Nightwish - Dark Passion Play
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CD Details
Artist: NightwishEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2007-10-02
Music Label: Roadrunner Records
Soundtracks:
- The Poet And the Pendulum
- Bye Bye Beautiful
- Amaranth
- Cadence Of Her Last Breath
- Master Passion Greed
- Eva
- Sahara
- Whoever Brings the Night
- For the Heart I Once Had
- The Islander
- Last Of the Wilds
- 7 Days To the Wolves
- Meadows Of Heaven
Music reviews of Dark Passion Play
Music Review: Exit Tarja, Enter Anette! Nightwish is Reborn.
Rating: 5 Stars
Dark Passion Play is a release that won't soon be forgotten. There is so much history behind this release that it isn't easy to review this album without going into great detail, so be prepared for a long read. It is my supreme hope that this review will be helpful to everyone. I hope that old school Nightwish fans (like myself) will read this and understand that Nightwish has taken a new direction in their music, and that it isn't a bad one. I hope that new listeners will read this and become Nightwish fans like the opportunity that was given to me many years ago.
Regarding the death and rebirth of Nightwish: Everyone thought Nightwish was dead after they fired Tarja in 2005. I held out hope they weren't dead, after all, Tuomas is the genius behind the band, and he is still there. "As long as Tuomas was writing the songs, they would survive, no matter who the singer is." I thought to myself. Normally changing the singer in a band has one of three effects: 1) the band survives but becomes forgotten, 2) the band dies, or 3) the band adapts and flourishes. There are very few bands who can survive the change of a main vocalist and do well afterwards. I had been a Sentenced fan for a while and in 1996 they replaced the singer, instead of killing the band, they changed slightly to accommodate the new singer and carried on for nine more years before calling it quits on a high note. Sentenced survived the lead-singer change-out because they were smart, Nightwish can do the same. Dark Passion Play is a start, and in the next album you will hear that their sound will become more refined to meet with Anette's singing style (all the music was written for DPP before Anette was even in the band). This upcoming change in Nightwish, if done correctly, will allow the band to expand as they haven't ever before. With the addition of Anette, Nightwish has become reborn into something that can not be ignored and will influence a generation of musicians to come.
Regarding Tarja and Anette: The first thing you'll note about this album is that Anette isn't Tarja. She has a totally different singing style and look than Tarja did, and it fits the band extremely well. Not comparing the two will not happen as this is a band that was crafted to Tarja's voice. In fact, if it wasn't for Tarja's voice, they wouldn't have become a metal act according to Tuomas. That was 10 years ago, however, and times have changed.
Regarding Artwork: Dark Passion Play very much follows it's art/packaging in the same vein as Wishmaster. The booklet contains full lyrics to all songs on the disc as well as a picture that goes along with each song. I would love to be able to buy some posters with these images, as they each convey the feel of the songs very well, and are incredibly beautiful artworks as is.
Regarding the announcement of the new album: When I heard that this CD was to open with a 14-minute epic I couldn't believe my ears. For one thing, it's a hell of a bold move to open a CD with a 14 minute song. Normally they are drawn out and somewhat boring and get skipped to the next track half way though. However, I was also excited. I remember when I first heard Dead Boys Poem I was completely blown away, and I still never tire of the haunting riffs in that song. Then there was Ghost Love Score clocking in at 10 minutes, GLS was truly an epic song which I love to this day. Little did I know that both of those songs were about to be outdone..
1) The Poet and the Pendulum:
I had high hopes for The Poet and the Pendulum and I'm glad to say that I wasn't disappointed. It's split into five different parts, each with its own distinct feel and theme; because of this it's hard to write a small review for this song, so I will go into detail here.
"White Lands of Empathica" has a very somber feeling to it as it leads into "Home" which explodes into an orchestral metal fiasco.
"Home" is the first time you hear Anette on this CD and she sounds great. The chorus in this song is played twice in "Home" and it's something that isn't soon forgotten. I can't help but scream along with the song during the chorus, it's amazing.
"The Pacific" is another heavy part of this score that winds down into a quiet more soft tone where we hear a young boy's spoken word (think Dead Boy's Poem) which leads into "Dark Passion Play".
"Dark Passion Play" is arguably the heaviest part of the song in which Anette and Marco go into a fierce battle of words. Once again the song is interrupted by the boy's spoken word. This time, the spoken word is angrier and ends with a sharp 'SAVE ME' and the sharp sound of what I describe as a cutting scythe.
"Mother & Father" is the final part of The Poet and the Pendulum and the tone changes completely to a slow pulse as the song comes to a close.
