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Rating: The last firework, the ultimate swan song of one of the most extraordinary bands to emerge from the late '90s power metal big bang, now reduced to a pathetic state of cheap and grotesque caricature of itself: this is "Once" by Nightwish. The year is 2004 and the gothic turn, with darker atmospheres and more tormented lyrics, had already begun two years earlier with "Century Child," and "Once" continues confidently down this path with rather mixed results: true masterpieces alternate with decidedly less inspired performances that will later prove to be real warnings of that (now irreversible) compositional crisis that would later give rise to that musical abortion called "Dark Passion Play," but that is another (sad) story, already foreshadowed in the cover and the lyrics of "Dead Gardens" and "Higher Than Hope."
To elevate the overall level of "Once," there's naturally Tarja Turunen, the valkyrie with the angelic voice who, despite her practically null compositional relevance, was the true and irreplaceable cornerstone of the band, largely contributing to create that unmistakable sound now completely disappeared with her extraordinary vocal talents. The album opens with "Dark Chest Of Wonders," which perhaps in beauty is second only to "Stargazers": a solid and pounding riff, orchestrations of growing intensity, choirs and orchestrations adding solemnity and of course that wonderful voice that cannot help but fascinate and completely capture the listener, especially when it explodes in the beautiful chorus and the breathtaking finale. A great song is also the powerful and apocalyptic "Planet Hell," entirely played on the bounce between the voice of bassist Marco Hietala (somewhat ungraceful, to be fair, but in this context it works very well) and Tarja's, in a tense and very heavy metal atmosphere, just as tense and mysterious is the sensational "The Siren," where the hardness of the guitars blends with arcane, oriental sounds creating a very particular atmosphere, difficult to describe, with sitar and violins in the foreground and Tarja perfectly embodying the enchanting siren role.
A moment of respite among the thousand emotions of this album is the poignant ballad "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan," the perfect backdrop to the sunset over the Thousand Lakes, preluding to the conclusion of the album (and consequently of Nightwish themselves), which is "Higher Than Hope," the last magic of the Nightwish Desiderio: a melancholic and gentle arpeggio, that angelic voice soaring high, higher than hope, before becoming heavy and falling from the sky in that intense and dramatic chorus, which becomes more and more urgent and harder only to vanish into nothingness. The best of the best of "Once," however, consists of the two suites, in which Our Heroes display (also here for the last time) their technique and creativity elevated to the cube: there are the 10 minutes of the sumptuous "Ghost Love Score," which truly has everything: a powerful intro, oriental atmospheres, a dramatic chorus, moments of apparent calm, guitar solos, bass lines, orchestral fugues and digressions now sweet and lulling, now more tense and lively, bursts of triumphant power metal and a finale with the chorus fading elegantly in all its majesty, and then there are the eight and a half minutes of a masterpiece of disarming beauty, "Creek Mary's Blood," a moving and heartfelt tribute to Native Americans, with Tarja really giving goosebumps here, Divinely interpreting this sad and melancholic yet so powerful, so heartfelt, so universal song, where naturally the rest of the group gives their all as well, producing solos and orchestrations of excellent craftsmanship, leading to the end of the song, masterfully entrusted to the words of an Indian poem.
As I have already said, however, "Once" is also the album that opens the band's crisis, and it becomes clear right after the divine "Creek Mary's Blood" as Our Heroes place first "Dead Gardens" and then "Romanticide," two songs decent in themselves but adding nothing to the beauty of the album and the style of Nightwish, and especially the two singles (regularly skipped from the third listen) "Nemo" and especially "Wish I Had An Angel," which without Tarja's voice would be as much trash as "Amaranth."
Moral of the story, "Once" is a great album, to always and anyway buy just like all the Nightwish albums with Tarja, yet there remains the regret that such a great band burned out so soon, leaving behind five fabulous gems of rare beauty. To close my heartfelt analysis, an appeal to Nightwish or what's left of them: I implore you, disband immediately, and I say this as your great fan, because continuing like this only disrespects what you once were.
