Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish Update - Richard Dawkins & mo
NIGHTWISH To Release 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful' Album In March
Quote:
Finnish / Dutch / British symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH will release their new album, "Endless Forms Most Beautiful", on March 27 in Europe and March 31 in the U.S. via Nuclear Blast. The cover artwork for the CD was created by the band's longtime collaborator Toxic Angel.
"Endless Forms Most Beautiful" features eleven new songs and will be released in different formats:
* Standard CD * Digibook (including instrumental CD) * 2LP (vinyl in gatefold) in different colors * Earbook (including instrumental and orchestral CD) * Earbook (deluxe version including bonus vinyl) * Download
The "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" title came from Charles Darwin's "The Origin Of Species" book, where he wrote: "There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, while this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved."
Commented NIGHTWISH keyboardist and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen: "This classic quote is where it all began. We set sail for the ultimate journey in March 2015. Join us!"
A single called "Élan" will precede the full-length CD on February 13. The four-track single features the album version of the title cut, a radio edit and an alternate version of "Élan", as well as the non-album bonus track "Sagan".
Regarding "Élan", Holopainen said: "'Oh, while I live to be the ruler of life, Not a slave. To meet life as a powerful conqueror, and nothing exterior to me will ever take command of me.' This beautiful quote from my hero Uncle Walt [Walt Whitman] was the starting point for writing 'Élan'.
"The underlying theme of the song is nothing less than the meaning of life, which can be something different for all of us.
"It's important to surrender yourself to the occasional 'free fall' and not to fear the path less travelled by.
As previously reported, longtime NIGHTWISH drummer Jukka Nevalainen sat out the recording sessions for the group's new CD due to health issues; Kai Hahto (WINTERSUN, SWALLOW THE SUN, TREES OF ETERNITY) has replaced him.
NIGHTWISH recently revealed the famed evolutionary biologist and atheist writer/leader Richard Dawkins will appear as a guest on the band's eighth studio album.
Singer Floor Jansen, who officially joined the band last year, made her live debut as the frontwoman of NIGHTWISH on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington.
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:27 am
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
Endless Forms Most Beautiful [Track Listing]
01. "Shudder Before the Beautiful" 02. "Weak Fantasy" 03. "Élan" 04. "Yours is an Empty Hope" 05. "Our Decades in the Sun" 06. "My Walden" 07. "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" 08. "Edema Ruh" 09. "Alpenglow" 10. "The Eyes of Sharbat Gula" 11. "The Greatest Show on Earth"
The first single, "Elan", will be released on February 13th, along with the music video. Just 17 days away now!
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:26 am
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
Currently Announced World Tour Dates:
[2015] APR 09 - Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, NY (USA) APR 10 - Electric Factory, Philadelphia, PA (USA) APR 11 - Palladium, Worcester, MA (USA) APR 13 - Le Capitole, Québec City, QC (Canada) [SOLD OUT] APR 14 - Phoenix Concert Theater, Toronto, ON (Canada) APR 16 - Town Ballroom, Buffalo, NY (USA) APR 17 - Agora Theatre, Cleveland, OH (USA) APR 18 - Concorde Music Hall, Chicago, IL (USA) APR 19 - 7 Flags Events Center, Clive, IA (USA) APR 21 - Ogden Theatre, Denver, CO (USA) APR 22 - In The Venue, Salt Lake City, UT (USA) APR 24 - Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA (USA) APR 25 - Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, BC (Canada) APR 26 - Crystal Ballroom, Portland, OR (USA) APR 28 - Warfield Theatre, San Francisco, CA (USA) APR 30 - House Of Blues, Las Vegas, NV (USA) MAY 01 - The Greek Theater, Los Angeles, CA (USA) MAY 02 - Marquee Theatre, Phoenix, AZ (USA) MAY 03 - Tricky Falls, El Paso, TX (USA) MAY 05 - Bomb Factory, Dallas, TX (USA) MAY 06 - Warehouse Live, Houston, TX (USA) MAY 08 - House of Blues, Orlando, FL (USA) MAY 09 - Revolution, Fort Lauderdale, FL (USA) MAY 11 - Marathon Music Work, Nashville, TN (USA) MAY 12 - Expo Five, Louisville, KY (USA) MAY 13 - Filmore, Charlotte, NC (USA) MAY 14 - Filmore, Silver Springs, MD (USA)
