``Nightwish``

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Nightwish
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Nightwish
From left to right: Marco Hietala (bass & vocals), Tuomas Holopainen (keyboard), Anette Olzon (vocals), Jukka Nevalainen (drums), Emppu Vuorinen (guitar)
From left to right: Marco Hietala (bass & vocals), Tuomas Holopainen (keyboard), Anette Olzon (vocals), Jukka Nevalainen (drums), Emppu Vuorinen (guitar)
Background information
Origin Kitee, Finland
Genre(s) Power metal, symphonic metal
Years active 1996–present
Label(s) Spinefarm Records, Nuclear Blast, Roadrunner Records, NEMS Enterprises, Century Media, Drakkar Records
Associated acts Tarot, Sethian, For My Pain..., Brother Firetribe, Alyson Avenue, Timo Rautiainen, Altaria, Barilari, Tarja Turunen, Northern Kings, Sinergy
Website www.nightwish.com
Members
Anette Olzon
Tuomas Holopainen
Marco Hietala
Erno Vuorinen
Jukka Nevalainen
Former members
Tarja Turunen (vocals 1996 - 2005)
Sami Vänskä (bass 1998 - 2001)

Nightwish is a female-fronted symphonic power metal quintet, formed in 1996 in the town of Kitee, Finland. Nightwish is considered one of the bands responsible for the development and rise in popularity of symphonic metal at the end of the 1990s, as well as the creation of the subgenre symphonic power metal.[1]

Although they have been prominent in their home country since the release of their first single, “The Carpenter” (1997) and debut album Angels Fall First, they did not achieve worldwide fame until the release of the albums Oceanborn and Wishmaster, which were released in 1998 and 2000 respectively. Their 2004 album, Once, led to Nightwish video clips being shown on MTV in the United States and inclusion of their music in U.S. movie soundtracks. Their biggest U.S. hit single, “Wish I Had an Angel” (2004), made it onto three U.S. film soundtracks as a means to promote their North American tour.[2] The band produced three more singles and two music videos for the album, as well as “Sleeping Sun”, from the 2005 “best of” compilation album, Highest Hopes, prior to vocalist Tarja Turunen’s dismissal.

In May, 2007, former Alyson Avenue frontwoman, Swede Anette Olzon, was revealed as Turunen’s replacement,[3] and in the autumn, the band released a new album Dark Passion Play,[4] for which the band is currently touring.
Contents
[hide]

* 1 History
o 1.1 Nightwish demo (1996)
o 1.2 Angels Fall First (1997)
o 1.3 Oceanborn (1998–1999)
o 1.4 Wishmaster (2000)
o 1.5 Over the Hills and Far Away EP (2001)
o 1.6 Century Child (2002–2003)
o 1.7 Once (2004–2005)
o 1.8 End of an Era (2005–2006)
o 1.9 Dark Passion Play (2006–2007)
o 1.10 The New Era (2007–)
* 2 Music
o 2.1 Influence
o 2.2 Musical style
* 3 Line-up
o 3.1 Current members
o 3.2 Former Members
o 3.3 Sessional Members
* 4 Discography
o 4.1 Demos
o 4.2 Studio albums and EPs
* 5 Media samples
* 6 Further reading
* 7 See also
* 8 References
o 8.1 Notes
* 9 External links

[edit] History

[edit] Nightwish demo (1996)

Based on the musical experimentations of Holopainen, the original band concept was to create acoustic music.[5] The band featured only keyboards, acoustic guitars, and the classical vocals of Turunen. The three musicians recorded their self-titled acoustic demo in the winter of 1996. The name “Nightwish” was derived from the first song the band recorded together, and the first demo also included early versions of “The Forever Moments” and “Etiäinen”.

After recording the Nightwish Demo, Holopainen decided that Turunen’s operatic voice was too powerful for an acoustic band, and decided to add in heavy metal elements, including electric guitars and drums.[5]

[edit] Angels Fall First (1997)

Main article: Angels Fall First

In early 1997, following the release of the Nightwish Demo, Jukka “Julius” Nevalainen joined the band, and acoustic guitar was replaced with electric guitar. The addition of heavy metal elements to the band's existing experimental style gave the band a unique sound, forming the core of the Nightwish sound.

