Nightwish 

Live reviews

• Nightwish

  When seeing Nightwish live, you are expecting to see the classic female vocals accompanied by the sweet gentle sounds of the orchestra with the soft piano notes in contrast with the heavily distorted guitars and the fast metal drum beats. The sound of all these instruments combined together creates the gothic atmosphere that everyone sees at a Nightwish concert. Strobe lighting with the fire shooting up and down followed by all the firework explosions is certain as the artists are trying to get the fans energetic and fired up ready for a spectacular show ahead of them. When going to a symphonic metal concert, judging by what I have seen of Epica, Withtin Temptation and Nightwish, the fans are energetically jumping around really enjoying themselves and learning to appreciate the music. Nightwish performs symphonic metal with grandiose female vocals. The string instruments and keyboard create the gothic atmosphere. Their music is known to be complex and layered and their approach is theatrical and operatic. It is “always very melodic with memorable choruses” says critic Chad Bowar. The music of Nightwish had been distinguished by the operatic vocals of Tarja Turunen but when she left Nightwish, they left behind their signature soprano or operatic sound. Now their style of vocals have changed as heard by their current vocalist Floor Jansen. Even though Nightwish’s music is centred around a female lead vocalist, they have done some form of variation by featuring some male vocals on their albums throughout all of their history. Something interesting about the experience I had at the Wacken Open Air Festival 2013 was that there was one unusual part where the bassist spoke about a letter that he or the band received about their anniversary and that they said something funny about that they liked sausages meaning romanticism because they were in Germany. The show itself was just simply outstanding and the highlight of the show was Floor Jansen’s supreme vocals that blew the roof off the stage. It was not just Jansen’s incredible singing ability but the entire line up and the way that the band played was astonishing and really rocked the place. They played with confidence and desire to impress the crowd and they succeeded in doing so with style and perfection. You could just see that they were true professionals with tons of experience when it came to playing with enormous crowds. All 82,000 fans would go ballistic whenever the bassist joined in with the singing which proved to be a great combination. They really knew how to get the fans up on their feet and scream and shout, especially with the melodies that they played. They were so beautiful and breath-taking that everyone’s jaws dropped and they were speechless by the end of the show including me because they were that amazing. Considering that this was my first time ever at a metal festival outside of England, this was an extremely unforgettable first experience and it will live long in the memory. I had always dreamed of seeing Nightwish ever since I first listened to them and this will go down as one of the best concerts that I have ever been to in my life. I really recommend other fans that have never seen them live before to check them out because they will never fail to impress with music of such quality. Symphonic metal lovers will all be amazed by how much of a superb show Nightwish can perform and how Floor Jansen’s vocals flatten all of you with shock of how talented and unbelievably awesome she is at singing. When the string instruments and the keyboard join in, it creates that marvellous gothic atmosphere which all gothic or symphonic metal lovers will adore. The entire ensemble itself is just a master class and they play so mouth wateringly well that it will wow anyone during a live concert of theirs. The special effects will add the extra boost of energy to the fans. The band are so good at doing what the special effects can do that no one could ignore their encouragement, it is almost like an order but a pleasant one.

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  by pedro-felippe

• In a way, it’s important to go to a Nightwish concert with a different frame of mind and a very different set of expectations to what one would normally go to a gig with. When one goes to a rock show they’re usually expecting an event that prioritises atmosphere over a note-perfect recreation over what was on the record. This isn’t the case with Finland’s finest and countless other symphonic metal bands, and this isn’t because they’re playing it safe or that they don’t care about playing live, it means quite the opposite. The music that they have on the record is so intense, complex, and epic in the traditional sense of the word, that playing it live exactly as it is on record makes what was on the record sound even more exciting. They need a choir for some songs? They’ll get a choir for some songs. There’s a famous actor reading a monologue during the outro of their latest album opener? They’ll film the actor reading it and play it on the massive screens they have. They have moments of galloping, film-score inspired excitement, with dazzling heavy metal solos, operatic vocals and lyrics about battles between orcs and men? They’ll be perfectly recreated live, except louder and with pyrotechnics, and pyrotechnics make everything better. Yes, it sounds similar to the record, but that’s because, unlike The Libertines, these cats can actually play their songs. So no, a Nightwish gig is not your average rock show, in fact it has more in common with a Classical music concert, where a decent proportion of the show is spent marvelling at the technical ability of the people on stage. Of course, what’s also encouraged at a Nightwish show is singing, dancing, moshing and pyrotechnics, and all of those things, as we discussed earlier, make everything better. Even if you’re not a fan of symphonic metal, Nightwish are a band that anyone who likes the idea of music with an outrageous sense of scale can spend an evening with and love every moment of it.

