Dark Passion Play
Nightwish
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| Name | Artist | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1 |
The Poet and the Pendulum | Nightwish | 13:54 | Album Only | View In iTunes |
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2 |
Bye Bye Beautiful | Nightwish | 4:14 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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3 |
Amaranth | Nightwish | 3:51 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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4 |
Cadence of Her Last Breath | Nightwish | 4:14 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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5 |
Master Passion Greed | Nightwish | 6:02 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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6 |
Eva | Nightwish | 4:25 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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7 |
Sahara | Nightwish | 5:47 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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8 |
Whoever Brings the Night | Nightwish | 4:17 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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9 |
For the Heart I Once Had | Nightwish | 3:55 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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10 |
The Islander | Nightwish | 5:05 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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11 |
Last of the Wilds | Nightwish | 5:40 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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12 |
7 Days to the Wolves | Nightwish | 7:03 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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13 |
Meadows of Heaven | Nightwish | 7:10 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
| BookletDigital Booklet - Dark Passion Play | Nightwish | -- | Album Only | View In iTunes |
| Total: 14 Items |
Album Review
Judging from the way Dark Passion Play starts out, it's understandable to assume that it's some sort of opera aria. But hold tight, dear friends, because from out of nowhere metal guitar riffs come swooping in. That's Nightwish for ya — a Finnish quintet that had been walking the line between symphonic and metallic for ten years by the time of this 2007 release. The album signals the arrival of new singer Anette Olson (who replaced longtime member Tarja Turunen), but for longtime fans worried that this lineup shuffle may alter the band's sound and direction, there's no reason to fret — Nightwish are as bombastic and dramatic as ever. Understandably, there are quite a few similarities between symphonic metal and prog metal, and this is certainly the case on such tracks as "Bye Bye Beautiful," which contains a very Dream Theater-esque opening. Elsewhere, "Eva" focuses primarily on the vocal talents of Nightwish's new frontwoman, while the slow-building album opener, "The Poet and the Pendulum," proves to be a neat summary of Nightwish's style. Depending on which side of the metal fence you're on, Dark Passion Play is either a symphonic metal triumph or merely pretentious twaddle.
Customer Reviews
An Epic, Revolutionary Masterpiece
Composer Tuomas Holopainen is a musical genius, once again proving here that he is capable of anything. This album can be considered a revolution in music, due to the impeccable writing, production quality, and spectacular orchestral arrangements. Here’s a breakdown of each track: 1. The Poet and the Pendulum (25,000/10) This is the greatest piece of music ever written. It’s a 14-minute long masterpiece of haunting orchestral perfection, combined with beautiful vocals and the most insane fiddle you will ever hear. My jaw drops every time I hear this epic tour de force, and I don’t think I’ve ever rocked out so hard in my life. Nightwish had the right idea making this the opening track; it will probably become part of music legend, and I don’t think it will ever be outdone. 2. Bye Bye Beautiful (9/10) The powerful farewell song to Tarja. It’s a passionate, savage catharsis, sung in the style of “Wish I Had an Angel” (with Marco singing the chorus and Anette on the other verses). 3. Amaranth (10/10) The catchiest darn thing ever, and an excellent choice for the first single. Anette truly makes this energetic song her own, and it stands out as one of the album’s highlights. 4. Cadence of Her Last Breath (9.5/10) A darkly beautiful song with an amazing chorus. This is another example of a song that seems to have been created for the sole purpose of having Anette sing it. 5. Master Passion Greed (9.5/10) This song is hardcore—there’s no other word for it. It’s just Marco singing, and the intensity is almost overwhelming. There is some profanity, but it really shouldn’t bother you, because it’s such an awesome song. And there’s an insanely forceful outro of just the orchestra, with the angriest sounding strings you’ll ever hear. 6. Eva (6/10) This is one of the only lackluster songs on the album. It’s remarkably pretty, and Anette’s voice is showcased very nicely, but nothing about it stands out as riveting or memorable. 7. Sahara (8.5/10) A very exotic, otherworldly song. Unusual instrumentation, a male choir, and catchy lyrics make it a decent listen, and Anette’s vocalizing is pretty awesome. 8. Whoever Brings the Night (6/10) This one is beginning to grow on me, even though I hated it at first. It seemed oddly atonal, and I only found a couple parts of it to be pleasing to the ears, but I’ve come to appreciate its oddities. 9. For the Heart I Once Had (7/10) A poppy song, easily conceivable to be on the radio. There’s nothing wrong with this song; there’s just nothing special about it either. 10. The Islander (10/10) In my opinion, the biggest surprise on the album. Heavily influenced by Celtic music, this song features Marco singing in the best, most Irish accent that a Finnish person could ever hope to pull off. Anette sings backup against a collection of ancient flutes and bagpipes, and the resulting effect is stunningly gorgeous. I love Celtic music, and while this song may be out of place on a symphonic metal album, I can’t get enough off it. 11. Last of the Wilds (10/10) Another Celtic-styled piece, this time a beautiful instrumental flowing seamlessly from the previous track. It is rare for a voiceless song to keep my interest, but this music has me transfixed. Tuomas is truly the most versatile musician in the industry, because I see this instrumental as nothing short of miraculous. 12. 7 Days to the Wolves (9.5/10) A fun, rabidly dark song that is both spooky and energetic. Anette and Marco sure have fun singing it together, with the choir providing a haunting backdrop. Midway, look out for the amazing fiddle part. 13. Meadows of Heaven (10/10) The lyrics might be overly sweet and sentimental, but this song is exquisitely beautiful. Some slight Celtic influences are heard throughout, and the choir joins Anette in the middle for a larger-than-life climax. Near the end, the song features solos from individual choir members, so passionate and heartfelt that you will get chills. This is the perfect closer to the album. Any diehard Nightwish fan needs this album, but it is also a good CD for getting accustomed to the band and its genre. Just keep an open mind, and appreciate it for what it is--a masterpiece.