The band entered the studio in April 1997 to record seven songs for their second demo, entitled Angels Fall First. As a precursor to their debut full length album of the same name, the demo made its way to the Finnish record label Spinefarm Records in May 1997. The label signed Nightwish to a two album deal, and the band returned to the studio to re-record songs from their second demo. The full length album Angels Fall First was released internationally in November 1997 and reached number 31 on the Finnish album charts, with the single “The Carpenter” reaching number 3 on the Finnish singles chart. “The Carpenter” single was released as a split with label mates Children of Bodom and Thy Serpent.

“Angels Fall First” is one of the two albums which features keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen's vocals (other one is “Dark Passion Play”), appearing on four of the album's eleven tracks, alongside vocalist Tarja Turunen.

Critical reception of Angels Fall First was mixed, with Allmusic rating the album 2 out of 5 stars,[6] and The Metal Observer stating that Nightwish’s debut album “paled drastically in comparison to their later work,"[7] although it remains a fan favorite.

In December 1997, after over a year of existence, Nightwish made their live debut in their hometown Kitee, Finland. During the winter of 1997 and 1998, the band performed only seven times, due to Nevalainen and Vuorinen’s obligatory Finnish military service, and Turunen finishing her schooling.

[edit] Oceanborn (1998–1999)

Main article: Oceanborn

Music sample:

"Sacrament of Wilderness"
Play sound
Sacrament of Wilderness, Nightwish’s breakout single garnered the band its first success outside of Finland.
Problems listening to the file? See media help.

Following a string of live shows in Finland, the band filmed their first video clip for “The Carpenter” in April 1998. Nightwish completed their touring line up in the summer of 1998 when bassist Sami Vänskä, an old friend of Holopainen, joined the band. Nightwish then returned to the studio in August 1998 as a five-piece, to record their follow up album for Spinefarm records.

On October 7, 1998, Nightwish released their second full length album, Oceanborn, in Finland only. Adopting a more technical and progressive sound than Angels Fall First,[8] Oceanborn saw the band abandon much of the ambient and folk elements present on their debut release. In contrast to the female vocals of Turunen, the album also featured guest growling vocals by Tapio Wilska (ex-Finntroll).

Oceanborn was well received, with Allmusic writing that the album “as a whole works great”, with songs that are “very strong”.[9] Oceanborn was an instant success in Finland, reaching number 5 on the Finnish album charts. The album’s first single, “Sacrament of Wilderness”, hit number 1 on the Finnish singles charts, where it stayed for several weeks.[5] The album’s release was initially limited to Finland, but due to the success of “Sacrement of Wilderness”, Spinefarm released Oceanborn internationally in the spring of 1999.[5]

In May 1999, Nightwish recorded the single “Sleeping Sun (Four Ballads of the Eclipse)”. In one month the single sold 15,000 copies in Germany alone. Following the band’s first international success, Nightwish was added as the opening band for Rage’s 1999 European tour. Both the album Oceanborn and the single “Sacrament of Wilderness” were certified gold in Finland in August 1999.[5]

[edit] Wishmaster (2000)

Main article: Wishmaster (album)

While in the studio in early 2000 working on their third album, Nightwish was accepted in the Finnish Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Sleepwalker”. (sample (help·info)) Despite winning the public vote, Nightwish eventually finished in second place, with the jury choosing local gospel singer Nina Åström to represent Finland.[5]

In May 2000 Nightwish released their third studio album Wishmaster which debuted at #1 on the Finnish album charts, and following three weeks at number one, was certified gold in Finland.[5]

Critical response to the album was mixed, with Allmusic citing the album as repetitive, and saying “as a whole album, it can be a little annoying, even frustrating”. However, German magazine Rock Hard declared Wishmaster “Album of the Month”, despite competing against long-awaited May releases from Iron Maiden and Bon Jovi.

Following the release of Wishmaster, Nightwish embarked on their first world tour, playing dates in South America, Mexico, Canada, and the first headlining European tour with Sinergy and Eternal Tears Of Sorrow. In the summer the band returned to Europe, appearing at the Wacken Open Air festival and the Biebop Metal Fest.

[edit] Over the Hills and Far Away EP (2001)

Main article: Over the Hills and Far Away (album)

In 2001 Nightwish recorded a cover of Gary Moore’s “Over the Hills and Far Away” together with two new songs (“10th Man Down” and “Away”) and a remake of “Astral Romance” (from the Angels Fall First album). This was released as their first, and so far only, EP “Over the Hills and Far Away”.