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Rating: There are groups that, for better or worse, manage to make headlines with each new release, and the Nordic band Nightwish perfectly embodies this situation, always making some proclaim a miracle and others a complete musical "disgrace", so to speak; many years ago, when the group was still inexperienced and no one would have ever bet on them, Toumas, accompanied by the alluring mezzo-soprano Tarja, with the help of guitarist Empu, drummer Jukka, and the not so talented bassist Sami, created what would remain throughout their career the only album worthy of great attention.
Devoted to a power metal with distinct gothic nuances, these five inexperienced young people manage to create a decidedly good album, where industrial quantities of double bass, Tarja's warblings, and particularly easy-listening melodies reign. The album opens with the song "The Elvenpath", where the musicians demonstrate almost all possessing decent musical skills, with an honorable mention for keyboards and voice: the only criticism that can be made of the track is that it is not entirely original, very closely resembling sounds dear to bands like 'Stratovarius'. It continues with one of the most beautiful compositions of the group: "Beauty Of The Beast", which once again relies on speed power sounds with a gothic aftertaste, where the beautiful sung dialogue stands out between the beauty, naturally played by a masterful Tarja, and the beast, whose voice is provided by the keyboardist who, unfortunately, must pay for a voice that pales in comparison to his colleague. In this track, emotions ooze from every note, and a truly chilling vocal performance by the singer is highlighted, complemented by a melodically tasteful section.
It proceeds with the gothic "The Carpenter", a rather atypical song, where a pulsating bass and a fairly repetitive guitar riff weave a sad and vaguely decadent song; the verses interpreted once again by the keyboardist further emphasize the flatness of the piece, which manages to recover thanks to the singer's contribution in the chorus. The only strong point of the track is the splendid lyrics, truly wasted for such a song. They return to power territories with one of the album's highest points: "Astral Romance", a song in which industrial quantities of eighth notes, pompous keyboard parts, and a rich guitar riff create an excellently conducted melodic base crowned by Tarja’s indispensable voice.
The following track, "Angels Fall First", takes us on a splendid acoustic journey, in which, in addition to the mezzo-soprano's crystalline voice, the musical base orchestrated almost entirely by Empu's guitar stands out, occasionally accompanied by instruments like the flute: a great track that elevates to a masterpiece. After so much good, it unfortunately moves on to what is the album's actual weakness; I'm talking about the oriental "Tutankhamen", a dreadful speed-track that turns out to be excessively forced in the melodic part, which instead of being original comes across as a poorly executed experiment. They get back to more congenial territories with "Nymphomaniac Fantasia", a melodic power piece, featuring a long and impactful intro, followed by a musical discussion entirely played on a fine use of keyboards. The rhythmic part also turns out to be decent, while the guitars seem relegated to the background. "Know Why The Nightingale Sings?" falls into anonymity, reminding a bit too closely of typical compositions of northern European power. A separate discussion should be made regarding the last track, a true MASTERPIECE, "Lappi (Lapland)", a track divided into 4 episodes, all different from each other, exploring various musical fields, from symphonic parts to more electronic and distorted ones. The album closes this way, presenting the virtues and flaws of one of the world’s most important and famous power/melodic metal bands.
To conclude, I would like to say a few words about the more technical aspects:
1) The album absolutely did not benefit from an adequate production
2) At times, technical deficiencies from the group members are noticeable, but it must also be said, in their defense, that the average age was relatively very low, and this also explains the great effort behind this good album, which unfortunately won't be followed by a worthy successor.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Elvenpath (04:40)
''In the sheltering shade of the forest
Calling calming silence
Accompanied only by the full moon,
the howling of a night wolf
and the path under my bare feet:
The Elvenpath''
Hearing music from the deepest forest
Songs as a seduction of sirens
The elf-folk is calling me
Tapio, Bear-king, Ruler of the forest
Mielikki, Bluecloak, Healer of the ill and sad
Open the gate and let me follow the uncarven path
The way to the lands
Where as a hero I stand
The path where Beauty met the Beast
Elvenpath
It's the honesty of these worlds
Ruled by magic and mighty swords
That makes my soul long for the past
Elvenpath
The moonwitch took me to a ride on a broomstick
Introduced me to her old friend home gnome
Told me to keep the sauna warm for him
At the grove I met the rest - the folk of my fantasies
Bilbo, Sparhawk, goblins and pixies
Snowman, Willow, trolls and the seven dwarves
The path goes forever on
The way to the lands
Where as a hero I stand
The path where Beauty met the Beast
Elvenpath
It's the honesty of these worlds
Ruled by magic and mighty swords
That makes my soul long for the past
Elvenpath
''"Long ago, in the early years of the Second Age,
great elven smiths forged the Rings of Power"''
As I return to my room
And as sleep takes me by my hand
Madrigals from the woods
Carry me to neverland
In this spellbound night
The world's an elvish sight
In this spellbound night
The world's an elvish sight
''"But then the Dark Lord learned the craft of ringmaking
and made the Master Ring"''
02 Beauty and the Beast (06:24)
Remember the first dance we shared?
Recall the night you melted my ugliness away?
The night you left with a kiss so kind
Only a scent of beauty left behind
Ah dear friend I remember the night
The moon and the dreams we shared
Your trembling paw in my hand
Dreaming of that northern land
Touching me with a kiss of the beast
I know my dreams are made of you
Of you and only for you
Your ocean pulls me under
Your voice tears me asunder
Love me before the last petal falls
As a world without a glance
Of the ocean's fair expanse
Such the world would be
If no love did flow in thee
But as my heart is occupied
Your love to me now has to die
Forgive me I need more than you can offer me
''"Didn't you read the tale
where happily ever after was to kiss a frog?