JUN 06 - Laulurinne, Joensuu (Finland) JUN 08 - Baltic Princess, Turku (Finland) JUN 09 - Baltic Princess, Turku (Finland) JUN 12-14 - Nova Rock, Nickelsdorf (Austria) JUN 19 - Rock The Ring Festival, Hinwil-Zurich (Switzerland) JUN 21 - Hellfest, Clisson (France) JUL 12 - Masters of Rock, Vizovice (Czech Republic) JUL 23-25 -Rock Fest BCN 2015, Barcelona (Spain) JUL 25 - Qstock, Oulu (Finland) JUL 31 - Ratinan Stadion, Tampere (Finland) AUG 08-09 - M'era Luna, Hildesheim (Germany) AUG 08-09 -Alcatraz Festival 2015, Kortrijk (Belgium) AUG 13-15 - Summer Breeze, Dinkelsbühl (Germany) AUG 29 - Sverresborg Arena, Trondheim (Norway)
[2016] FEB 21 - Metropolis, Montreal, QC (Canada)
Their 2012/2013 World Tour lasted 572 days, and reached 34 countries with 104 concerts, selling 1.5 million tickets.
Hopefully this one is just as big, or even bigger. I'm really hoping to see them in Filmore, Silver Springs, MD, the last of their US shows (in 2015 at least).
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Tue Jan 27, 2015 1:39 am
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
Nightwish - "Élan" [Review] - 4.5/5
One of the most famous symphonic rock bands in the world is back- and they’re back with some new talent. With the lovely Floor Jansen (After Forever – ReVamp) taking the official role of lead vocalist, the female-fronted band is ready to take this new musical era by storm.
Throughout the years, Nightwish has changed their singing talents, and as such, the music found ways to transform to accompany the new voices. However, the innate, epic, almost cinematic ‘Nightwish’ quality sound continues to seep into every song that they do, and is instantaneously recognize by fans alike.
The new single Élan, set to be released on February 13th via Nuclear Blast, embodies this concept. A French word that translates to ‘Momentum’, Élan features the new self-titled single along with a bonus track Sagan, which will not be featured on the main album. The lyrics of both songs are exceptionally written, and as poetic as the previous music.
The Celtic melody in Élan glides with the new front woman’s voice, and convoys with the various changes that her vocals go through throughout the song’s progression. Fans of the band’s original singer and fans of the band’s latter singer will, most likely, find themselves thoroughly impressed by Jansen, as her voice finds a fantastic common ground between the two. There is a familiar softness in the beginning of the song that is much akin to the band’s first few albums, such as Century Child, but progresses to the similar edge featured in Dark Passion Play. The song features the well-known (and beautifully executed) Nightwish concept of freedom. An alternate version of this song is included in the single, which gives the song a fairly different vibe, vocals taking precedence and feeling significantly more separated from the melody. Both versions are just as impactful.
“Sagan” on the other hand, is a bit faster in tempo than the previous song. The chorus will remind fans of Imaginaerium, as will the lyrics. A very dreamlike, adventurer’s song, with a very distinct melody, this is a song that will find itself playing in your mind over and over again.
This single would make any Nightwish fan excited for the new album, and symphonic lovers will certainly be drawn into this band once more.
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:19 pm
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
Track running times released!