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  by william-howard-2

• I have experienced a lot of metal shows over the years. Experiencing Nightwish on their North American tour vaulted them near the top of my list. Their musicianship, stage presence, high energy, and dedication to the highest caliber audience experience was on full display.

  They did several songs of the new album, Endless Forms Most Beautiful and several more from Imaginaerum. The Buffalo, NY crowd got warmed up by Delain and Sabaton, so by the time Nightwish took the stage the audience was fully engaged.

  Shows at small venues like the Town Ballroom in Buffalo provide the setting for great sound when done right. Nightwish did the sound right. Floor's vocals were powerful, soaring; Tuomas's keyboards provide so much content in the music you may not believe it until experienced in person. Marco and Empuu's bass and guitars drive, grind, flourish, embellish, and move the musical flow. Kai's drumwork is outstanding and simply has to be seen and felt to be believed. Of course, Troy's mixture of pipes and whistles provide perfect punctuation to the driving beat.

  One thing you feel is how truly heavy these guys are. Their performance epitomizes the best of what symphonic metal can be. Their songs have passages of power cords and backbeat that are relentless. Combine that with a theatrical flair, feminine lead vocals, and a tightness to envy and you've got something well worth the price of admission. Two solid hours of metal bliss.

  See, hear, and feel Nightwish first hand. Make the trip. You will not be disappointed.

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  by paw65

• I last saw Nightwish in 2005 in what turned out to be original singer Tarja Turunen's last tour. Her replacement, Annette Olsen never really clicked with me although the two albums she recorded with them are pretty good. however that has all changed for me with the arrival of Floor Jansen, someone I am familiar with from one of her previous bands, After Forever.

  From the fist moment Nightwish started their show at a sold-out Wembley Arena it was obvious this was going to be a very special night. From the opening song 'Shudder Before the Beautiful' to the closing 'The Greatest Show on Earth', which they performed the first three parts complete with an appearance from Professor Richard Dawkins who contributes spoken word on the album, it was simply stunning.

  A very impressive, and fully utilised, moving light show was supplemented with screens, fireworks, and flames, to provide a spectacular show. Everyone in the band looked to be having the time of their lives, always something I look for as a band "going through the motions" is always easy to spot, with great interaction between them and the crowd.

  Personal highlights for me were 'Ghost Love Score' and 'The Poet And The Pendulum' but overall it was as near to a perfect gig as I have ever seen.

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  by lee-farrow

• -1 out of 10.

  They changed the start time some weeks before the gig so that meant I couldn't make it in time and missed Amorphis.

  Next up, despite the tickets saying we could take bottles of water in, the door staff insisted that we remove the lids from our water bottles. We had to carry two open water bottles around the arena. I can only imagine what imaginary "threat" this measure was designed to counter.

  The sound for Arch Enemy was absolutely terrible. All I could hear (and feel!) was a smashing low frequency rumble. All the detail, even the kick pedal on drums, was drowned out. Vocals and guitar never had a chance of being heard. I've never heard such a complete and total fuckup on sound. I'd have walked out of it wasn't for

  Nightwish's performance was good but the sound still wasn't great - lots of bass and ear splittingly loud. It's not like I'm a stranger to loud gigs but this was something else. Ear plugs helped but it was still _really_ loud. It was much better than for Arch Enemy though, so it didn't completely spoil the performance.

