Nightwish Close Their Trilogy with a Monumental Epic

Intricate melodies, bombastic orchestrations and triumphant riffs propel the whole album boldly forward. An odyssey about the transience of human life (bandleader Tuomas Holopainen dedicated the album to his late father), time travel, memory and recollection – all of this possesses a seductive renaissance quality, which the sextet combines with rustic folk techniques, elegant harmonies and ornate rhythms.

The sombre intro of the title track "Yesterwynde" is haunting. On the other hand, the emotionally charged "An Ocean Of Strange Islands" is full of the band's typical rampage, which alternates upbeat orchestral arrangements with the bittersweet female vocals of Floor Jansen, whose energy boldly carries the grandiose odes forward. After the departure of the operatic Tarja Turunen, she has long since found a firm place in the Nightwish ranks and, on the album, she delivers an unprecedented performance. The verses about the preciousness of human existence take on a fairytale-like quality, which is enhanced by the many arpeggios, hymn-like interludes, dreamy instrumental breaks, as well as the brutal guitar rumble on the following "The Antikythera Mechanism".

Even by Nightwish's standards, the current record is rich in sounds, cleverly mixing flutes, harps, frantic strings, or a children's choir that has an almost haunting feel on the track "The Day Of Perfume Of The Timeless". The ballad "Sway" is of another ilk, painting catchy renaissance patterns with delicate orchestral arrangements. The keyboard opening of "The Children Of'Ata" takes us into an analogue dance world, telling the story of a group of castaways who managed to survive alone on a deserted island. The song "Hiraeth" gently wails on with its folk metal feel while the epic "The Weave" emanates a true operatic soundtrack with heavy metal production. The piano coda "Lanternlight" is the final lullaby of this giant metal record that has found balance in the grandeur of its genre.

What can musicians appreciate about the album?

Yesterwynde is a mixture of dramatic orchestral compositions and heavy metal riffs characteristic of Nightwish's style. The band emphasises dynamic contrasts between fragile, calm passages and grandiose bursts of energy. Once again, keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen plays a key role as a composer, creating complex melodic layers and elaborate textures that can draw the listener into another world.

Long epic songs have always been typical for Nightwish. Yet, on this album, the transitions between classical orchestral and metal elements are smoother and more organic. The same goes for the use of folk instruments such as flutes or violins, which bring a mystical and natural tone to the songs.

The album Yesterwynde is another proof of Nightwish's ability to evolve while staying true to their roots.

Nightwish – Yesterwynde

Nuclear Blast, 00:71:00

symfonický metal

80 %