – guitars (1996–present), bass (1997–1998)
- Troy Donockley – uilleann pipes, tin whistle, low whistle, guitars, bouzouki, bodhrán, male vocals (2013–present; session/touring musician 2007–2013)
- Floor Jansen – lead vocals (2013–present; touring musician 2012–2013)
- Kai Hahto – drums, percussion (2019–present; session/touring member 2014–2019)
- Jukka Koskinen – bass (2022–present; touring: 2021–2022)
Discography
[edit]- Angels Fall First (1997)
- Oceanborn (1998)
- Wishmaster (2000)
- Century Child (2002)
- Once (2004)
- Dark Passion Play (2007)
- Imaginaerum (2011)
- Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015)
- Human. :II: Nature. (2020)
- Yesterwynde (2024)
Tours
[edit]- Summer of Wilderness (1999)
- Oceanborn Europe Tour (1999)
- Wishmaster World Tour (2000–2001)
- World Tour of the Century (2002–2003)
- Once Upon a Tour (2004–2005)
- Dark Passion Play World Tour (2007–2009)
- Imaginaerum World Tour (2012–2013)
- Endless Forms Most Beautiful World Tour (2015–2016)
- Decades: World Tour (2018)
- Human. :II: Nature. World Tour (2021–2023)
See also
[edit]- List of best-selling music artists in Finland
- List of heavy metal bands
- List of symphonic metal bands
- Music of Finland
- Rock music in Finland
- Symphonic gothic metal
- Symphonic metal
- Symphonic power metal
- Tarja Turunen discography
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ^ "Interview with Tuomas Holopainen, of Nightwish". Untitled. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2018.
- ^ a b "Spinefarm". Spinefarm.fi. Archived from the original on 27 May 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2011.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Nightwish Official Biography". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 5 June 2010.
- ^ "The Cave: Music theme". Soundtrack.net. Retrieved 16 October 2009.
- ^ "Nightwish Announces New Singer". RoadRunnerRecords.com. 27 May 2007. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 9 July 2010.
- ^ "Nightwish – The Official Website". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 17 June 2007. Retrieved 12 July 2007.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH: "Imaginaerum" – release date". Nuclearblast.de. Archived from the original on 23 January 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2012.
- ^ CROMCarl. "Nightwish Singer Anette Olzon Splits With Band". Metalunderground.com. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
- ^ "Nightwish". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland (in Finnish). Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "Kaikkien aikojen myydyimmät kotimaiset albumit". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "Kaikkien aikojen myydyimmät ulkomaiset albumit". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "Kaikkien aikojen myydyimmät kotimaiset singlet". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 28 May 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "Kaikkien aikojen myydyimmät ulkomaiset singlet". Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland (in Finnish). Archived from the original on 22 October 2013. Retrieved 29 January 2012.
- ^ "An Evening With Nightwish in a Virtual World Announced". Nightwish.com.
- ^ "Nightwish – Once". finnishcharts.com. 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "Finnish Music Hall of Fame announces its latest inductee a year before opening". Finnishmusichalloffame.fi. 2018. Archived from the original on 9 November 2018. Retrieved 1 November 2018.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Once Upon a Nightwish: Official Biography 1996–2006
- ^ a b c d e f Everley, Dave (8 December 2015). "How Nightwish became a modern metal phenomenon". Metal Hammer. Team Rock. Retrieved 2 January 2016.
- ^ "On this day, 25 years ago, Nightwish was born!". Nightwish's official Facebook page. Meta. 6 July 2021. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
- ^ a b Rivadavia, Eduardo. Review of Angels Fall First at AllMusic. Retrieved July 9, 2010.
- ^ "Sami Vänskä". Dmusic.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ "James Byrd Tribute". GeoCities.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2005. Retrieved 27 December 2005.
- ^ a b Ravelin, Antti J. Review of Oceanborn at AllMusic. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
- ^ ""Oceanborn" Is Released". Nightwish's Official Website. 7 December 1998. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "Nightwish charts in Finland". Finnishcharts.com. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Oceanborn releases worldwide". Nightwish.com. 16 February 1999. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Sleeping Sun Sells Well". Nightwish.com. 1 July 1999. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2024.
- ^ "Nightwish Live −1999". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2009.
