helterskelter.ca

NIGHTWISH
1998 - Oceanborn.
2002 - Century Child.
way more Helter Skelter.

December 7, 1998 - 2023: 25 years of: Oceanborn.

Becoming symphonic.

Caught between Norway's blackmetal and Germany's powermetal scenes ...Finland's got an Ace Of Spades up it's sleeve. Slowly getting traction from their 1997 Angels Fall First debut-CD, NIGHTWISH would now forever lay the foundations for this new scene: Symphonic-Metal.

Cellos up the game, as we look deep into the dark skies along the "Stargazers". Powermetal fuelled by Tarja Turunen's strong octave angelic voice, this is a classy lethal-mix. The slick piano drives both "Gethsemane" and "Sacraments Of Wilderness" into rock-opera territory.

At the lake-side, the beautiful "Swanheart" sets the mood to epicness and diametrically the arena-rock flair of "The Riddler", with it's EURYTHMICS-synths, sends the decibel-meter into oblivion. Proud metal-muscle are flexed on "Devil & The Deep Dark Ocean" and the fast-jabs of "The Pharaoh Sails To Orion".

Pure pristine candlelight castle metal-magic ...a vision brought to us by keyboardist / writer Tuomas Holopainen.

In this ever changing scene, NIGHTWISH was now a force to reckon with. During the following calendar-years, many (many many many) bands would soon spring out of the woodwork, all featuring a front-women lead-singer. They are our sin and their grandiose might would bloom furthermore with 2000's Wishmaster CD.

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Sacraments Of Wilderness = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4giSbC9BQLs
Sleeping Sun = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDLh9blnyvY
Oceanborn = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdF3ntssZhE&list=PLOG_dt6zFUAg6esqV42xm923iV5Xu4Kfc
Interview and TV performance in 1999
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHX6OTY7ta8
Live in Finland in 1999
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdLdqkjjSow

May 24, 2002 - 2022: 20 years of: Century Child.

Suave, seductive symphony.

After the initial three releases by the fantastic Finnish, enter major-label Universal Music and now the globe can finally taste the sweetness of NIGHTWISH. At the very tail end of the 90s, powermetal welcomed female-frontwomen and morphed into: symphonic-powermetal. The 2000 iron-fist inside a velvet glove Wishmaster CD was the turning-point that leads into this new monolith: the Century Child.

The beautiful built-up of "Bless The Child" sets the mood to a cool metal feast. Blasts into the infinity of the "End Of All Hope" where all the elements goes all the way to 11. Piledriving-power and slick vocal melodies. Keyboards and catchy rock-riffs drives "Ever Dream" beyond and "Ocean Soul" after forever.

Tarja's voice is used to it's full potential on the epic "Forever Yours" powerballad, while the immortal 1909-novel to 1986-orchestral classic "The Phantom Of The Opera" shines high above and features the band's new wild-card: on bass / vocals Marco Hietala.

After the 90s metal-drought, Europe would strikes back with more power and more metal then ever. This new millennium would cement the powermetal signature and it's accompanying symphonic-powermetal genre. Holland but especially Finland and Italy would be leaders in this new heavymetal fashion-race. The crowning 2003 live End Of Innocence DVD / CD package documents the band at the top of their craft.

NIGHTWISH would deliver perfection, one last time, with 2004's Chart-topper Once CD ...before the split with Tarja, the end of and era.

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Bless The Child = video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U52aAa9VkEk
Century Child = full CD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc4IRfOyV5M&list=PLp7apRDcXPzg354G2XfbjHy58JcJv_WRP
Interview in 2002
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt0haAiGbHo
Live in Finland in 2003
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8lVEpUtB4k
some duo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIxH3LiAy2A