01. "Shudder Before the Beautiful" (06:29) 02. "Weak Fantasy" (05:23) 03. "Élan" (04:48) 04. "Yours is an Empty Hope" (05:34) 05. "Our Decades in the Sun" (06:37) 06. "My Walden" (04:38) 07. "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" (05:07) 08. "Edema Ruh" (05:15) 09. "Alpenglow" (04:45) 10. "The Eyes of Sharbat Gula" (06:03) 11. "The Greatest Show on Earth" (24:01) Running Time: 78:40
Richard Dawkins, who joined the recording session last year, is confirmed to have spoken lines during the opening track and a few more during the very long final track that everyone is talking about.
First Impressions from the European presswho attended the listening session last week:
"The last song is comfortably the most spectacular thing NIGHTWISH have ever written. The album is the most metal record they have done in a decade, and Floor has no trouble cementing her place in the band.” METAL HAMMER (UK), Tom Dare,
“Excellent music cocktail! That’s NIGHTWISH like you wish – heavy with a taste of the »Once« album, bombastic, but more metal, this is true NIGHTWISH, a soundtrack of themselves!” SPARK (CZ), David Havlena
“The combination NIGHTWISH & Floor – it's magic. For me personally, it’s a dream that came true. With this new unbelievable, cinematic, dark, orchestral, the band completely fulfill my high expectations. An album that every NIGHTWISH-fan will cherish!” – AARDSCHOK (NL), Anita Boel
"Clear and consequent continuation of the previously chosen path. Overwhelmingly, bombastic and inspiring. An album to listen to and experience.”– ROCK IT (D), Jürgen Will
"This album sounds like the ceremony of the opposites for NIGHTWISH, it’s like their entire carrier is concentrated in one album, it’s like I have eaten too much of my favorite dish.“ – ROCK HARD (IT), Emanuele Biani
“At first I was afraid that Floor would affect the band more than vice versa. I’m glad I was wrong. NIGHTWISH brought out the metal from her and turned her into a well working mix of the past, creating a bright future for the band and for the fans. I like that the band got more focus than the orchestra this time. The ending “whooo” in ‘Edema’ wasn’t necessary thou. That kinda killed the otherwise so good song.” SWEDEN ROCK (S), Janne Mattsson,
“Endless Forms Most Beautiful« characterizes the celebration and victory of this new alliance. The beauty and purity of NIGHTWISH’s music together with Floor’s majesty and power were simply meant to be. Defiantly not the last ride of their day!” METALLIAN (F), Lucinda Lacroix
“An amazing surprise with new blood and on the other side beloved elements as orchestral grandness, folky storytelling catchiness and – GREAT! – more heaviness then before!" ROCK TRIBUNE (BE), Vera Matthijssens
"Maybe the heaviest album from Nightwish: guitars are back high in the mix but the evolution shown on "Imaginaerum" hasn't been forgotten. Bombastic, epic and catchy, this album contains all the elements of Nightwish universe in 11 tracks. Including the most ambitious piece of the band's history: "The Greatest Show On Earth". ROCK HARD (F), Guillaume Fleury
“The album sounds extraordinary, and definitely not like anything Nightwish ever done before. Floor's voice fits perfectly to the mood of very expanded compositions, and what is one of the strongest virtue of the album - the lyrics really make us THINK. A great step to start a New Chapter in Nightwish's musical journey." – METAL HAMMER (PL), Paulina Magdalena Mazur
„They have topped themselves yet again, even when you thought it couldn't go any better. A full on cinematic explosion of sounds that you will grow to love.” METALCIRCUS (ES), Sergi Ramos
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Wed Feb 04, 2015 12:28 am
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
Nightwish have announced a headline show at Wembley SSE Arena on the 19th December 2015, which will be their only UK date this year.
The band will be making history by being the first ever Finnish band to headline this famous venue.
"Who would have thought about headlining at Wembley Arena one day when we were starting our UK touring history from the downstairs of the legendary Astoria Club in London over ten years ago. This truly is a dream come true for us!" (Tuomas Holopainen / NIGHTWISH)
The date will feature the band’s full production, giving UK fans a spectacular stage show, as well as their the first chance to hear tracks from the upcoming new album 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful' live.
