This one (Once) is more soundtrack'ish than the previous ones (they're accoimpaned by a full orchestra on most songs), still not forgetting the fast heavy-metal songs which in this album are for example Dark Chest Of Wonders, Wish I Had An Angel (great duet with Tarja and Marco), both have really heavy, even murderous guitar riffs By Emppu.

I'll review some of my favourites on the album:

3. Nemo - Released as a single, usual Nightwish style music, more popular-sounding than the others, still really good, great chorus *****

5. Creek Mary's Blood - A long, epic song. I especially love the Native-American Indian chanting and Tarja's singing is supreme *****

9. Ghost Love Score - Also a long, epic song, AMAZING chorus which sends chills in my spine. Great slower parts in the middle of the song. *****

10. Kuolema tekee taiteilijan - A song with only orchestra, piano and solo cello with Tarja singing in Finnish. The lyrics are sad, almost prayer-like, but really beautiful. I'll translate the lyrics for you into English, so you can understand the meaning (there may be errors, sorry for that)
Original Finnish lyrics by Tuomas Holopainen.

"A Death Makes An Artist

Only once my dreams
I got to see
Didn't feel the smallness
under the stars
Once I got bars on my cradle
As a prisoner I write a letter from there

My Creator, let me come to you
as what my child thinks I am

In you the beauty of the world
From which death made me an artist

My Creator, let me come to you
as what my child thinks I am

Created my own heaven here
Let me get away"

The meaning of the word suffered a little in the translation. Hope you get at least the idea.

All in all a really great album. I really recommend you should buy it, you won't be disappointed.


Another great album from my favorite hard rock band   July 10, 2004
 14 out of 17 found this review helpful

There are not many hard rock bands that I go completely ape over. I am more of a goth/industrial/EBM fan. Most hard rock bands today are rather dull and uninspiring. The few I do like includes Lacuna Coil and Evanescence but my favorite hard rock band is Nightwish. I have been a fan of Nightwish for a few short years now. "Wishmaster" was my first album I bought and it completely blew me away, especially lead singer Tarja's vocals. "Oceanborn" is my very favorite album by the Finnish band. Although flawed, "Century Child" was...no, is a good rock album. I don't get why people slag on it so much (let alone this band). It may not have been perfect but it was good I think. Unable to wait until the band's August concert in my city, I finally got my hands on the new album "Once" today. It finally came. I was completely blown away by the sheer aggressiveness of the album. "Once" is definitely the most aggressive album the band has put out. Guitarist Emppu Vuorinen really turns up the volume on the album with his ferocious guitar riffs, especially with the first two tracks "Dark Chest of Wonders" and "Wish I had an Angel". Tarja's operatic vocals sounds amazingly cleaner on this album than on past albums. I am able to actually hear what she is singing in the songs. Bassist Marco Hietala's gruff vocals compliments Tarja's clean vocals on a occasion throughout the album. It is difficult for me to pick out my favorite songs on the album. All the songs are good in their own right. The last two songs on the cd "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan" and "Higher Than Hope" are two of the most beautiful ballads the band has ever done. I also adore "Ghost Love Score". The melodies is nothing short of breathtaking as is Tarja's singing. I loved how the band took a chance by using a choir on the album as well as Native American influences on "Creek Mary's Blood". "Once" definitely does not sound like any of the band's previous albums. The production on "Once" is much improvement from previous albums. It is has a big, in your face sound. In the past, the band's other albums were a bit too clean on the production but here it is in your face and less polished. Was it worth shelling out almost $30 for this album? Heck yes! I love this band. I can't wait to see them next month.


Only for people with musical integrity!   July 13, 2004
 13 out of 15 found this review helpful

Man, I'm sick of these idiot reviewers. Don't keep on slamming this band just becuase you don't like them or their style of music. I bet a majority of these people are 17 year old metal newbies who think they know everything. Who said Nightwish are totally original?? I never heard that before. I think they are very unique. I listen to all genres of metal from Black to Prog and Finland's Nightwish blend quality symphonic metal with operatic female vocals. Finland has a lot of metal bands that have released great stuff over the past few years(unlike the States). As for the vocals, people who say that Tarja's vocals are bad or terrible are just stupid and ignorant in my opinion (Tarja was classicaly trained!). I bet these people agree that Britney Spears is a great vocalist! Come on people, open your minds and not your as**oles. I'll step off my soap box now.