- ^ a b c d e "Tilastot: Nightwish". Ifpi.fi. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ Ravelin, Antti J. Review of Wishmaster at AllMusic. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Nightwish Live- 2000". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ a b Over the Hills and Far Away at AllMusic. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ a b ""End Of Innocence" (2003)". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 5 December 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
- ^ "Limited editions of Tampere concert". Nightwish.com. 16 January 2001. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
- ^ "Century Child Sells Gold". Nightwish.com. 25 May 2002. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ "Century Child Sells Gold". Nightwish.com. 4 June 2002. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ "Kohtalon Kirja DVD". KohtalonKirja.com. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ a b "Nightwish Interview". Blabbermouth.net. 5 September 2007. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- ^ "Nightwish Perform "The Phantom Of The Opera" For The First Time In 17 Years; Amsterdam Show Filmed For Future DVD Release (Video)". BraveWords.com.
- ^ "DVD Review – Nightwish – End of innocence". Revelationz.net. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Nightwish)" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Nightwish charts in Greece". Greekcharts.com. Retrieved 1 June 2010.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ "Nightwish charts in Norway". Norwegiancharts.com. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ a b "Nightwish charts in Germany". Musicline.de. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Nightwish charts in France". Lescharts.com. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ a b c "Archive: Nightwish". Mahasz.hu. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Nightwish charts in Sweden". Swedishcharts.com. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ a b Once at AllMusic. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
- ^ "Nightwish Live −2004". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ "Helsinki skies open as World Championships get under way". Helsingin Sanomat. 9 August 2005. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Open Letter to Tarja". Nightwish.com. 22 October 2005. Archived from the original on 10 April 2006. Retrieved 22 October 2005.
- ^ a b c "Nightwish: Tarja Turunen letter to the band, fans and media". MetalYou.com. 26 October 2005. Archived from the original on 16 May 2006. Retrieved 26 October 2005.
- ^ "Nightmail – April 2006". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
- ^ a b "The New Singer". Nightwish.com. 24 May 2007. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
- ^ a b "Nightwish- Eva". Metal-Archives.com. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
- ^ a b "Nightwish's 'Amaranth' Single Available As Flower-Fragrance-Shaped Picture Disc". MetalFromFinland.com. 29 January 2010. Archived from the original on 2 March 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
- ^ "Nightwish charts in Switzerland". HitParade.ch. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Croatian Music Industry". HDU.ht. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
- ^ "Chart positions and Gold Awards". Nightwish.com. 11 October 2007. Archived from the original on 2 January 2010. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
- ^ "Nightwish performs secret gig in Estonia". Blabbermouth.net. 23 September 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
- ^ "Nightwish performs first official concert with new singer". RoadRunnerRecords.com. 6 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
- ^ "Nightwish Live −2007". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 16 June 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ "Nightwish Live −2008". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 18 July 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2010.
- ^ "Nightwish Australian tour dates announced". Blabbermouth.net. 5 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
- ^ a b "Ferguson, Tom. "Global Pulse". Billboard- The International Newsweekly of Music, Video and Home Entertainment Aug 07 2010: 26–7. ProQuest". ProQuest. 7 August 2010. ProQuest 820997410.
- ^ "Dark Passion Play= JPN Version". NwShop.fi. Archived from the original on 5 November 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
- ^ a b "Nightwish: 'Made In Hong Kong' Cover Artwork Revealed". blabbermouth.net. 7 January 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Nightwish Completes Work on New Pre-Production Demo". RoadRunnerRecords.com. 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 7 August 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
- ^ "Tuomas Holopainen Interview". MetalReviews.com. 18 May 2009. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
- ^ "NightwishNightmail". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
- ^ "Album release". Archived from the original on 16 August 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ^ "Imaginaerum Teaser". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
- ^ "Nightwish Issues Record Store Day 10". Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
- ^ a b Press statement at Nightwish's official Facebook page
- ^ Sheila. "Nightwish and Anette Olzon Part Ways". Upvenue.