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Mon Feb 09, 2015 11:39 pm
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
Rock That Metal ["Élan" Review]
Dutch rock goddess Floor Jansen is handling lead vocals for the first time on a new Nightwish track – let’s check how it worked out!
As expected for a first single it is a little on the “poppier” side of Nightwish. Élan is a mid-tempo number starting out with a keyboard/instrumental intro followed by a verse that has soft vocals by Floor standards. Build-up is nice, followed by a catchy chorus – but not as powerful as some previous Nightwish single releases. It gets a little more epic at the 3:30 mark and Floor’s immense vocal prowess really starts to shine there. Nice acoustic guitar outro following – interesting!
The alternative version is a nice take, different build ups and vocal variations, we like this one a lot! Thank you Nightwish for giving us different versions of Élan! The included digital booklet comes at four pages, with lyrics, lineup info and credits – just a nice little touch for this release.
Another very good release from Nightwish - definitely upped the anticipation factor for the new album! Floor Jansen did a great job on the vocals and we can't wait to hear what the the other new Nightwish songs will sound like. Thumbs Up! [4.6 Stars]
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Fri Feb 13, 2015 1:34 am
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
Leave the sleep and let the springtime talk in tongues from the time before man listen to a daffodil tell her tale Let the guest in, walk out, be the first to greet the morn The meadows of heaven await harvest the cliffs unjumped cold waters untouched The elsewhere creatures yet unseen Finally your number came up Free fall awaits the brave.
Come, taste the wine, race the blind we will guide you from the light, writing noughts till the end of time.. Come, surf the clouds, race the dark, it feeds from the runs undone, meet me where the cliff greets the sea...
The answer to the riddle before your eyes is in dead leaves and fleeting skies returning swans and sedulous mice writings on the garden book in the minute of a lover's look. Building a sandcastle close to the shore A house of cards from a worn out deck. A home from the fellowship, poise and calm, writing lyric for the song only you can understand..
-Chorus-
Riding hard every shooting star come to life open mind have a laugh at the orthodox, Come, drink deep, let the dam of mind seep, Travil with great Élan Dance a jig at the funeral...
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Fri Feb 13, 2015 10:51 am
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
NIGHTWISH - Making of 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful' - Episode 11
Richard Dawkins and Nightwish’s Tuomas Holopainen [Interview]
Richard Dawkins is no stranger to controversy; musical and otherwise.
It’s hard to imagine, given how his recent remarks on the shooting of three Muslims in North Carolina have been taken, but the arguments against Dawkins were once quite mild. Back in 1995, after his appearance on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, the evolutionary biologist-turned-atheist campaigner was criticised for his choice of Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion — an odd choice, apparently, for such a vocal opponent of religion.
If such a small thing can draw discussion, his latest foray into the arts will presumably garner some fairly raised eyebrows — at least, if my inbox is anything to go by. When I message a friend to say I’m about to interview Richard Dawkins about Finnish metal, her response is simply “please explain this”.
It’s hard to know where to begin. It’s not every day, after all, you sit down to listen to a 24-minute symphonic metal track with rolling piano, cello and ape noises; and fewer still you get to watch a Scandinavian rockstar discussing childhood clarinet lessons with one of the country’s most prominent and – not to put too fine a point on it – most criticised public intellectuals.
When I meet Dawkins and Nightwish lyricist Tuomas — who is wearing a T-shirt with Charles Darwin’s face on — in a Kensington hotel, however, it seems a surprisingly straightforward collaboration. Both of them are disarmingly earnest about their work together; indeed, by the time I leave, it seems almost inevitable that Dawkins would be sampled on a Nightwish album.
