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Rating: An incredibly tasty opportunity for all Nightwish fans. We are facing the first DVD from the Finnish band for Nuclear Blast, documenting an extraordinary show that took place on October 21, 2005, at the Hartwall Arena in Helsinki. Everything is absolutely perfect: the special effects, the lights, the editing, the intensity of the songs, the evocative artwork (a heart about to break, symptomatic in describing what will come) and the beautiful booklet filled with images of Tarja and colleagues experiencing one of the most important moments of their young lives. Everything is perfect. Except for a small, tiny detail: we are facing an illusion, as Nightwish is not a compact and united band, but a group in crisis. In fact, right after the concert, the letter of discord was handed to Tarja. Her adventure with Nightwish has come to an end. It's a strange feeling to see Tuomas overwhelmed with emotion during "Ever Dream" or to see Emppu and Tarja exiting the stage together. The other four members already knew that Tarja would no longer be a member of Nightwish, marking what would truly be the End Of An Era for the band.
The intro “Red Dragon” by Hans Zimmer leads us into the song that has always opened the band's latest concerts: “Dark Chest Of Wonders”, a rush of adrenaline hits all the spectators in the arena. Initially, there's emptiness, but gradually all the band members appear. The orchestra is replaced by pre-recorded parts. With the end comes the explosion of flames, and it's the turn of “Planet Hell,” one of the most epic pieces from the masterpiece “Once”. A grand piece. “Ever Dream” is one of the most intense moments of the show, with Tarja subdued and emotional and Mastermind Tuomas overtaken by emotion. A decisive guitar riff introduces us to the apocalyptic “The Kinslayer,” dedicated to the Columbine High School massacre. Grand “The Phantom And The Opera,” one of the most appreciated covers by fans. The piece creates a great atmosphere, and some spectators let themselves go into a liberating cry. “The Siren” is one of the darkest pieces of the evening. During its execution, images showing the stormy sea are projected. Then Tuomas with his keyboards introduces us to a magical enchanted world: “Sleeping Sun,” perhaps the combo's most famous ballad. Tarja wears the same dress worn in the remake of the old video, dating back to 1999. Snowflakes, misty skies, aurora borealis. Let the lighter ritual begin. “High Hopes” is a Pink Floyd cover that appeared on the recent Best Of “Highest Hopes.” Tuomas's keyboards soothe us with sweet ancient lullabies. The singing parts are obviously entrusted to Marco. “Bless The Child” follows, where the song's introductory words and evocative images are projected. “Wishmaster” is surely the group's anthem par excellence, at least as it becomes clear from the delirious audience. “Slaying The Dreamer” is the fiercest piece in the Finns' entire discography, which is why flames are added to give an even more sinister effect. Tarja proves to be a surprise: she moves around a lot and doesn't seem like the classic opera singer at all but a full-fledged Metalgirl. The end is beautiful when Marco shouts the key lines of the song: “I true hate all!!!”.
“Kuolema Takee Taiteilijan” is a very intimate moment where Tarja is left completely alone; here too the lighters make an appearance... Keyboard riffs introduce us to the famous “Nemo,” the piece of absolute consecration. Tarja wears the same red coat from the video. “Ghost Love Score” is surely the masterpiece of “Once,” with its sudden changes of atmosphere. Images of ancient manuscripts appear, titled “Nightwish.” “Stone People” is a piece interpreted by John Two-Hawks, a native Indian protagonist of the subsequent “Creek’s Mary’s Blood.” The next song is “Over the Hills And Far Away,” a Gary Moore cover. The final part is also sung by the enterprising Marco. The concert closes with “I Wish I Had An Angel,” and the audience goes wild. The piece is presented in a fiercer version than the studio one. It's funny to see little Emppu bouncing here and there. On the notes of "All Of Them" by Hans Zimmer, the show ends while Tarja incites the audience and Emppu throws the picks to the crowd.
The Extra contents consist of a photogallery and a very amusing 55-minute documentary that captures the 2 intense weeks before the great concert. The perfection of the concert is destroyed: the band and Tarja spend most of their time apart, Tarja always travels with her husband Marcelo. Still, it is nice to see her sign autographs and take photos with the fans with an infinite sweetness that I thought she lacked. Faced with all this perfection, why only 4 stars? Simple: The setlist. You can't create a DVD and title it End Of An Era and not include immortal tracks from "Angels Fall First" and "Oceanborn": “Stargazers,” “Beauty And The Beast,” “Gethsemane,” “Sacrament Of Wilderness,” “The Carpenter,” “Walking In The Air”... Not to mention the more recent gems left out for no reason, such as “End Of All Hope” and “Dead Boy’s Poem.” The End Of An Era.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Planet Hell (04:44)
Denying the lying
A million children fighting
For lives in strife
For hope beyond the horizon
A dead world, a dark path
Not even crossroads to choose from
All the bloodred carpets before me
Behold this fair creation of God
My only wish: to leave behind
All the days of the Earth
This everyday hell of my kingdom come
The first rock thrown again
Welcome to hell little saint
Mother Gaia in slaughter
Welcome to paradise soldier
My first cry neverending
All life is to fear for life
You fool, you wanderer
You challenged the gods and lost
Save yourself a penny for the ferryman
Save yourself and let them suffer
In hope, in love
This world ain't ready for the Ark
Save yourself a penny for the ferryman
Save yourself and let them suffer
In hope, in love
Mankind works in mysterious ways
Welcome down to my Planet Hell
Save yourself a penny for the ferryman
Save yourself and let them suffer
In hope, in love
This world ain't ready for the Ark
Save yourself a penny for the ferryman
Save yourself and let them suffer
In hope, in love
Mankind works in mysterious ways
03 Ever Dream (05:27)
Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me
Would you do it with me
Heal the scars and change the stars
Would you do it for me
Turn loose the heaven within
I'd take you away
Castaway on a lonely day
Bosom for a teary cheek
My song can but borrow your grace
Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me
Dream of me...
