Dark Passion Play - Nightwish

I'm actually gonna write a review, and yes, about the latest Nightwish album, Dark Passion Play. Kinda late I know, but I only managed to get my hands on it a couple of days ago, more than three months after it's release. I think it deserves one from me.

So after listening to the whole album a couple of times with my headphones and the volume turned up, I must say I am impressed. Like many Nightwish fans, I thought Tarja played a very important part in holding this Finnish bands' sound together and her departure would take the band into a whole different direction.However, considering Holopainen was the main song-writer of the band, it's not hard to believe that this new album still holds the very unique and distinct sound of Nightwish. This said, I must also complement Anette Olzon for doing an excellent job as the new vocalist of the band, taking over a position I previously thought was impossible to succeed after listening to Tarja's impressive and extremely unique vocal style.

However, though still consisting the core Nightwish sound, Dark Passion Play has shown that Nightwish, like many bands, has progressed and grown along with their music and saw them trying out many new elements in their music. Most notably, every song in this album is supported by a backing symphonic orchestra and a couple of songs uses soprano singers. The songs are also considerably longer and has more variations and progressions within.

The album starts off with the Edgar Allan Poe inspired song of The Poet and the Pendulum, which is a brilliant 14minute epic with great progression and variation throughout. Next comes the emotionally driven song of Bye Bye Beautiful which is said to be about departure of Tarja with Anette singing the verse while vocals for the chorus is provided mainly by Marco. The third song of the album is Amaranth, which is also the second single for the song.

This is followed by Cadence Of Her Last Breath, before the heavier and anger filled Master Passion Greed. Anette plays no part in this song and Holopainen has revealed that this song is about "something that Anette has nothing to do with" and hence is best to leave her out of it. The vocals are provided Marco with Holopainen providing the growls.

Eva is the sixth song of the album and is one of the sad, slow songs of the album. This is the first song Nightwish released with their new vocalist and it has a excellent backing orchestra that complements the song's theme beautifully.

The tempo is upped in the next song, Sahara, with the orchestra still doing a brilliant job adding to the dramatic effects of this slightly darker song. The darken theme carries on to this next song, Whoever Brings The Night. Heavier guitar riffs and distortion plays a key part in this song with the orchestra once again adding to the effects of the guitar. The ninth song of the album, For The Heart I Once Had, is one of my favourite on the album, which saw Anette singing in a higher pitch, contrasting that of the previous song.

The Islander is the only song on the album written solely by Marco and is sung mainly by him. This song sees little to no guitar effects with the main guitar being played on an acoustic, making this another of the albums more gentle ballads. This is followed by the only instrumental piece of the album, Last Of The Wilds. A brilliantly written piece in my opinion which runs for a little more than five and a half minutes.

Anette makes a return in 7 Days To The Wolves, a seven minute piece which failed to impress me as much as most of the other songs on the album. The Finale, Meadows Of Heaven, is among the best of the album. Piano and orchestra forms the backbone of the song with the verse being slow and calm and giving a sense of serenity. The chorus carries a slightly heavier music and sees the use of backing vocals playing a key role in it. The dramatic effects also makes it a good song to end the album with.

As an overall, I have to say this is a fantastic album and most Nightwish fans would still love it despite the absence of Tarja. Though I might still have a slight bias towards Tarja, I must admit Anette has fit in very well with the band and is perhaps as good as it gets. Complement must also be given to the London Philharmonic Orchestra,as it blended extremely well with the music making it one of the best symphonic orchestral backed rock album I've heard second only to some of X Japan's pieces.

My favourite song of the album would be a close call between Bye Bye Beautiful, Amaranth and For The Heart I Once Had. Other notable songs of the album worth complementing are The Poet And The Pendulum, Master Passion Greed, Eva, The Islander, the instrumental Last Of The Wilds and Meadows Of Heaven.

I highly recommend this album to all rock fans especially those who love power metal.
It scores 8.5/10 from me!

TY