- ^ "The Secret Is..." Anette Olzon Blog. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
- ^ "The Official Website". Nightwish. Archived from the original on 18 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "Anette Olzon – Careful What You 'Wish For". Carl Begai. 2 February 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "Rehearsal place booked for July 2014, says Tuomas Holopainen". 19 November 2012. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Press release // October 9th 2013". Nightwish.com. 9 October 2013. Archived from the original on 7 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- ^ "The Official Website". Nightwish. 7 February 2014. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ Lach, Stef (13 April 2015). "Mainman Tuomas says songs on Endless Forms Most Beautiful didn't require Floor's operatic style". Loudwire. TeamRock. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ "Biography // November 15th 2013". Nightwish.com. 15 November 2013. Archived from the original on 26 August 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2013.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH Release Showtime, Storytime; New Video Trailer Streaming". Bravewords.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ "Nightwish – Ms. Floor Jansen is a keeper. Also, we will..." Facebook. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "Nightwish's Tuomas Holopainen Records Demo Of 12 Songs For Next Album". Blabbermouth.net. 16 May 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Nightwish Drummer Jukka Nevalainen Forced To Take Break From Band Due To Health Issues". Blabbermouth.net. 6 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
- ^ "Wintersun". Facebook.com. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022.
- ^ "Latest News – Nightwish – The Official Website". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2012. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
- ^ "Nightwish's Next Album To Feature Guest Appearance By British Professor Richard Dawkins". Blabbermouth.net. 16 October 2014.
- ^ "Nightwish Films New Music Video". Blabbermouth.net. 22 November 2014.
- ^ "Latest News – Nightwish – The Official Website". Nightwish.com. Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2007.
- ^ "Nightwish To Release 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful' Album In March". Blabbermouth.net. 22 December 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ Bowar, Chad (23 September 2014). "Nightwish Reveal Dates for Spring 2015 North American Tour". Loudwire. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ "Rock in Rio: Jukka Nevalainen cancela participação no show do Nightwish; Tony Kakko substitui". O Globo (in Portuguese). Grupo Globo. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
- ^ Shutt, Dan (21 December 2015). "Nightwish, Wembley Arena, gig review: Closing with The Greatest Show on Earth too much for sell-out audience to handle". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH Perform With Original Bassist SAMI VÄNSKÄ At Himos Park Show, Video Available". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 2 September 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- ^ Beebee, Steve (5 November 2016). "Nightwish – The BIG Uber Rock Interview Exclusive". Uberrock.co.uk. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- ^ "Announcing The "decades" World Tour 2018". Nightwish.com. 9 June 2017. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017. Retrieved 9 June 2017.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH: São Paulo And Buenos Aires Concerts To Be Filmed For Upcoming DVD". Blabbermouth. 17 September 2018. Retrieved 18 September 2018.
- ^ "Nightwish To Release 'Decades: Live In Buenos Aires' In December". Blabbermouth. 11 October 2019. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
- ^ "Nightwish have written up to 90% of new album". Louder. 23 July 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
- ^ "FLOOR JANSEN On Songwriting Process For Next NIGHTWISH Album: 'It's Very Exciting'". Blabbermouth.net. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 16 November 2018.
- ^ "Nightwish's Jukka Nevalainen Officially Exits Band; KAI HAHTO Named Permanent Drummer". Blabbermouth. 15 July 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2019.
- ^ "Nightwish Has Completed Recording New Album: 'I'm Very, Very Happy With It,' Says Floor Jansen". Blabbermouth. 31 October 2019. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH Is Still Mixing New Album". Blabbermouth. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
- ^ "Kerromme teille nyt ilouutisen: Nightwishin uusi studioalbumi on valmis". Soundi. 10 January 2020. Archived from the original on 10 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
- ^ "Announcing the new album "HUMAN. :||: NATURE."". Nightwish. 16 January 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Nightwish Announce New Album Human. :II: Nature.". Kerrang!. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
- ^ "Nightwish soitti Infernolle tulevan albuminsa – lue ensitunnelmat". Inferno. 21 January 2020. Archived from the original on 19 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
