I can't begin to recommend this album enough. But first a warning, if you're into hard, head banging metal and that's the only way for you, don't bother buying this. These songs are about mood and atmosphere not energy and raw agression. Although I have received "you're crazy" looks from non-metal fans for saying it, the only real way to describe this music adequately is to call it hauntingly beautiful. Tarja's vocals are mind blowing. They are inspiring, powerful, serene, intense, majestic, haunting & clear all in one. It's not something that can be described, it's something that has to be heard. If the opening track "Stargazers" doesn't awe you the first time you hear it, I don't know what will.

What is amazing in this album is that there is a great variety of song styles. No two songs sound anything alike, yet it all blends together perfectly natural as an album. From the opening track which has a majestic, fast tempo to it, to the soft and serene "Swanheart" to the powerful and aggeresive "The Pharoah Sails to Orion" and ending with a haunting "Walking in the Air", there is not one bad song here.

If I have to find something to complain about it is that the male vocals on two songs (narratives) take some getting used too. Although I've grown used to them by now and do think they add to the diversity of the music and are a good contrast to Tarja's vocals( especially in the second half of "Devil & The Deep Dark Ocean" which is just incredible) I hated them the first few times through. It felt as though they interrupted the spell of Tarja's haunting vocals. I don't feel that way anymore.

Wishmaster (the follow up album to Oceanborn) has another song with male vocals in it which also has the same effect. While I do recommend Oceanborn over Wishmaster, you couldn't go wrong by buying either one.

There's nothing negative I can say about this album besides my initial problem with the above mentioned narratives. If you're like me and you're a long time metal fan who lives in North America and has been let down by all the ... bands on our continent and are just realizing that Europe is thriving with brilliant metal bands, buy this album NOW !!! It's unlike anything you've heard before and it will enthrall you.


This is like Power Opera   April 12, 2002
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I first listened to samples from this CD when someone told me I should check out Nightwish. I am into songs with expressive and beautiful vocals like Celine Dion, Enya, and music from Cirque Du Soleil. I'm happy to say I have found another group to listen to over and over.

After listening to samples I knew I had to get this album, "Oceanborn". It has so many great tracks. I would describe the vocals and melody in these tracks as ballads, Epic Metal, Power Opera. Track 1 sets the pace setting you up for Tarja's voice throughout the whole album. But you gotta give alot of credit to Toumas who writes the music and plays the synths. One of my favorite tracks is track 8 "The Riddler" nothing will prepare you for it. It's the most powerful and joyous track on the CD, and like I said it is like a "Power Ballad". . it sounds like one of those Finale songs from the Cirque Du Soleil. That's why I love it so much. It's like a celebration of life, sound and music. And if that's what you like in your music, you will love Nightwish.