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NIGHTWISH - WISHMASTER

Tarja Turunen - Vocals
Tuomas Holopainen - Synthesizers
Jukka Nevalainen - Drums & Percussion
Emppu Vuorinen - Guitar
Sami Vänskä - Bass
First, there was 'Angels Fall First', a doomy record which was better than the other doom bands with female vocals, but apart from some songs (especially 'The Elvenpath') not that impressing. Then there was 'Oceanborn', one of the best albums of all times. Suddenly the band played a style of "opera-Metal" that I liked very much. Now, there is 'Wishmaster'. And since 'Oceanborn' was one of the best records I've ever heard so far, I wondered if they could make a better release than that one. I still don't know whether to like 'Wishmaster' or 'Oceanborn' more. Most compositions of the new album don't reach the level of songs like 'Stargazers' and 'The Riddler', but with 'She Is My Sin', 'Dead Boy's Poem' and the title track, there are some wonderful songs on this one. Some people told me that the band made a slight change of style, but that change is really really small. Tarja might sing a little different (less operatic) and Emppu's guitars are a little more to the foreground, but that's all. The music is still pretty much the same as on 'Oceanborn'. For people who loved 'Oceanborn'; just buy 'Wishmaster' and let yourself be enchanted by the magic of Tarja, the most beautiful sorceress I know.
10
SONG-BY-SONG
  1. She Is My Sin: After a bombastic intro, the verse kicks in and Tarja shows her beautiful high vocals. The chorus is great and catchy and it still gives me goosebumps. During the solo there is some great backing synthesizer by Tuomas and the first solo by Emppu is a great one.
  2. The Kinslayer: A song that still returns the legend of 'Oceanborn' a little. The song is about the "schoolshootings" in the USA and the quotes in the middle of the song (being brought great by Tarja and a guy with a really emotional voice) are dedicated to that. Great intro!
  3. Come Cover Me: After a beautiful intro a heavy love-song (unusual combination, but that doesn't mean it's not good). This is a really good song with some great guitar harmonies. The keyboards by Tuomas are really beautiful and atmospheric. "Come cover me with you..." Oh, I'd love to cover Tarja! ;-)
  4. Wanderlust: I didn't like this song at all at first, still it's not my favorite but I started to like it. It's a good song, but I do understand why Tuomas isn't optimally content with this one.
  5. Two For Tragedy: A ballad which took some time before I liked it. I found it a little boring at first, but now I do like it. I think it lasts a little too long before the first guitar enters, but Tarja sings this one beautiful.
  6. Wishmaster: This is a great song; power, energy and melody all in one song. I especially liked the riffs by Emppu and Tarja being backed up by a choir. But the most beautiful parts of the song are in my opinion the twin-solos between Emppu and Tuomas (I'm a real twin-solo freak). The lyrics are pretty mystical and I like that.
  7. Bare Grace Misery: I really love the intro of this song. The guitars and Tuomas' synths really sound great together and Tarja's vocals are backed up really great by Sami's bass and Tuomas' synths in the verse. This song hails to 'Oceanborn' a little more than the rest and that's always positive.
  8. Deep Silent Complete: I really had problems getting this song, because I'm more into complex songs, and this one is rather simple. After a couple of times I started to like it and why the hell not? It's a good song. I also think it's a good single choice.
  9. Dead Boy's Poem: A beautiful song with many different riffs and atmospheres. The cover artwork is based on this song. Tarja has a really emotional voice in this song. The voice of the "dead boy" brings another dimension to the emotions of the song. The piano that's backing the "dead boy" his first part sounds great!
  10. FantasMic: Tuomas' tribute to Walt Disney. It's an epic devided into three parts and the lyrics are beautifully in the fantasy-style. The song is still pretty heavy and I really love it. Hail Tarja, hail Tuomas, hail Emppu.
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