- ^ "Nightwish launch lyric video for their new single Harvest". Louder. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH Releases Lyric Video For Every Song On 'Human. :II: Nature.' Album". Blabbermouth. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH's 'Human. :II: Nature.' Debuts In Top 10 In More Than Dozen Countries". Blabbermouth. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ "spanishcharts.com - Nightwish - Human. :II: Nature". spanishcharts.com. Retrieved 28 April 2020.[permanent dead link ]
- ^ "Top 10 des ventes d'albums et de singles". 20 minutes (in French). 26 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ "Nightwish's Floor Jansen Interview". Billboard. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- ^ "Nightwish Announce Partnership With World Land Trust International Conservation Charity Organization; Video Featuring New Track 'Ad Astra' Posted". BraveWords. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
- ^ "Metal behemoths Nightwish: "David Attenborough wrote to personally decline appearing on our album"". NME. 13 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ "New Crab Species Named After Nightwish". Blabbermouth. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
- ^ "Another scientific discovery named for Nightwish!". Nightwish. 12 August 2020. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
- ^ "Nightwish's Longtime Bassist/Vocalist Marko 'Marco' Hietala Announces His Departure From Band". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Marko Hietala leaves Nightwish". Metal Hammer. 12 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ "Nightwish will kick off their 2021 tour with a gig in an imaginary pub". Louder. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH To Start 'Human. :II: Nature.' World Tour In Virtual Reality". Blabbermouth. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH - Upcoming Human. :II: Nature. Virtual Livestream Show Rescheduled For May 2021". BraveWords. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ "Nightwish paljasti uuden basistinsa". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
- ^ "Nightwish's virtual concert broke records". Helsinki Times. 30 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
- ^ Mäenpää, Arto (5 August 2021). "Tuomas Holopainen and Troy Donockley to Chaoszine: "There will be a DVD coming from the Nightwish virtual shows"". Chaoszine. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ "Nightwish - Human. :II: Nature. Live In a Virtual World 2021 Available On DVD". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 29 January 2022. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "Nevski & The Prospectsin konsertti Club Teatrialla järjestetään heinäkuun loppupuolella – tapahtuma siirtynyt yli vuodella". Kaleva (in Finnish). Retrieved 12 August 2021.
- ^ "Nightwish - Re-Scheduled Nightwish USA 2021 Dates Here". Nightwish. 10 August 2020. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ "Nightwish Announce Rescheduled Tour For 2021". Kerrang!. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH - Postponed Russian, Belarus, Ukrainian Tour Dates". 9 May 2020. Archived from the original on 12 January 2021. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Nightwish: "Vi älskar världen vi bor i"". Göteborgs-Posten (in Swedish). 10 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH Wins Emma Gaala Award 2021 For Best Metal Album Of The Year". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. Retrieved 17 May 2021.
- ^ "Nightwish has been nominated for the prestigious Finnish Emma Awards!". Nightwish. 21 January 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ "Nightwish announces Jukka Koskinen as band's new permanent bassist". Chaoszine. 21 August 2022. Retrieved 21 August 2022.
- ^ "Tuomas Holopainen avoimena Nightwishin vaikeasta alkuvuodesta – Marko Hietalan shokki-ilmoitusta seurasi solistin joutuminen sairaalahoitoon". Ilta-Sanomat (in Finnish). 22 April 2021. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH Keyboardist TUOMAS HOLOPAINEN's Black Metal Project DARKWOODS MY BETROTHED Signs With NAPALM RECORDS". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
- ^ Everley, Dave (21 May 2021). "Nightwish's Tuomas Holopainen: "I've been gathering up ideas for the new Nightwish album"". Metal Hammer. Retrieved 21 May 2021.
- ^ "Nightwish's Tuomas Holopainen reveals the band has plans to spend three months together making the upcoming album: "It has proven to be an extremely functional concept for us"". Chaoszine. 6 April 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ Mäenpää, Arto (2 March 2022). "Nightwishin leiristä hyviä uutisia: yhtye aloittanut säveltämään musiikkia seuraavaa albumia varten". KaaosZine (in Finnish). Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ "Nightwish Is Working On Material For Tenth Studio Album". Blabbermouth.net. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ "Nightwish To Begin Recording Next Album In Summer Of 2023". Blabbermouth.net. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
- ^ "Nightwish have recently been working on the demo material for their new album: "Tuomas has been really productive"". Chaoszine. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
- ^ "Nightwish's Next Album Will Be Third Part Of A Trilogy". Blabbermouth.net. 17 September 2022. Retrieved 18 September 2022.
