Maximum Metal Rating Legend
5 Excellent - Masterpiece. A classic.
4.5-4 Great - Almost perfect records but there's probably a lacking.
3.5 Good - Most of the record is good, but there may be some filler.
3 Average - Some good songs, some bad ones at about a half/half ratio.
2.5-2 Fair - Worth a listen, but best obtained by collectors.
1.5-1 Bad - Major problems with music, lyrics, production, etc.
0 Terrible - Waste of your life and time.

Note: Reviews are graded from 0-5, anything higher or not showing is from our old style. Scores, however, do not reveal the important features. The written review that accompanies the ratings is the best source of information regarding the music on our site. Reviewing is opinionated, not a qualitative science, so scores are personal to the reviewer and could reflect anything from being technically brilliant to gloriously cheesy fun.

Demos and independent releases get some slack since the bands are often spent broke supporting themselves and trying to improve. Major releases usually have big financial backing, so they may be judged by a heavier hand. All scores can be eventually adjusted up or down by comparison of subsequent releases by the same band. We attempt to keep biases out of reviews and be advocates of the consumer without the undo influence of any band, label, management, promoter, etc.

The best way to determine how much you may like certain music is to listen to it yourself.
Band
Nightwish
Title
Nightwish
Type
LP/EP
Company
Nuclear Blast
YOR
2015
Style
Gothic/Symphonic
4/15/2015 - Review by: Greg Watson

Nightwish
Endless Forms Most Beautiful

Company: Nuclear Blast
Release: 2015
Genre: Gothic, Symphonic, power
Reviewer: Greg Watson
  • The Floor Jansen era of Nightwish begins



  • The Floor Jansen era of Nightwish begins with "Endless Forms Most Beautiful", the band's eight album and first to feature new singer Jansen as well as new member Troy Donockley who plays a myriad of instruments and provides lead and backing vocals as well. Taking inspiration from a Charles Darwin quote, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" takes the listener on a journey that explores the beauty of life and being on this planet and appreciating all the things that the world has to offer that occur in nature.

    Opening track "Shuddering Before the Beautiful" shows the band in true form with a very driving symphonic melody that is overlaid with driving guitars and bass. Jansen's voice transitions between soft and sweet to powerful and commanding as the music rises and falls in its tempo. The incredibly driving and catchy symphonic and guitar riffs meld together so perfectly you'll nodding your head along in unison. "Weak Fantasy" follows as the heaviest track on the album in my opinion. The symphonic element is still there but guitarist Emppu Vuorinen steals the show with his masterful guitar work and thunderous riffing. Jansen's voice matches well with bassist and sometimes vocalist Marco Hietala. Their layered, dual vocals create some very melodious moments as well as providing some stark contrast with Hietala's sonorous voice and Jansen's softer then harder vocal delivery. "Elan" is up next as the feature single the band led with off of the album. This song has one of the more interesting vocal performances that Jansen turns in. Her voice is very sing-songy and elegant, something that shows that she really pushed herself to try different things on her first run with the Nightwish crew. The music has a very Celtic feel to it and just tends to ebb and flow like a gently flowing river.

    "Yours Is An Empty Hope" has a similar structure to the album's opening track with a symphonic riff overlaid with heavy riffing and rhythmic work. Again, Hietala and Jansen's dual vocals work well off each other, each having a bit more venom and anger to them. This song is unique to as I listened to it and took it to mean one thing while my wife took something else totally out of it. It's almost like a Choose Your Own Adventure lyrical interpretation with this song, which I think is pretty darn cool. The ballad of the album,"Our Decades In The Sun", is up next. Jansen turns in her most stirring vocal performance on this track with her angelic vocals and emotional performance. Listening to this track almost brought tears to my eyes because of the content. It is about the band's parents and is a very emotional and heartfelt track. The next couple of tracks have a few things that stood out but not enough to break them down, with the one exception being the track "Alpenglow". Jansen's vocals go on the attack and get a bit deeper and then immediately soar to a higher yet softer pitch and the chorus on this track is easily the catchiest on the album. The final track on the album is the epic "The Greatest Show on Earth", a 24 minute masterpiece that may be the finest thing that Nightwish has ever written. The track has everything from a lush, serene orchestral piece to some heavier guitar work and vocal flourishes from Jansen and Hietala to some animal sounds and musical parts that paint a very vivid picture of the world. All in all, I can't think of a better way to close an album and Nightwish did so with perfection.

    This album is one of the best I've heard from the band in years and is one that will continue to see heavy rotation in my playlist.


    • 1 :REVIEW COUNT
      4.5 :AVE RATING

    ALL REVIEWS FOR: NIGHTWISH
    TITLE
    DOR
    COMPANY
    REVIEWER DATE MADE RATING
    Century Child
    2002
    Century Media
    Ken Pierce2/26/2005
    -
    From Wishes To Eternity
    2002
    Spitfire
    Ken Pierce9/21/2004
    5
    Nightwish
    2015
    Nuclear Blast
    Greg Watson4/15/2015
    4.5
    Oceanborn
    1998
    Spinefarm
    Frank Hill1/31/2003
    2.5
    Once
    2004
    Nuclear Blast
    MetalKnight11/12/2004
    3.5
    Once
    2004
    Nuclear Blast
    Frank Hill7/20/2004
    4.5

    ALL INTERVIEWS FOR: NIGHTWISH
    INTERVIEW INTERVIEWER DATE TAGLINE


    << back >>