NIGHTWISH 1997-2004 R.I.P. ONCE... FOREVER.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Dark Chest of Wonders (04:27)
Once I had a dream
And this is it
Once there was a child's dream
One night the clock struck twelve
The window open wide
Once there was a child's heart
The age I learned to fly
And took a step outside
Once I knew all the tales
It's time to turn back time
Follow the pale moonlight
Once I wished for this night
Faith brought me here
It's time to cut the rope
and fly
Fly to a dream
Far across the sea
All the burdens gone
Open the chest once more
Dark chest of wonders
Seen through the eyes
Of the one with pure heart
Once so long ago
The one in the Big Blue is what the world stole from me
This night will bring him back to me
Fly to a dream
Far across the sea
All the burdens gone
Open the chest once more
Dark chest of wonders
Seen through the eyes
Of the one with pure heart
Once so long ago
Fly to a dream
Far across the sea
All the burdens gone
Open the chest once more
Dark chest of wonders
Seen through the eyes
Of the one with pure heart
Once so long ago
03 Nemo (04:33)
This is me for forever
One of the lost ones
The one without a name
Without an honest heart as compass
This is me for forever
One without a name
These lines the last endeavor
To find the missing lifeline
Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything
My flower, withered between
The pages two and three
The once and forever bloom gone with my sins
Walk the dark path
Sleep with angels
Call the past for help
Touch me with your love
And reveal to me my true name
Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything
Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
Oh how I wish to dream again
Once and for all
And all for once
Nemo my name forever more
Nemo sailing home
Nemo letting go
Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
All I wish is to dream again
My loving heart
Lost in the dark
For hope I'd give my everything
Oh how I wish
For soothing rain
Oh how I wish to dream again
Once and for all
And all for once
Nemo my name forever more
My name forever more
04 Planet Hell (04:38)
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
05 Creek Mary's Blood (08:29)
Mitakuye oyasin lel ohinni e yelo
Soon I will be here no more
You'll hear my tale
Through my blood
Through my people
And the eagle's cry
The bear within will never lay to rest
Wandering on Horizon Road
Following the trail of tears
White man came
Saw the blessed land
We cared, you took
You fought, we lost
Not the war but an unfair fight
Sceneries painted beautiful in blood
Wandering on Horizon Road
Following the trail of tears
Once we were here
Where we have been since the world began
Since time itself gave us this land
[Singing in Lakotan]
Our souls will join again the wild
Our home in peace and war and death
Wandering on Horizon Road
Following the trail of tears
Once we were here
Where we have been since the world began
Since time itself gave us this land
Wandering on Horizon Road
Following the trail of tears
Once we were here
Where we have been since the world began
Since time itself gave us this land
Hanhepi iyuha mi ihanbla ohinni yelo
Òn sunkmanitutankapi hena,
sunkawakanpi watogha hena,
oblaye t'ankapi oihankesni hena
T'at'epi kin asni kiyasni he
akatanhanpi iwankal
Oblaye t'anka kin
osicesni mitakuyepi òn
Makoce kin wakan
Wakan Tanka kin òn
Miwicala ohinni - Hanhepi iyuha
kici - Anpetu iyuha kici yelo
Mi yececa hehaka kin yelo
na ni yececa sunkmanitutankapi
kin ka mikaga wowasaka isom
Uncipi tuweni nitaku keyas ta k'u
Unwakupi e'cela e wiconi
wanji unmakainapi ta yelo
Anpetu waste e wan olowan
le talowan winyan ta yelo
Unwanagi pi lel e nita it'okab o'ta ye
Untapi it'okab o'ta
Na e kte ena òn hanska ohakap
ni itansni a'u nita ni ihanke yelo
06 The Siren (04:44)
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?