"Once" was the opener. This is the Dark Passion Play.
Nightwish has always been a consistantly impressive band, but with the depart of Tarja, their previous vocalist, several people doubted whether Nightwish would be the same. For anyone out there who doubted them, rest assured, they're still Nightwish. But more importantly, they've released, hands down, their best album to date. New vocalist Anette Olzon fits perfectly in with the Nightwish formula, the London orchestra and choir bolsters every song to epic proportions, keyboards, guitars, drums are all used to create an incredibly bombastic and varied sound, and production is top notch. There are practically no weak tracks here; "The Poet and the Pendulum" is an entire soundtrack condensced into a 14 minute masterpiece; "Master Passion Greed" is by far the heaviest song Nightwish has ever done, with Marco entirely on vocals; "7 Days to the Wolves"- simply one of the best songs Nightwish has ever done. These are just a few of the highlights off perhaps the best album of the year. Don't hesitate. Dowload now!
Exceeded All Expectations
Coming off firing their primary vocalist, Nightwish was poised for a disappointing album. They did no such thing. In fact, they pretty much blew my socks off. Heavier than previous releases (Annette's voice sounds more pop than operatic), with churning guitars, power chords, their normal riffs and orchestral elements, and wonderful resolutions. Fans who have been following the band for years may suggest the band has sold-out, and it has definitely changed with the new vocalist, but only the vocal sound has changed. Their are still a couple of wierd songs that should please the fringers out there, but the majority are just awesome metal tunes. The Poet and the Pendulum is long and a little contrived with some very questionable Flash Gordon elements. Not Kidding! But you'll love it. Amaranth & Eva are pop songs. If you like pop metal and pop metal balads you'll love them, otherwise que the skip button. The Islander and Last of the Wilds harken back their earlier stuff with some interesting (read: wierd) instrumental and vocal stylings. The rest are just kick-butt Nightwish metal songs. Give an extra-long listen to Bye Bye Beautiful, Cadence of Her Last Breath, and 7 Days to the Wolves. These are substantial offerings on an album that lacks nothing. Buy the whole album. It's worth 5 times what you'll pay for it.
Biography
Formed: 1997 in Kitee, Finland
Genre: Rock
Years Active: '90s, '00s, '10s
Top Albums and Songs By Nightwish
| Name | Album | Time | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Amaranth | Dark Passion Play | 3:51 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
2 |
Nemo | Once | 4:36 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
|
3 |
Bye Bye Beautiful | Dark Passion Play | 4:14 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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4 |
Planet Hell | Once | 4:38 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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5 |
Wish I Had an Angel | Once | 4:06 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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6 |
Dark Chest of Wonders | Once | 4:28 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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7 |
Last of the Wilds | Dark Passion Play | 5:40 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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8 |
Escapist | The Sound of Nightwish Reborn - Early Demos for "Dark Passion Play" | 4:56 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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9 |
The Islander | Dark Passion Play | 5:05 | $1.29 | View In iTunes |
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10 |
Moondance | Oceanborn | 3:31 | $0.99 | View In iTunes |
- $9.99
- Genres: Rock, Music, Metal, Death Metal/Black Metal
- Released: Sep 28, 2007
- ℗ 2007 Scene Nation Oy Issued under license to The All Blacks B.V. from Scene Nation Oy Roadrunner Records is a registered trademark of The All Blacks B.V.