- ^ "Tuomas Holopainen reveals "major surprises" on next Nightwish album, admits he thought the band "were finished" when bassist Marko Hietala left". Metal Hammer. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ Osuna, Hernan (24 July 2023). "Nightwish have finished demoing new album - recording to begin in early August". Chaoszine. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "Nightwish - Mixing New Album". Metal Storm. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
- ^ Mäenpää, Arto (29 February 2024). "Nightwish has finished the mixing and mastering of their upcoming album". Chaoszine. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Nightwish Re-Sign With Nuclear Blast Records". Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
- ^ Mills, Matt (30 April 2024). ""A fantastical voyage through time, memory and the better angels of human nature": Nightwish announce long-awaited new album Yesterwynde". Louder. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ Baldin, Benedetta (30 April 2024). "Nightwish announce new album "Yesterwynde" to be released on September 20th". Chaoszine. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Nightwish sound even more symphonic than usual on new single The Day Of..." Louder Sound. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ Mäenpää, Arto (10 September 2024). "Nightwish drops new song "An Ocean of Strange Islands": New album "Yesterwynde" out this Friday". Chaoszine. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
- ^ Childers, Chad (6 April 2023). "Nightwish Taking Touring Hiatus, Announce New Album Timeline". Loudwire. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ Alderslade, Merlin (6 April 2023). "Nightwish retire from touring for the foreseeable future: "we won't be touring the next album"". Louder Sound. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
- ^ Mäenpää, Arto (23 January 2024). ""There won't be any Nightwish shows within the next two or three years" – Exclusive interview with Kai Hahto from Nightwish / Wintersun". Chaoszine. Retrieved 23 January 2024.
- ^ "Nightwish's Troy Donockley On Band's Touring Hiatus: 'We Were In Danger Of Burning Out'". Blabbermouth.net. 24 September 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
- ^ "Nightwish - Biography". ALLMusic. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
- ^ Ladouceur 2011, p. 196.
- ^ Ollila 2007, p. 18.
- ^ "Nightwish – Human. : II: Nature. (Album)". Nordic Music Review. 13 April 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
- ^ "New Music Review : Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful : CD Album Music Review : Dangerdog Music Reviews by Craig Hartranft". Dangerdog.com.
- ^ Hartranft, Craig (12 May 2011). "Nightwish: Imaginaerum". Dangerdog Music Reviews. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ Pierce, Ken (28 November 2007). "Nightwish: Dark Passion Play". Sea of Tranquility. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ Blackie, Andrew (3 October 2007). "Nightwish: Dark Passion Play". PopMatters. Retrieved 3 October 2007.
- ^ TheKenWord (6 March 2019). "Yer Metal Is Olde: Nightwish – Oceanborn". Angrymetalguy.com. Retrieved 6 March 2019.
- ^ "Finnish Gothic Metallers Nightwish Want To Grow Their North American Cult – Chart Attack". 23 October 2007. Archived from the original on 29 August 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Nightwish: Dark Passion Play". PopMatters.com. 3 October 2007.
- ^ "Nightwish: Once / Over the Hills and Far Away". PopMatters.com. 23 January 2005.
- ^ "Nightwish continues to dominate the soundscape of symphonic metal". WHUS. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ a b Fulton, Katherine. Review of End of an Era at AllMusic. Retrieved July 14, 2008.
- ^ "'Élan' Retrospective: Nightwish Have a Laugh at the Orthodox". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
- ^ "Nightwish Debut Epic New Song "Ad Astra" and Video Announcing World Land Trust Partnership". The Pit. 11 March 2020. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
- ^ Huey, Steve. Biography of Nightwish at AllMusic. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Weber, Klaudia. "Nightwish Interview". Underground-Empire.com (in German). Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- ^ Dusedau, Zack (19 August 2004). "Interview with Marco Hietala and Emppu Vuorinen of Nightwish". Metalunderground.com. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- ^ "Interview with Tuomas Holopainen and Anette Olzon of Nightwish". Hallofmetal.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2007. Retrieved 16 March 2008.
- ^ Maria Paula Carvalho (23 December 2004). 'Nightwish Interview' in Almanaque TV program (Globo News channel). Brazil. Archived from the original on 17 April 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2009.
Well, we kind of dress in black and we have a female singer, but that's pretty much it. I mean so many people consider us as a gothic metal band but I totally disagree. I don't think that... we can be put into any category
- ^ "Interview with Tuomas Holopainen, Nightwish interview in Brasil". dailymotion. 2008.
- ^ "Angels Fall First review". Metal.de (in German). Retrieved 25 February 2015.
