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Rating: [I infinitely thank jigoro for giving me the idea]
"Once, I had a dream, and this is it..."
Back in 1995 Tuomas Holopainen, the current keyboardist and brain behind the band, founded his Nightwish, with the intention of creating a band that would make heavy metal music but use a beautiful female voice as a vocalist to balance it out.
And so, after recruiting soprano Tarja Turunen, Nightwish was born. They started with some power metal tunes, which soon would be replaced by more mature compositions, both musically and lyrically, more dramatic and profound in the later albums. Perhaps Tuomas at that time had no idea of what he was innocently creating...
But let's get back to "Once": imposing, majestic, epic, any comment would be reductive for this album, where every song is a little masterpiece.
The first track the naive listener encounters is Dark Chest of Wonders, opened by a very heavy riff from guitarist Emppu Vuorinen. Then the bass and drums join in, followed by the orchestra, transforming into a sweeping introduction. In the verse, the choir counterpoints Tarja's splendid voice.
After hearing Dark Chest..., the listener will be so intoxicated that they can't wait to hear another splendid song, and in Wish I Had An Angel they will find just what they're looking for! Without an instrumental introduction, the song kicks off immediately with an impeccable duet between Tarja and Marco Hietala, the band's bassist and second singer, then attacks with guitar accompaniment and electronic drums. The chorus is sung by Marco's deep voice.
We've reached Nemo, the first single from the album, and also the most beautiful song. Delicate piano notes will entice the listener to turn up the volume on their CD player. A wrong move, as they will be hit by a powerful wave of guitar and bass sound! In the verse, besides Tarja's crystalline voice, there are the bass and Jukka Nevalainen's drums, who has been the drummer since the band's early days. In the chorus, the guitar reappears, and the orchestra comes in, which towards the end performs a very beautiful instrumental insert.
Infernal and dark choirs introduce the massive Planet Hell, a concentrate of negative energy, which results in a song denouncing the absurdity of war, in an infernal world, with no half measures. The verse is interpreted by Tarja and Marco.
Useful to let the ears rest a bit after Planet Hell, Creek Mary's Blood is a song that evokes the annihilation of the Native Americans by the white man. The intro of this wonderful song is entrusted to what seems like a tribal dance (?), which precedes a melody of classical guitar and orchestra. In the verse, Tarja sings with an orchestra and various percussion as the background. The guitar then enters, with long and epic chords, leading to a solo that picks up the chorus music. In the end, John Two-Hawks, a Lakota artist invited by the band, recites a poem in the Indian language.
A piercing electric violin wakes us from the stupor given by John's soothing voice. We are facing The Siren, yet another wonderful chapter of this fantastic album, an oriental-sounding song that evokes, with its hypnotic melody, the calls of a siren (Tarja) to a sailor (Marco) who, tied up, cannot reach her.
"All stories have been told, all orchids are gone. Lost in my personal world, now I take care of dead gardens". Thus goes the text of Dead Gardens, the most decadent song of "Once", opened by the most malevolent and funereal riff ever forged in the history of Nightwish. To emphasize the sense of gloom and melancholy, the orchestra was not included in this song. The finale consists of the obsessive repetition of a heavy riff (by comparison, bands like Candlemass or Trouble are practically harmless) that's abruptly cut off.
Far more majestic but still very dark is Romanticide which continues in the same vein as Dead Gardens, with guitars with distortion close to noise. In this piece, the music is merely a vehicle for the hopeless and probably autobiographical text. The ending is very particular, marked by a violent guitar and a frustrating bass, accompanying Marco's singing, which is nothing more than an angry whisper. With a series of angry shouts and screams, the song ends and, with it, the darkest part of the album. This song probably served as a release for Tuomas, to eliminate all that accumulated negative energy, caused by strong commercial pressure, due to the band's success.
"My downfall will be in you. My love will be in you. If you are the one to hurt me, I will bleed forever". These cannot be other than the words of a lover (reciprocated or not), indeed we are talking about the mythical Ghost Love Score, the true masterpiece of the album, exceeding ten minutes in duration.
This is a very particular piece, not only for the execution (more refined metal combined with orchestral elegance) but for the themes addressed. It seems that Tuomas, after freeing himself of all anxieties and frustrations, desires to start again to seek innocence and tranquility (this is in fact the whole concept of "Once").
With the end of the beautiful finale, marked by epic choirs that recite the quoted phrase, "Once" as a concept album also ends. The last two songs, in fact, are very beautiful but do not connect to the previous tracks.
Kuolema Tekee Taiteitijan is a sweet ballad in the group's mother tongue, Finnish. In some ways, it may remind one of Lappi-Lapland from the first CD, "Angel Fall First", but in Kuolema the atmosphere is more moving and less "minstrel-like".
Higher Than Hope is dedicated to Marc Bruealand, a friend of the band who recently passed away after fighting a tough battle with cancer. The song alternates between acoustic parts and sudden electric explosions. Towards the finale, Marc's recorded voice is heard, accompanied by the beat of a bass drum, as if to symbolize a weary step.
In conclusion, Once is one of those albums that I deem "universal", which can even be found on the shelves of someone who normally only listens to black or death metal (personal experience). In short, in my opinion, the band's masterpiece and one of the best metal albums ever.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples 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 Starblazer
Nightwish’s Once is the ultimate swan song of one of the most extraordinary bands to emerge from the late ’90s power metal big bang.
Tarja Turunen was the true and irreplaceable cornerstone of the band, largely contributing to create that unmistakable sound now completely disappeared with her extraordinary vocal talents.
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.
