Dark Passion Play - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
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

Album Description
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.

Album Details
2007 Return of the Finnish Band with their Sixth Full Length Album that is Richer and More Varied Than Before, Touching Lightly on More Ethnic Flavours and Being as Ever Bombastic as it Bloody Well Can Be. The Heavenly Voice of New Singer Anette Olzon Carries Through Bright and Powerful - and also More Varied Than that of her Predecessor. She Truly is What Nightwish's Music Deserves.

Customer Reviews: Read 165 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

A step up from their previous two releases October 3, 2007
29 out of 42 found this review helpful

The most obvious change to this band has been the lost of tarja and the addition of the new singer, Anette. She is a totally different beast (so to speak) than tarja so you really can't compare them. At any rate, I really like her vocals and I actually think they fit in with the band much better. Marco's vocals have become much, much better and they interact with the female vocals much better as well.

Now, onto the music. Most of the time, this album is typical nightwish. There is a mainstream song (amaranth) on here but i'll get to it later. I feel this release is much, much, better than their previous efforts, once and century child, although I do enjoy those releases greatly. Quite simply, there is just so much variety in this release. It's got celtic influenced songs, an instrumental, a 13 minute epic, some heavy hitters, some catchy tunes, and one of the best closing tracks ever.

1. The Poet And the Pendulum - great and a classic nightwish tune. it was really smart putting it down as the first track because it contains elements from the whole ablum. Anette gets really high pitched during this song and shows off her pipes. The riffs in this song are great and the chorus is awesome.

2. bye bye beautiful - this song is awesome and very similar to wish i had an angel but it's more..violent. Anette's vocals are awesome and the chrous is great, marcus shines here. The galloping, heavy, guitar beat is catchy and I like the keyboards behind the riff. the lyrics make the song truly special. also, the last part of the song where anette is "cooing" behind marco's chorus is awesome.

3. Amaranth - one of the more mainstream songs from here but it's so frickin catchy with shining vocals and an awesome chorus that you'll never want to skip it. Tuomas didn't want this song on the album but the record company forced him to do and make it the first single. It's not a great, epic, masterpiece, but he shouldn't be ashamed of it either.

4. Cadence of her last breath - The guitar is heavy and good, especially the bridge towards the end. The vocals really shine on this song. What a great song, cool solo, great vocals, great backing vocals from marco, and a great thrashy bridge with the guitar.

5. Master Passion Greed - easily nighwish's heaviest and most brutal song. The guitar playing is awesome and the lyrics are good. Like i mentioned previously, Marco's vocals are getting better. There is a certain venom to them that you cannot deny.

6. Eva - this is the only song on the album that could be considered a ballad. Nighwish have done songs like this before so it's really no surprise. The highlight is Anette's soulful vocals and the amazing keyboars and symphony. The last time they play the chorus, the guitar comes in heavy and the symphony really kicks in. This song isn't anything great and not a good choice to be the next single. The only track on the album I skip.

7. Sahara - a song with middle eastern influence. Every metal band ever wants to write one of these so it's no surprise that nightwish did. Great song though, another classic. The vocals are amazing and the symphony sounds are great.

8. Whoever Brings The Night is the next track and it's really frickin' great. One of several the songs on this album that I would call a classic. Very awesome guitar parts.

9. For The Heart I Once Had - if this song was fleshed out more and giving more parts to it then it would have been special but as it stands it's a good listen but it won't blow you away. I like the melodic guitar riffs and the vocals once again are awesome.

10 The Islander - it's a soft track but the music is intricate and amazing. I really can't describe this track. The bass player actually sings good on this one. Another classic. Sounds similar to the carpenter, for all you fellow old school nighwish fans out there.

11. the last of the wilds - like the track before it, this is celtic influenced and it's great. a very great instrumental. will be great live, another classic!

12. 7 days to the wolves - another great, classic song. the vocals, the instrumentation, it's all good.

13. meadows of heaven - an epic track, with breath taking vocals. When the songs gets a little heavy towards the end with the chorus of people, it really gets good. This is the song that Higher Than Hope, from once, tried to be. one of the great songs ever written by the band.