  Overall, disappointed. I had the cheaper tickets (£40 a pop) and I'll be hassling Gigantic for a refund. I can only imagine what the £110 ticket holders were thinking.

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  by 3a84tyolia9wyh4tliaw

• It was my first time watching Nightwish and it will definitely not be the last! What a show! What a feeling! What an experience!

  While I did not know half the songs, because I've mostly heard old Nightwish material, back form when I was 15, 16 and 17, I was not the least disappointed, because the sound - the voice - that Nightwish creates together, is simply amazing. I felt like I was in a fantasy world, both happy, sad and hopeful, and it was a beautiful combination. It wasn't too slow, or fast, just a perfect mix of powerful songs, amazing fire effects, strong pictures, wonderful animation sprinkled with hope for our world and the people living here.

  When they played some of my favourites, Wishmaster and Ghost Love Score, I got so happy because they mean a lot to me, and because I recognize them. And when they played My Walden, Shudder Before The Beautiful and Storytime, I was equally enchanted, even though I didn't know these songs. Because apparently, that is something Nightwish masters. And they do it very, very well.

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  by Mirob_vs_Dave

• Nightwish, a symphonic rock experience as opposed to a simple gig. The band are one of Finland's most internationally celebrated exports as they have achieved commercial success across Europe. They also have a cult-like fan base in the UK and during their last tour the demand to see them was huge.

  Beginning with an introduction by the classical Hans Zimmer, the tone is set and the audience applaud loudly as they walk onstage and take to the vast array of instruments. The classical and the conventional instruments sit well together and blend wonderfully during a melange of 'Storytime' and 'Dark Chest of Wonders'.

  The audience reacts in different ways as at parts you feel like you are at a rock show and others it is like watching a classical composer. The band build a great rapport with the audience and put them at ease so the applause come more naturally during 'Ghost River' and 'Ever Dream'. By the final dreamy tones of 'Last Ride of the Day', the audience are in total awe of these talented instrumentalists.

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  by sean-ward

• This is the kind o concert the dreams are made of. First a support band I wanted to see as much as Nightwish: Amorphis. What I great show! Then other support band I didn't know that well because their sound is not my style but that gave a such great show that I became a fan. That band is Arch Enemy and gave a true great show. Even if much of the crowd didn't seem to understand what was going on since they were more into more slow bands.

  And then Nightwish with a great sound. Not the kind of sound you have in the albuns but a true powerful and 100% metal sound, the kind of sound that is headbangable to the most.

  In the end the music, the pyro, the whole atmosphere gave us a concert to remember, and to forget the less great albuns from other times. Sadly some old songs were left out of the set, mainly the hit Wishmaster.

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  by TMELO

• I've been hanging out to see these guys for years. I missed the last time they were in Melbourne and had been kicking myself ever since. I even wrote to them in early 2014 to ask when they were coming back. To my surprise they answered and said to sit tight and they'd definitely be back. The wait was worth it. Almost 2 hours straight through, no bullshit encore and a kick-ass show from start to finish. The band were obviously having a great time and were equally enthusiastic to make sure everyone in the crowd did the same. It's a pity the Melbourne noise curfew meant they had to stop on the button of 11PM. Now I just have to wait til they're back again. One last thing: You can't review this show without giving the support band Taberah a huge wrap too. If they're playing in your neck of the woods don't miss them.

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  by joe-perry-8

• Seen last night in Toulouse. Wonderful show! Perfectly played, great sound but most of all, very thoughtful and supportive.

  They even played an older song as a tribute to the enduring spirit we should stick to. All the song had a different meaning last night and the leitmotiv "We were here" meant far more than originally intended.

  The show was intense but fun also. Musicians were obviously pleased to play for us and were enjoying it all the way. Emppu was playing tricks on everyone, even undoing the shoe laces of the drummer in the end.

  In short: great show, musically excellent, great pyros and very emotional. Every thing you wish for in a show.

  note: Floor is wonderful.

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  by Korrigane