As for Once, so far I've listend to the first 5 tracks and I love it. To me, it sounds better than Century Child. I did like that album, but I think they could have done better. A little bit of a let down compaired to Oceanborn and Wishmaster... I think the use of the orchestra on Once is great and it even reminds me a little of some Alan Parsons Project stuff. Creek Mary's Blood is a great song and almost epic sounding. I love the Native American influence. I can't wait to finish the CD!


Another perfect album via Nightwish   June 9, 2004
 12 out of 14 found this review helpful

Well I start out by saying... It's Nightwish, who would expect a bad release from them? This is far from bad, it's extraordinary. Each time they change their style a bit, and they have yet to fail pulling it off. I will rate song by song.

1. Dark Chest of Wonders - 5/5 - Nightwish is known for heavy starts, and I feel this one beats them all.

2. I Wish I Had An Angel - 4/5 - Similar to the "Century Child" song "End of All Hope." But still great nonetheless.

3. Nemo - 5/5 - Ah yes, the first single from the album. It's soft, it's heavy, it's Nightwish, enough said.

4. Planet Hell - 5/5 - This is where I noticed a change. Very interesting opening and the song gets better from there.

5. Creek Mary's Blood - 5/5 - Celtic-sounding, soothing, enchanting. I believe it's a short story about the 'Trail of Tears' ... Indian language spoken at the end of the song.

6. The Siren - 5/5 - Heavy and catchy... Even though Tarja just harmonizes, I still feel myself humming.

7. Dead Gardens - 4/5 - Heavy and interesting. It grows on you, I didn't like it much at first but now I like it more. I love the reference to 'Elvenpath'.

8. Romanticide - 4/5 - More harmonizing from Tarja. I can't really get into the song or chorus much, but still great.

9. Ghost Love Score - 6/5 - Yes, it gets a 6. And I know that it's 10 minutes long, but I stay attached the whole time. My favorite track on the CD.

10. Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan - 5/5 - A slow song for every CD. This is it. Finnish is a very posessing language I have learned from this song. Way to go Tarja.

11. Higher Than Hope - 4/5 - Not really a good way to end a Nightwish CD, however, "Ghost Love Score" makes up for what it lacks. I just don't like the chorus much, it doesn't seem to match the verses.

Well that about covers it, and if it doesn't, you can always ask questions. -_- This CD is a definite buy, and if you are a Nightwish fan you MUST add this to your collection!


What music is all about   June 26, 2004
 11 out of 12 found this review helpful

Nightwish does what few other bands can, they create an atmosphere, a mood with their music. With their new release, Once, they do it once again. I am a big fan of Oceanborn and Wishmaster, and I liked Century Child too, but Once is a much different album than their previous work. I think it's much better than Century Child, and slightly better than Wishmaster, but it's really a toss up between Once and Oceanborn. I love the style of Once because of the orchestra and symphonic elements. It adds a depth to Nightwish that they always seemed to be missing. IMO Ghost Love Score is the best song Nightwish has EVER written. It's just beautiful and that can be credited to the orchestra featured in it. Oceanborn is plain and simple classic Nightwish and is probably the place to start with Nightwish. The first time I heard Gethsemane I was hooked. After countless listens to both albums I would have to say they are BOTH my favorite Nightwish albums. Other people reviewing are complaining that they have "changed too much since Oceanborn". It's natural maturity of the band, and they are definitely maturing in the right direction. I think people would get tired of Nightwishs' sound if they kept reproducing Oceanborns. All in all, Once stands as one of my favorite albums in my collection. It grabs you and takes you away, into Nightwishs' world, and it will keep you there for some time.