Come out, come out wherever you are
So lost in your sea
Give in, give in for my touch
For my taste for my lust
Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me
Your beauty cascaded on me
In this white night fantasy
Dream of me...
Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me
Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me
Dream of me...
Ever felt away with me
Just once that all I need
Entwined in finding you one day
Ever felt away without me
My love, it lies so deep
Ever dream of me
04 The Kinslayer (04:08)
For whom the gun tolls
For whom the prey weeps
Bow before a war
Call it religion
Some wounds never heal
Some tears never will
Dry for the unkind
Cry for mankind
Even the dead cry
Their only comfort
Kill your friend, I don't care
Orchid kids, blinded stare
Need to understand
No need to forgive
No truth no sense left to be followed
Facing this unbearable fear like meeting an old friend
Time to die, poor mates, you made me what I am
In this world of a million religions everyone prays the same way
Your praying is in vain, it'll all be over soon
Father help me, save me a place by your side
There is no god, our creed is but for ourselves
Not a hero unless you die
Our species eat the wounded ones
Drunk with the blood of your victims
I do feel your pity-wanting pain
Lust for fame, a deadly game
Run away with your impeccable kin
Good wombs hath borne bad sons...
Cursing, God, why?
Falling for every lie
Survivors' guilt
In us forevermore
15 candles
Redeemers of this world
Dwell in hypocrisy
How were we supposed to know?
06 The Siren (04:52)
A lady with a violin
Playing to the seals
Hearken to the sound
Of calling
[Refrain 1]
Who tied my hands to the wheel
The zodiac turns over me
(Come to me)
Somewhere there my fate revealed
I hear but how will I see?
[Refrain 2]
I tied myself to the wheel
The winds talk to my sails
Not me
(Come to me)
Somewhere there my fate revealed
I hear but how will I see?
07 Sleeping Sun (04:55)
The sun is sleeping quietly
Once upon a century
Wistful oceans calm and red
Ardent caresses laid to rest
For my dreams I hold my life
For wishes I behold my night
The truth at the end of time
Losing faith makes a crime
I wish for this night-time
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
Sorrow has a human heart
From my god it will depart
I'd sail before a thousand moons
Never finding where to go
Two hundred twenty-two days of light
Will be desired by a night
A moment for the poet's play
Until there's nothing left to say
I wish for this night-time
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
I wish for this night-time
To last for a lifetime
The darkness around me
Shores of a solar sea
Oh how I wish to go down with the sun
Sleeping
Weeping
With you
09 Bless the Child (06:24)
"I was born amidst the purple waterfalls.
I was weak, yet not unblessed.
Dead to the world, alive for the journey.
One night I dreamt a white rose withering,
a newborn drowning a lifetime loneliness.
I dreamt all my future, relived my past,
and witnessed the beauty of the Beast"
Where have all the feelings gone?
Why has all the laughter ceased?
Why am I loved only when I'm gone?
Gone back in time to bless the child.
How can I ever feel again?
Given the chance would I return?
Why am I loved only when I'm gone?
Gone back in time to bless the child.
Think of me long enough to make a memory.
Come bless the child one more time.
I've never felt so alone in my life.
As I drank from a cup which was counting my time.
There's a poison drop in this cup of man,
To drink it is to follow the left hand path.
Why am I loved only when I'm gone?
Gone back in time to bless the child.
Think of me long enough to make a memory.
Come bless the child one more time.
Think of me long enough to make a memory.
Come bless the child one more time.
"Where have all the feelings gone?
Why is it the deadliest sin - to love as I loved you?
Now unblessed, homesick in time, soon to be freed from care, from human pain.
My tale is the most bitter truth: Time pays us
with but earth & dust, and a dark, silent grave.
Remember my child:
without innocence the cross is only iron,
hope is only an illusion,
and Ocean Soul's nothing but a name...
The Child bless thee and keep thee forever"
10 Wishmaster (04:45)
Master!
Apprentice!
Heartborne, 7th Seeker
Warrior!
Disciple!
In me the Wishmaster
Elbereth
Lorien
A dreamy-eyed child staring into night
On a journey to storyteller`s mind
Whispers a wish speaks with the stars
The words are silent in him
Distant sigh from a lonely heart
"I'll be with you soon, my Shalafi"
Grey Havens my destiny
Master!...
Silvara
Starbreeze
Sla-Mori the one known only by Him
To august realms, the sorcery within
If you hear the call of arcane lore,
Your world shall rest on Earth no more
A maiden elf calling with her cunning song
"Meet me at the Inn of Last Home"
Heartborne will find the way!
Master!...
Wishmaster
Crusade for Your will
A child, dreamfinder
The Apprentice becoming...
Master!...
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