It is very easy to tell that this song is a Masterpiece as it doesn't even feel like you've been listening to it for almost ¼ of an hour. This song is obviously about Tuomas and it's written so well you can't do anything but feel for him and all that he's been through. A musical and lyrical self-portrait of someone who is becoming one of the better composers of our time. 10/10
2) Bye Bye Beautiful:
Many people describe this song as the "Wish I had an Angel" of Dark Passion Play. I disagree wholeheartedly. Wish I had an Angel seemed like an afterthought for the Once album, where Bye Bye Beautiful carries on the theme set in The Poet and the Pendulum. The only resemblance to Wish I had an Angel that I can hear is that Marco sings the chorus. This song is heavy and fast which grabs you from the first note and carries you through a killer chorus all the way to the end. Any old Nightwish fan knows exactly what the core of this song is about: the departure of Tarja and the reasons behind her firing. Bye Bye Beautiful is written incredibly well and lets you glimpse into the emotions that Tarja was putting the band through with her antics towards the end of her days. It's also very fun to sing along with this one. 9/10
3) Amaranth:
I agree with most other reviewers about Amaranth. It was the second single off this album and is very much a song that is designed to grab your attention. It does it very well. Anette sounds great and you can hear a bit of an expanded vocal range from her in this song. Musically this song is right on, and while some people think that this song commercializes Nightwish, I think it shows off that Nightwish can be versatile and adaptable. This defiantly isn't the best song on the CD, but it's pretty darned good. 7/10
4) Cadence of Her Last Breath:
I have always have mixed feelings about this song when I listen to it. It has a weak start but ends very strong. The song picks up at about two minutes in. Is that too long to wait for a song to get good? Maybe, especially when the song is only 4:14 long. I feel that the music in this song is spot on, and the vocals are lacking and a tad awkward, perhaps if this song was put together differently it would have been a bit better. Still, when the song is over I feel satisfied. As someone else said, Nightwish at its worst is still better than most bands at their best. 7/10
5) Master Passion Greed:
Checking in as one of the heaviest songs on this album and possibly the heaviest song Nightwish has ever written, Master Passion Greed's theme may not be quite apparent. I remember reading somewhere that Tuomas wrote this song about Tarja's husband Marcello. Most of the band (especially Tuomas) hated him, and it's very apparent in this song. Once that is understood the song becomes enjoyable and less weird. Lyrically this song is angry, musically it is even angrier, when combined we get an opus of emotion that gets pretty scary towards the end. Marco does a great job on the vocals here, though this isn't his best work vocally on the album. It is said that Nightwish will never play this song live because the anger that was present when it was written isn't there anymore. That's too bad because this would be a hell of a song to see live. 8/10
6) Eva:
The first single released internet-only in May 2007 off this album. This was the first taste we got of Anette's singing ability. I must have listened to Eva over 100 times already due to the fact that for months it was the only new Nightwish song that I had available. Tuomas has written a hell of a song here. The Piano is beautiful and complements Anette's vocals extremely well in this song. Dare I say that I think if Tarja had sung this song she couldn't have done it as well as Anette does? I do dare say that! It seems to be a sad tale of a girl who runs away from home. What an amazing song that I can't bring myself to skip even after all the times that I've already listened to it. It continues to amaze me. 9/10
7) Sahara:
A very 1001 Arabian Nights feel to this song. Of course it does, that's what it's about! It starts strong and ends stronger. Due to the subject matter of this song, it does have a distinct epic feel to it, though nowhere near as epic as The Poet and the Pendulum. A very well composed, played, and sung song. Amazing drum and guitar work is apparent here, thanks Jukka and Emppu!. 9/10
8) Whoever Brings the Night:
I almost peed my pants when I heard there was going to be another vampire song on this CD, after all, Slaying the Dreamer is one of my favorite Nightwish works. Written by Emppu, lyrics by Tuomas, I really like this song. I have read a lot of reviews that place this song as the least favorite on the album, but I disagree. Maybe it's my love for vampire songs, or maybe I'm a sucker for the catchy chorus. One reviewer had it right: "It's very much is a guitarist's song." The vocals come across with a slight mysticism to them that fit the song very well. I say good job Emppu, I look forward to hearing another Emppu original. 8/10
9) For the Heart I Once Had:
This song makes me think of the band Sentenced for some reason, not sure why, just sounds like something they could have done. Anette's voice is so sweet sounding in this song. It's heavy but at the same time very elegant and soft. For a song that is about the death of a child it doesn't sound very sad. It's actually somewhat upbeat and pleasant on the ears. An excellent song, but probably will be overlooked. Please, don't overlook this one! 9/10
10) The Islander:
This song marks a change of pace for Nightwish in two ways: Partly because Marco wrote it, and also because it's very Celtic in its design. This is also the second song that Marco gets on the album where Anette sings supporting vocals. If you had any doubts about Marco's singing ability, this song should put those doubts to rest. It's an incredibly beautiful song and sung with such conviction it can almost bring you to tears. Some people talk about "sleeper hits" that kind of sit on an album and don't get much playtime but are much better songs than most of the band's popular hits. I believe The Islander falls into this category; it will forever be one of my favorite Nightwish songs. 10/10.
