Now I've done it yet: I've done my first Nightwish album after the expulsion of singer Tarja Turunen. Like many fans, I was confused and did not know whom I should keep faith. For a couple of my friend the thing was clear: they confessed to Tarja fans and Nightwish without Tarja did not exist! But I liked the first single "Amaranth", so I first waited there. Now I am the proud owner of this board and I find it good! One should really not make the mistake and say: "Tarja had sung the better", which brings nothing! The new singer Anette Olzon's and they are here at their best. It is the signature style also quite different. While Tarja excelled with classic falsetto Anette is more of a rock singer that can not exist in higher vocal registers. Ultimately, that's always a matter of taste. Important but is rather the question of whether the songs are good and the band has stayed true to the music. The answer: the songs are excellent and the band has musically even developed! On the album there is everything Nightwish distinguished. This begins with the famous epic bombast piece whopping 13:54 min is long time and "The Poet and the Pendulum" is (small nod to a book of Edgar Allen Poe). There are also catchy rock songs like "Amaranth" or the longing "For The Heart I Once Had", typical soft rock ballads to melt away as "Eva" or "Meadows Of Heaven" and of course moody, rock-heavy songs like "Cadence Of Her Last Breath "" Sahara "or" 7 Days To The Wolves ". Bassist Marco Hietala has established itself firmly as a second vocalist. At the Hard Rock Hammer "Bye Bye Beautiful", he sings the chorus, in which acoustic piece "The Islander" Anette sings only Background and the excellent good "Master Passion Greed" may he ran alone. With "Last Of The Wilds" is again an instrumental case, the right folkloric sounds in the style of Mike Oldfield, but then increases in hardness.
Conclusion: The album is quite varied and the voice of Anette integrates well with the high-quality, partly excellent songs. Now Nightwish had to take time for this CD, but if they maintain the level, you will still have a say a huge word in rock history.
