Nightwish - Dark Passion Play (Bonus Track) (Jpn) (CD)

All Music Guide

Judging from the way ‘Dark Passion Play' starts out, it's understandable to assume that it's some sort of opera aria. But hold tight dear friends, and from out of nowhere metal guitar riffs come swooping in. That's Nightwish for ya a Finnish quintet that has been walking the line between symphonic and metallic for ten years by the time of this 2007 release. The album signals the arrival of new singer Anette Olzon (who replaces longtime member Tarja Turunen), but for longtime fans worried that this lineup shuffle may alter the band's sound and direction, there's no reason to fret Nightwish is as bombastic and dramatic as forever. Understandably, there's quite a few similarities between ‘symphonic metal' and prog metal,' and this is certainly the case on such tracks as "Bye Bye Beautiful," which contains a very Dream Theateresque opening. Elsewhere, "Eva" focuses primarily on the vocal talents of Nightwish's new frontwoman, while the slow building album opener, "The Poet and the Pendul...um," proves to be a neat summary of ‘the Nightwish style.' Depending on which side of the metal fence you reside, ‘Dark Passion Play' is either a symphonic metal triumph or merely pretentious twaddle. - Greg Prato, All Music Guide Read more Less