11) Last of the Wilds:
Finally! Another instrumental! The last one was Moondance on Oceanborn, and I absolutely loved Moondance. I wish Tuomas wrote more songs like this, he really is good at the instrumentals. Last of the Wilds continues the Celtic theme of The Islander and is the perfect song to follow it. It takes you on a fantastical journey through the wintry lands of Finland and out to the frozen sea. Yes that's right, it's an instrumental, and it's so good you can see, hear, breath, and feel the song while listening to it. Another favorite is born. 10/10
12) 7 Days to the Wolves:
A heavy, heart-pounding song that grips you from the beginning and won't let go until the end. Marco and Anette alternate vocals on this song and do it very well. I like how Marco is getting more mic time; he has such a great voice. The only downfall in this song is that the chorus could be a bit stronger, but that's just a minor gripe. Overall this song is killer and almost as heavy as Master Passion Greed. The violin work is amazing and placed perfectly. Bravo, another hit in my book! 9/10
13) Meadows of Heaven:
The final song on this album, and the song which showcases Anette's voice, Tuomas's piano work, and the rest of the band's talent to whip out a song that may very well be the best album-closer that I have ever heard. The amazing part about this song is that you can hear everything, nothing is jumbled, it all comes across clear, loud, and prominent. I read that Tuomas wrote this song describing the place where he grew up. It's hard to choose a favorite song on the album between The Poet and the Pendulum, The Islander, Last of the Wilds, and Meadows of Heaven; but this is certainly up there as contender for best song on the album. The end of this song is so powerful I just can't describe it; you must hear it for yourself. 10/10
Well, that's my review of Dark Passion Play. I hope it was informative, entertaining, and most of all, I hope it helped you decide to buy this album. Dark Passion Play shouldn't be missed!
Description of Dark Passion Play
Although it is their sixth studio album,Dark Passion Play marks the beginning of a new era for Finnish symphonic metal masters Nightwish. With new vocalist Annette Olzon onboard, Nightwish returns with their most accessible material to date. Firmly rooted in their trademark symphonic sounds featuring elaborate keyboard and guitar parts blended seamlessly with intricate string and choir sections, Olzon?s vocals have more pop sensibility as they are far less operatic than those of her predecessor. This is perfectly exemplified in the vocal melodies in Amaranth, Eva and the scorching duet with bassist Marco Hietala titled Bye Bye Beautiful. Nightwish mastermind Tuomas Holopainen (keyboards) not only wrote all the lyrics and all but two songs on the album, but also helmed the project as one of the producers along with T.C. Kinnunen and Mikko Karmila, who also mixed the album. Dark Passion Play has already made history as Finland?s most expensive recording project to date with massive string sections and choirs and it is clearly evident in the impeccable production. Nightwish have taken the symphonic elements of their prior works and infused them with a new voice to create a sound representative of the album title: dark, playful and, most of all, passionate.Nightwish returns with an ambitious epic metal opus that begins promisingly enough but quickly devolves into another formulaic power rock affair. The band's at its most powerful and convincing on the opening "The Poet and the Pendulum" (all 14 minutes of it), the dynamic "Bye Bye Beautiful," and the infectious pop-inflected "Amaranth." But mid-album tracks such as "Sahara," "For the Heart I Once Had," and the limpid closer, "Meadows of Heaven," retread familiar ground that reminds us of epic metal's more disappointing tendencies--faux pop, bombastic bombast, anemic anthems, and a penchant for the maudlin. With new vocalist Annette Olzon in the ranks, the Finnish outfit stands poised to make a thoroughly convincing and wholehearted classic (listen to "The Islander" for further proof) but falls short, delivering a decent but distracted recording. It's too ambitious, too scattered, and, simply, too long--and that's too bad. --Jedd Beaudoin
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