08 Romanticide (04:57)
Godlove and rest my soul
With this sundown neverending
The feel is gone yet you ain't gonna see me fail
I am the decadence of your world
I am an eider covered in oil
Happy hunting, you double-faced carnivore
Tell me why
No heart to cry
Hang me high
The music is dead, the amen is said
The kiss of faith is what I beg
A loving heart 'n soul for sale
Tell me why
No heart to cry
Hang me high
Leave me be
And cease to tell me how to feel
To grieve, to shield myself from evil
Leave me be
OD of lies is killing me
Romanticide
Till love do me part
See me ruined by my own creations
Leave me be
And cease to tell me how to feel
To grieve, to shield myself from evil
Leave me be
Od of lies is killing me
Romanticide
Till love do me part
Dead Boy's alive but without sense
I need a near-death experience
Heart once bold
Now turned to stone
Perfection my messenger from hell
Wine turns to water
Campfires freeze, loveletters burn
Romance is lost
Lord, let me be wrong in this pain
Temporary pain, eternal shame
To take part in this devil's chess game
Spit on me, let go, get rid of me
And try to survive your stupidity
09 Ghost Love Score (09:57)
We used to swim the same moonlight waters
Oceans away from the wakeful day
[' '=choir:]
'My fall will be for you
My love will be in you
If you be the one to cut me
I'll bleed forever
My fall will be for you
My love will be in you
If you be the one to cut me
I'll bleed forever'
Scent of the sea before the waking of the world
Brings me to thee
Into the blue memory
'My fall will be for you
My love will be in you
If you be the one to cut me
I'll bleed forever
My fall will be for you
My love will be in you
If you be the one to cut me
I'll bleed forever'
Into the blue memory
A siren from the deep came to me
Sang my name my longing
Still I write my songs about that dream of mine
Worth everything I may ever be
The Child will be born again
That siren carried him to me
First of them true loves
Singing on the shoulders of an angel
Without care for love 'n' loss
Bring me home or leave me be
My love in the dark heart of the night
I have lost the path before me
The one behind will lead me
Bring me home or leave me be
My love in the dark heart of the night
I have lost the path before me
The one behind will lead me
Take me
Cure me
Kill me
Bring me home
Every way
Every day
Just another loop int the hangman's noose
Take me, cure me, kill me, bring me home
Every way, every day
I keep on watching us sleep
Relive the old sin of Adam and Eve
Of you and me
Forgive the adoring beast
Redeem me into childhood
Show me myself without the shell
Like the advent of May
I'll be there when you say
Time to never hold our love
[( )=Tarja Turunen:]
'My fall will be for you (My....)
My love will be in you (fall...)
You were the one to cut me
So I'll bleed forever (will be...)
My fall will be for you
My love will be in you (for you...)
You were the one to cut me
So I'll bleed forever
(My....)
My fall will be for you
My love will be in you (fall...)
You were the one to cut me
So I'll bleed forever (will be...)
My fall will be for you
My love will be in you (for...)
You were the one to cut me
So I'll bleed forever (you.)
My fall will be for you
My love will be in you
You were the one to cut me
So I'll bleed forever
My fall will be for you
My love will be in you
You were the one to cut me
So I'll bleed forever'
... [Repeat to fade]
10 Kuolema tekee taiteilijan (03:58)
Kerran vain haaveeni nähdä sain
En pienuutta alla tähtien tuntenut
Kerran sain kehtooni kalterit
Vankina sieltä kirjettä kirjoitan
Luojani, luoksesi anna minun tulla siksi miksi lapseni minua luulee
Sinussa maailman kauneus
Josta kuolema teki minusta taiteilijan
Luojani, luoksesi anna minun tulla siksi miksi lapseni minua luulee
Oman taivaan tänne loin
Anna minun päästä pois
12 White Night Fantasy (04:05)
Enchantress came to me and said, meet me at the lake tonight
I hunmed this song to the white, through the shroud of snow
I saw paradise, peace, no more lies
Crestfallen soul, rest for this night
Love is here, right here right under my wings
I dream of wolves, with them I run
For me she lengthened the night, I am home, I am in peace
Crestfallen soul, rest for this night
Love is here, right here under my wings
Crestfallen soul, rest for this night
Love is here, right here under my wings
Crestfallen soul, rest for this night
Love is here, right here under my wings
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Other reviews
By Big D
"Once, I had a dream, and this is it..."
"In short, in my opinion, the band’s masterpiece and one of the best metal albums ever."
By ilfreddo
Once is a Gala evening, the opening ceremony of the Olympics in which nothing, absolutely nothing, is left to chance so that everything can work like a Swiss watch.
Never would I have expected it from Nightwish, yet in 'Wish I Had An Angel,' the arrangement is just that and, more surprising, it even becomes addictive.
