Nightwish
Once

December 2004
Released: 2004, Roadrunner
Rating: 3.5/5
Reviewer: JP

Year-end wrap-up: Each of the last few years to wrap up the year I have picked a theme for my reviews for December. This year due to the overwhelming number of CD’s that deserve exposure, recognition and commentary I am going to resort to quantity over quality. I usually try to give as much attention to each CD with extensive commentary however this month’s reviews (perhaps unfortunately) will be short and sweet and much more in the style of traditional magazine reviews where space restrictions are an important factor. (ie. Less detail) I apologize in advance to readers who expect much more detailed reviews. Please check the reviews archives as many of my colleagues have written excellent detailed commentary of many of these CD’s. I hope the large number of quick comments will help guide you making some of those important year-end CD purchase decisions. Happy Holidays and see you in January. JP



Well, Nightwish is no longer ‘our little secret’. As stated this is the lightest and heaviest material they have done but the new CD seems as if they are trying just a little too hard. Some of the appeal of the elegant sophistication of the band seems to be lost as everything is bigger, faster, brighter, louder, more produced, the band have hit their full stride and will drag many fans along in their powerful wake. The US re-issue comes with a couple of bonus tracks and a video too and slightly altered cover art. Tarja is in fine form vocally as always but coming across as perhaps a bit forced. There are some nice things going on in the cut ‘Creek Mary’s Blood’ and the radio-friendly singles should help break this band in North America. They deserve what they get in every sense of the word, both good and bad.