NIGHTWISH
DARK PASSION PLAY (Album)
2007, Nuclear Blast / Spinefarm Records / Hellion Records


metal_flank : 17/20
Let me say that this album is superbly recorded and written with all the quality a major artist can afford. When I first heard the April Fool's joke they played where they announced Nightwish was changing its name to "Brightwish" after adding Sarah Allbright as a vocalist I thought it was both a great... and stupid, idea. It's always been my opinion that it's just good sense to change a band's name after making such a drastic change such as getting a new vocalist. But the name they claim to have chosen I thought was just horrible. Luckily, it was all just a joke. But after hearing this album, I feel that they should have changed their name. While Dark Passion Play is a great album and Anette fits the direction they were going far better then Tarja would have, it's just not... Nightwish.

This album is one that I feel only the biggest of fans will except. Maybe they should have done one of their older songs, like Wishmaster, as the final track(14) instead of the alternate male vocal "Amaranth". This would have given the beginner Nightwish fan some familiarity that the album lacks. But in speaking of the bonus track, I am not sure if it was Tumas who did the vocals on it but I am sooo glad they didn't stick with it. If they had, they would be more like a glammetal band right now in the likes of Queensreich and Fates Warning.

I do recommend this album and I hope that someone in the bands reads this and takes my advise. Do a remake of an old song on each of your next couple albums.

2008-01-04 00:00:00


Vinrock666
In 2007, I ranked Nightwish and Pip Williams's Orchestral Version of "Dark Passion Play" as the number one metal album of the year.

This album is the second disc from the Collector's Edition, and I consider it "the better version" of the two because I felt that not hearing the vocals gives listeners the best opportunity to fully appreciate the awe-inspiring genius of Tuomas Holopainen's complex compositions. On a number of levels, a strong argument can be made that Holopainen is the formost metal composer of our time. With all the technical Musicianship featured throughout all of the songs, it's the ensuing emotions that proves his status. Every note isn't just played for the sake of playing. Holopainen's strengths are feeling out what intrument plays which notes as well as what parts become foreground and background.
For example : two songs, "Bye, Bye, Beautiful" and "Amaranth", feature the bass lines as foreground during the verses, which would not be the case if vocals were placed over them. In terms of instrument selection, you almost can't go wrong when you have over one hundred and twenty Musicians involved. If you love harmony - it's breathtaking. The masterpiece, therefore, is "The Poet and the Pendulum" complete with a rousing orchestral score, two choirs, and a cello solo in the middle movement that seems to play on the very strings of your own heart. A tell tale heart is even featureed pumping out its final beat before the conclusion of the score.

- The X factor to all of Nightwish's songs is Emppu Vuorinen. If Holopainen with his songwriting, lyrics, and keyboards makes Nightwish "Nightwish", it's the guitar work of Vuorinen that makes Nightwish "metal".
The first minute of "Master Passion Greed" should put to rest any doubt of the afformentioned statement. A final point should be made that by claiming the Orchestral Version as the better of the two albums is in no way discrediting Anette Olzon as a competent singer.

Rather, releasing an album with no vocals instead reinforces the overdue argument that Nightwish is not just a great "female-fronted band" but a truly excellent heavy metal band regardless who's behind the mic, period.

2008-07-05 00:00:00


Vinrock666
If it wasn't for the Orchestral version, Nightwish's "Dark Passion Play" would have topped my list for best metal album of 2007.
The major point I made from that review was that the absence of vocals spotlighted the creative genius that is Tuomas Holopainen. This album introduces Anette Olzon, the new vocalist for the group.
As the main focus for most of the songs, Olzon fares well (Marco Hietala sings on a couple tracks, and it should be noted that the selection of the songs he sings matches the male voice perfectly with the lyrics. Credit the band for being particular with that choice). The most powerful part of her range is in the middle, which gives her the ability to sound at times more soulful and sultry. Still, she can hit and hold her high notes very well and has firm control over all her abilities. The arrangements, obviously, has Holopainen's stamp of approval, and for Olzon this is a very good thing. There is definitely a trust between Olzon and Holopainen, cOncerning the placing and choice of style for every note she sings and when you have a composer as competant as Holopainen, that trust is easy to achieve.

As for the songs themselves, most of what is to be acclaimed here matches what was observed with the Orchestral version - magnificent soundscapes, a hundred plus Musicans adding audio color and beauty everywhere, Vuorinen supplying the heaviest guitar riffs any symphonic metal band has ever had. Excellent blend of keys to orchestra to choir to band and, most important, the writing of these compostions unparalleled. The album is around seventy-five minutes, but if you had to hear one song, "The Poet And The Pendulum" gives clear examples of everything afformentioned.

"Dark Passion Play" is an excellent work of metallic art.

2008-07-13 00:00:00


Steve_J_Smith : 20/20
This is by far the best album that they have done yet. I dont understand why people dont rate this album higher. I thought that it was as well done as the other Nightwish albums. All the songs to me seemed very personal and as though coming from the heart. Everyone gives Anette crap about not having the same range as Tarja but that was the point, they didn't want another classically trained opera singer. All the songs were written before they even started looking for another singer. The first song off this album I heard was "Bye Bye Beautiful" and after I heard that song I was hooked. "The Poet and the Pendulum" was another amazing song really long and shows off the band's talent as well as Anette's voice. Overall this album was MEANT to be different from anything they have done in the past. THIS is the real Nightwish. Tarja was a temporary singer that was filling in as a favor to Tuomas, till they had found the singer that they were looking for, and Anette is that singer. So in my opionon this is there best album yet and I can't wait till their new album to hear the songs that are written for Anette's voice.

2011-10-17 03:10:44


Stephanie_Noel
I was filled with anticipation. I was super curious about the new Nightwish album, because they replaced singer Tarja Tururen and I wanted to see how it is. If you noticed when watching their new videos you'll see many heated arguments about whose better Tarja or Anette. This created my curiosity.

I put the CD and i was like oh yeah this is what I'm about. By the way before i put the CD in i was listening to a boring CD so this is like a fresh of air. I was also surprised on how the first song which is called "The Poet and the Pendulum" was super long. The song was like almost 14 minutes. That's the longest I've heard.Other than the amazement from the length, the song's very epic. Great guitar riffs and the different parts of the songs leave you wanting more.

Other songs i liked on the album was Bye Bye Beautiful and Amaranth.

One thing I have notice by listening to the songs like Bye Bye Beautiful, Amaranth Passion Greed and Whoever Brings the Notice is very personal and is obviously about someone we might know of(Tarja).

2011-07-04 18:10:07