Don't you know this tale,
in which all I ever wanted
I'll never have
For who could ever learn to love a beast?"''
However cold the wind and rain
I'll be there to ease all your pain
However cruel the mirrors of sin
Remember beauty is found within
''"...Forever shall the wolf in me desire the sheep in you..."''
03 The Carpenter (05:57)
Who are you? A man condemned to shine a salvation
Throughout the centuries
Why? Was the wine of the grail
Too sour for man to drink
The carpenter
Carved his anchor
On the dying souls of mankind
On the tomb of this unknown soldier
Lay the tools of the one who for us had died
Tools of the carpenter
The one they lick
The same old sick
Dream of their precious saviour
Kiss them deep
And make them weep
Over promises of eternal peace
The carpenter
Carved his anchor
On the dying souls of mankind
On the tomb of this unknown soldier
Lay the tools of the one who for us had died
Tools of the carpenter
I hear you
Through the symphonic voices of nature
The purity I could never doubt
They tell me to lie on the grass
And observe my saviour
The one crucified to the chirping of birds
The carpenter
Carved his anchor
On the dying souls of mankind
On the tomb of this unknown soldier
Lay the tools of the one who for us had died
Tools of the carpenter
04 Astral Romance (05:12)
A nocturnal concerto
Candlelight whispers me where to go
Hymn of gathering stars as my guide
As I wander on this path of the night
Embroidery of the stars
Undress my feelings for this earth
Send me your salva to heal my scars
And let this nakedness be my birth
Macrocosm poured its powers on me
And the hopes of this world I now must leave
The nightwish I sent you centuries ago
Has been heard by those
Who dwelled in a woe
The distance of our bridal bed
Await for me to be dead
Dust of the galaxies take my hand
Lead me to my beloved's land
Departed by the guillotine of death
I received a letter from the depth
The dream of my lover it carried inside
Caressed by the sharpest knife
I asked you to be my wife
Rays of the setting sun
Were my tears wept upon promises undone
''Come to me
Make me believe
to you and your love again''
Above the universe
Beneath the Great Eye
I shall desire you forevermore
05 Angels Fall First (05:34)
An angelface smiles to me
Under a headline of tragedy
That smile used to give me warmth
Farewell - no words to say
Beside the cross on your grave
And those forever burning candles
Needed elsewhere
To remind us of the shortness of our time
Tears laid for them
Tears of love, tears of fear
Bury my dreams dig up my sorrows
Oh Lord why
The angels fall first?
Not relieved by thoughts of Shangri-La
Nor enlightened by the lessons of Christ
I'll never understand the meaning of the right
Ignorance lead me into the light
Needed elsewhere
To remind us of the shortness of our time
Tears laid for them
Tears of love, tears of fear
Bury my dreams dig up my sorrows
Oh Lord why
The angels fall first?
Sing me a song
Of your beauty
Of your kingdom
Let the melodies of your harps
Caress those whom we still need
Yesterday we shook hands
My friend
Today a moonbeam lightens my path
My guardian
06 Tutankhamen (05:31)
As the sun sets beyond the pyramids
To greet me with its rays
I place my hand on my forehead
To see your chariots' flames
Watch me kneel before you
Hear the cats meowing in the temple
They yearn the milk you cascaded
As I yearn your promised treasure
Treasure of
Tutankhamen
I am the one it is
Take me with you
Through the stargate
To the valley of the kings
Sacrifice me
Tutankhamen
And let me be your queen
Take me
Tonight and always
We'll breed to fill all earth
Three millenniums it took me to guard your rest
Your slumber in mighty Phoenix's nest
But tonight the darkness in the tomb has perished
For Carter has come to free my beloved
Treasure of
Tutankhamen
I am the one it is
Take me with you
Through the stargate
To the valley of the kings
Sacrifice me
Tutankhamen
And let me be your queen
Take me
Tonight and always
We'll breed to fill all earth
Treasure of
Tutankhamen
I am the one it is
Take me with you
Through the stargate
To the valley of the kings
Sacrifice me
Tutankhamen
And let me be your queen
Take me
Tonight and always
We'll breed to fill all earth
''Tutankhamen''
07 Nymphomaniac Fantasia (04:47)
''The scent of a woman was not mine...''
Welcome home darling
Did you miss me?
Wish to dwell in dear love?
Touch my milklike skin
Feel the ocean
Lick my deepest
Hear the starry choir
Rip off this lace
That keeps me imprisoned
But beware of the enchantment
For my eroticism is oblivion
''Old love lies deep you said
Deeper shall be the wound between your legs''
08 Know Why the Nightingale Sings (04:14)
What does the free fall feel like?
Asks the boy with a spark in his eye
Know why the nightingale sings
Is the answer to everything
Taking a step to the world unbound
Spinning my fantasies all around
Freed from the gravital leash
I swear the heaven's in my reach
Dancing with the spirit of the air
In this ocean so so open and fair
Making love to the gods above
On my maiden voyage so bold
Landing safely to the blue lagoon
Don't know if this is the earth or the moon
Joy of living is no more a mask
The Eden I found will forever last
Migrating with the geese
My soul has finally found peace
Doesn't matter that man has no wings
As long as I hear the nightingale sing...
11 Lappi (Lapland): III. This Moment Is Eternity (03:12)
Day possesses no key here
Where moon sheds the cold twilight
This moment is eternity
Land of beauty
Cold and cruel
Fjeld chants echoing
Reflecting the melancholy
Trust the wind
Trust the fire
Call for the hermit
The hermit of the night
Land of raven
Land of bear
Land of eagle
And wolverine
Dismal are the mirrors of a wolf
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