Excellent and a climax in the work of the band

Barely 13 months after the debut "Angels Falls First" appeared with "Oceanborn", the second studio album by "Nightwish". Had the first album made by combining metal sounds with classical female vocals, at least in Finland for some attention, reached "Oceanborn" not only number 5 on the Finnish charts and stayed 35 weeks in the top 100, but also gained in other European countries significant resonance. In its entirety, it appears from its predecessor greatly expanded and perfected. The instrumentation is complex, opulent, rougher and electronic. The singing is not equal to powerful and insistent. Were continued this magnificent Nordic melancholy melodies and the skillful alternation of fast and slower pieces. Especially the latter element is inserted into the present and allows the tape to divide their albums into individual interest-conflicting mood sections without having lost the entirety of the respective work. Given the enormous development considered Bandleader Tuomas Holopainen "Angels Falls First" as a demo and "Oceanborn" is the first full album of the band.

Already the first notes of the opener to show the change of style. Opulent Keybordklänge, which rapidly accelerating Gitrarrenrifts will set aside, conduct "Stargazers" a. Melodic beautiful, structured and conducted with sophisticated instrumentation, and by the glorious voice, united "Stargazers" outstandingly artistic standards with catchiness. Although very good, it is considerably exceeded by the following "Gethsemane". This offers an excellent piano intro and a very haunting and beautiful chorus. And again: The dialogue between voice and instruments is simply gorgeous. From the optimism of the former opera about the despondency "Gethsemane" lead the two successors to the Aggressive, almost threatening. It should be emphasized at both the alternation of fast and very fast passages. "Passion and the opera" seems a bit of the enormous power of the predecessor remove, but it remains powerful and impulsive. Highlighting the very long outro, which seems to have by a slow reduction in the volume, but also melodically almost in eternity. Again, Mrs Turunen shows great skill. The precision and discipline with which she breathes every note life is awesome.

Awesome is the enormous contrast to his successor. Although no sounds phase lasts only seconds me the distance to "Swanheart" seems like an eternity. Fragile flute sounds initiate the title, the melody, vocals and instrumentation of a perfect trinity seems to unite and stir with its disturbing beauty to tears. He also distributed at least melodically an uncompromisingly positive mood as the first and only title of this album.

This is returned with "Moondance" the Mysterious. Easy Piano sounds initiate this instrumental, followed by a violent eruption, which in turn is transferred skillfully in a quiet central part. This in turn is followed by a very loud conclusion. The skillful combination of instruments in each section, whose great mood unlike technical and melodic beauty compels from consideration. Compared to that effect "The Riddler" downright conventional, but also captivates through expressiveness and melodic and seems its mood as the logical continuation. Although extremely powerful, it seems in this respect to the following "The Pharaoh Sails to Orion" very small. This acts like a metal opera in several acts that characterize each by own moods and are separated by breaks of rhythm. The complete work is tremendously powerful and haunting and could be referred to in this respect, as the highlight of the album. Right here the dialogue between voice and instruments is particularly impressive, and it succeeds Mrs Turunen, despite its opulence and diversity always to dominate the sound. Although "The Pharaoh Sails to Orion" in a sense, is the highlight of the album, it acts partially as an own completely detached unit - huge and lifted

Above all, it seems, the last two tracks from the rest of the album partly decouple - an effect which is achieved by the skilful decay of the title. "Walkin in the air" is a quietly held Cover by British composer Howard Blake and celebrated with a comparatively thinned and recessed instrument range an almost silent but graceful melancholy. The final "Sleeping Sun" continues the mood of its predecessor and is with his sublime melodic sadness a worthy conclusion of the album. Once Mrs Turunen shows their skills because of this title is recognizable even to a layman the high standards with regard to note guide and breathing technique. Both masters the singer with flying colors.

Tuomas Holopainen remarked after the release that he felt completely empty after the completion of the album. To the listener realizes the energy melodic and sophisticated and expensive instrumentation of the album, the words of the composer seem all too understandable. The debut in some respects immature or musicians looking for their style, "Oceanborn" a sublime climax in the work of this extraordinary band, which in this stylistic form and to some extent also in total could not be repeated. "Wishmaster" performs many of the strengths of this longplayer with very similar instrumentation but another melodic mood continued, while the other successors in their entirety to differ materially and no longer reach the unity "Ocean Born" despite numerous masterpieces.

Notwithstanding the current purpose to the present discussions within the fan base, I realize for myself that it its combination with a classical female singing voice was despite the truly awe inspiring melodic and instrumental quality of the treasure of songs that a significant, perhaps decisive part of the success of this group should have identified. On one hand, Nightwish was the first band to pursue such an approach, at the same time was then already the second plant in its entirety as perfect as you could only imagine.

About all subgenres and also about the genre of metal away should "Oceanborn" found its place as a "masterpiece" in the history of music.