So there you go. I wouldn't say this is their best release (that goes to wishmaster, their truly only great effort IMO) but it's much better than their previous efforts. If your'e a nightwish fan then I don't see why you wouldn't want this in your collection.

The following tracks from this albums, at least in my opinion, are classics in the nightwish catalog: The Poet and the Pendulum, Cadence of her last breath, Master Passion Greed, Sahara, Whoever Brings The Night, The Islander, last of the wilds, 7 days to the wolves, and meadows of heaven

all in all, it's a good release and worth the money for nightwish fans.

1 out of 5 stars

Nightwish goes pop. October 4, 2007
25 out of 55 found this review helpful

I just cannot believe all of 12 people voted a perfect 5 and actually like this album. Anette's vocals are absolutely horrible and shrill like a cat that had its tail yanked clear off. Gone is the unique, challenging, poetic, dramatic, operatic style Tarja made famous. Why do some of you like this ear piercing, harpy shrieking type of vocals? Nightwish has now sold out and gone pop. Please, if you value what Nightwish once was, do not buy this horrible album. I am almost speechless right now after listening to this album. I want my money back post haste.

1 out of 5 stars

Ug. October 4, 2007
22 out of 42 found this review helpful

This album makes me so sad... The music is still amazing, but the vocals ruin it for me. Anette has such a common sounding rock voice, it's really tragic. I can't imagine what the band was thinking when they hired this singer. :(

2 out of 5 stars

Not exactly what I was expecting... October 3, 2007
18 out of 28 found this review helpful

Having bought all of the previous Nightwish albums, I was excited when I heard the news of this new album. But those news were overshadowed with the news that Tarja was leaving the band. So I thought that maybe with a new lead singer it would be something more exciting. Boy, was I wrong. I'm not exactly sure how to describe this new album, to me it's too mainstream. Annette's voice doesn't exactly fit the music, she's more of a pop singer. Tarja will definetly be missed and I'm sure a lot of fans are sharing the same feelings.
The verdict, listen to the demos before you decide to buy. My recommendation is save your money and instead get Epica's The Divine Conspiracy.

1 out of 5 stars

W T F ? October 5, 2007
18 out of 36 found this review helpful

Nightwish officialy has turned into a pop band. The old nightwish played great symphonic metal, but this is...so normal...mediocre...so mainstream. All I got to say is...What the hell happened?? Where has the magic gone? Couple songs are OK, but overall...it's lacking and dissapointing. Lacking that nightwish flow and atmosphere. NW has lost all its power and melodics. I can't believe all the 5 star ratings. And annete's voice? Well what about it?...for nightwish it just doesn't seem quite right. It's so...normal. Sounds like so many other voices out there.

Music wise, just seems overdone at times. Go to a nightwish show now and you'll be hearing mostly a backing track as opposed to actual Nightwish. To much layering, and backing vocals for the likes of me. In the Old days, nightwish used to play with a lot of power and had a great sound just from the keyboards, guitar, bass, drums and vocals that was unique to them. It was refreshing. Take that away now...and there isn't much there musically. The've lost that pure, melodic, magical sound. They sound soo mainstream now I can't believe it.

This album may just be the final nail in the coffin for us Metal Fans who were hoping for another great Symphonic metal master piece by Nightwish. May be more appealing to people who prefer mainstream music. But It's time to face the cold reality. Those days where NW was the best symphonic METAL, yea I mean METAL band around may be long gone. Seems they have gone more mainstream to attract more people. They will loose a lot of metal fans though as they are straddling the lines between metal and pop rock. I'm no "nice weather fan," I call it like I see it.

For those of you new to nightwish, stay away from this one. I'd recommend century child, wishmaster and oceanbourne they are ALL a million times better. If you heard of Nightwish's great symphonic metal. You got to go with those 3 they are true masterpieces that I will always play. DPP is not representive of nightwish's best. If anything it's nightwish's worst. Sorry.

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