- ^ Diaconescu, Horia; Cora, Ioan; Plămădeală, Mihai (30 November 2005). "Interview with Tarja Turunen (ex Nightwish)". Muzici și Faze. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
- ^ a b Grant, Sam (7 May 2004). "Once review". Sonic Cathedral.com. Archived from the original on 16 December 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- ^ Begrand, Adrien (24 January 2004). "Once review". PopMatters. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- ^ Grant, Sam (10 February 2003). "Angel Fall First review". Sonic Cathedral.com. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- ^ Blackie, Andrew (4 October 2007). "Dark Passion Play review". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 11 June 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
- ^ lancelot (11 May 2005). "Nightwish: Oceanborn --> einfach genial!!!". Yopi.de (in German). Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- ^ Matthias Mineur: Nightwish. Suomi Superstars in EMP 4/99, p. 26
- ^ a b c Weihrauch, Georg (12 November 2000). "Interview Nightwish – Tuomas Holopainen". Power-Metal.de (in German). Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 15 August 2007.
- ^ Schwoebel, Ricarda (3 August 2007). "Interview Nightwish – Anette, Tuomas". Powermetal.de (in German). Retrieved 4 November 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f "Tuomas about the DPP tracks". Tuomasholopainen.net. Archived from the original on 24 July 2011. Retrieved 23 October 2011.
- ^ Klaner, Tom. "Nightwish". Bright-Eyes.de (in German). Retrieved 3 August 2007.
- ^ "Imaginaerum track by track". 10 November 2011. Archived from the original on 30 October 2021. Retrieved 24 June 2015 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Nightwish: track by track di "Endless Forms Most Beautiful"!". SpazioRock.it. 17 March 2015. Archived from the original on 4 July 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ "Nightwish interview – Marco (part 1)". FaceCulture.nl. 23 February 2015. Archived from the original on 15 April 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH's TUOMAS HOLOPAINEN Says 'Noise' Video Is 'Not A Criticism About Technology Or Cell Phones'". Blabbermouth. 8 March 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH's TROY DONOCKLEY Talks "Harvest" Single In New Countdown Video". BraveWords. 5 April 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
- ^ "NIGHTWISH's TUOMAS HOLOPAINEN On 'Human. :II: Nature': 'It's A Concept Album Without Intending It To Be'". Blabbermouth. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
- ^ "Nightwish: "The whole theme of the album is time, history, humanism,..." Kerrang!. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Schwoebel, Ricarda (14 July 2006). "Interview Nightwish – Tuomas Holopainen, Mape Ollila". Powermetal.de (in German). Retrieved 10 August 2007.
- ^ a b c "Nightwish.com". Profile of Tuomas Holopainen. Archived from the original on 10 April 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2005.
- ^ "Epica Online". Profile Simone. Archived from the original on 22 April 2006. Retrieved 28 December 2005.
- ^ "Musical Discoveries". After Forever. 13 June 2004. Retrieved 13 January 2011.
- ^ "The Gauntlet". Sonata Arctica Interview. 31 March 2007. Archived from the original on 20 June 2007. Retrieved 17 June 2007.
General bibliography
[edit]- Sharpe-Young, Garry (2007). Metal: The Definitive Guide: Heavy, NWOBH, Progressive, Thrash, Death, Black, Gothic, Doom, Nu. London: Jawbone Press. ISBN 978-1-906002-01-5.
- Ollila, Mape (2007). Once Upon a Nightwish. Deggael Communications. ISBN 978-952-99749-2-4.
- Ladouceur, Liisa (2011). Encyclopedia Gothica. Toronto, Canada: ECW Press. ISBN 9781770900790.
- Kangasluoma, Timo (2017). Stainless? (English ed.). Jyväskylä: Docendo Ltd. ISBN 978-169-975-169-5.
- Isoaho, Timo (2018). Nightwish – We Were Here (English ed.). Latvia: Deggael Communications. ISBN 978-952-99749-3-1.
External links
[edit]- Nightwish
- 1996 establishments in Finland
- Finnish power metal musical groups
- Finnish symphonic metal musical groups
- Finnish gothic metal musical groups
- Musical groups established in 1996
- Century Media Records artists
- Nuclear Blast artists
- Roadrunner Records artists
- Spinefarm Records artists
- World Music Awards winners
- Female-fronted musical groups
- Finnish musical sextets
- Mixed-gender bands
- English-language musical groups from Finland