It is with "Dark Passion Play" I discovered Nightwish, standard bearer of symphonic metal. And what a discovery! The album highlights the new voice of the group, Anette Olzon, which replaces Tarja, after much vicissitudes. If the disappearance of opera singing in Nightwish lost some of its originality, it removes, in my eyes, nothing to its quality, the voice of Anette is revealing a nice mix of sweetness, as "Eva" and power (on "Meadows of heaven" among others). In this, it was followed by Marco Hietala second lead singer, who works wonders in a heavy record (at the end of "Bye bye beautiful") but especially when it ventures into some sweetness on "The islander" qu he also composed, also adding his talent as a composer to that of Tuomas Holopainen on "7 days to the wolves." For if the album, after an excellent start, taking one or two less prominent titles in the middle of listening ("Whoever Brings the Night," "Sahara"), it is to better prepare the final fireworks, including "Islander", "7 days to the wolves" but also the instrumental "Last of the wilds" carried by the master of the uilleann pipe player Troy Donockley (which looks forward to find the next installment of group). It all ends as it began, with an ambitious title ("Meadows of heaven"), grandiose power ballad that mixes rock and gospel vocals with guitars gently melancholy words, and wins for me as the head of work to remember among the many most successful songs each other.