For that is exactly what’s happened. A self-declared “life-long science fan”, Tuomas studied the subject at university before dropping out to pursue music. A recent interest in the works of Dawkins, as well as Christopher Hitchens, Carl Sagan and other figures, led to him approaching the scientist.
“I wrote him a handwritten letter, explaining what we had in mind”, says Tuomas. Two weeks later, Dawkins replied via e-mail expressing his willingness. They set up a studio date in Oxford, and less than six months later, two tracks are ready for the forthcoming album Endless Forms Most Beautiful.
I ask Dawkins if he’d heard of Nightwish before he received Tuomas’ letter. There’s no sense of irony in his response.
“No, I hadn’t. But I was interested, I was intrigued and fascinated. I asked advice of my assistant, and he urged me to do it. I was pleased to do it.”
When I suggest that perhaps the genre is a little unexpected, Dawkins is sanguine. “Yes, it’s a bit of a different kind of music, but I am capable of being very moved by music.” The lyrics Tuomas has him read, alongside his own writing and the works of other scientists, are “beautiful”. When I ask if he'll play at Nightwish's upcoming Wembley show, both parties seem keen. "Let's do it."
Being moved by music is a topic Dawkins spoken on before. Is this an attempt to make the scientific sublime? “Exactly”, Dawkins says. “That’s so important.” Tuamos agrees: people may think of science and evolution as dry, but it’s “exact opposite of that. It’s the most poetic thing there is, evolution.”
It’s impossible to tell if Dawkins is unaware how he is perceived, or just gifted with a total lack of self-doubt. Either way, it might explain something about his public persona. I ask if there’s a certain pleasure in provoking people – his detractors on the Christian right, for instance, will surely be unhappy that he’s now collaborating with a metal band. Dawkins seems not to know what I’m getting at. There’s a certain image, I suggest – “satanic?”, he fills in. Yes, perhaps.
And what about the Nightwish fans? According to Tuomas, “people are really excited”, but there is some opposition. He imitates some of his fan responses: “I’ve been a fan of Nightwish for fifteen years, I’ve seen twenty of your shows, but I will never ever come to see you again. I just burned all your CDs.”
“It’s good for publicity, that sort of thing”, says Dawkins. And he would know.
Endless Forms Most Beautiful is due out on 30 March. Nightwish – possibly featuring Richard Dawkins? – will headline Wembley Arena in December this year.
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Tue Feb 17, 2015 10:58 pm
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
Nightwish Streaming New Song ‘Shudder Before the Beautiful’
Quote:
Nightwish‘s new album opener 'Shudder Before The Beautiful' is available for streaming over on the website of the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat (Helsinki Times).
Chief songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen told the Finnish newspaper about the song. He stated, “The core of ‘Shudder Before the Beautiful’ lies in moments such as gazing at the Milky Way on a cold winter’s night, seeing a photo of our Planet Earth, ‘a pale blue dot’ taken by the Voyager 1 as a tiny oasis in the unfathomable vastness of space, or when listening to music momentarily which takes away all woe and time. And those sharing moments with people you love.”
“Shudder Before the Beautiful” is off the group’s upcoming eighth studio album Endless Forms Most Beautiful, which comes out in the States on March 31. This will be the band’s first album to feature frontwoman Floor Jansen, while longtime drummer Jukka Nevalainen had to sit out of these recording sessions because of his struggles with chronic insomnia. Kai Hahto took his place.
'Shudder Before the Beautiful' - Unofficial Lyrics:
Richard Dawkins, "The deepest solace lies in understanding / This ancient unseen stream / A shudder before the beautiful"
Awake oceanborn Behold this force Bring the outside in Expose the self to epiphany
The very core of life The soaring high of truth and light
The music of this awe Deep silence between the notes Deafens me with endless love This vagrant island Earth A pilgrim shining bright We are shuddering Before the beautiful Before the plentiful We, the voyagers
Tales from the seas Cathedral of green
The very core of life The soaring high of truth and light
The music of this awe Deep silence between the notes Deafens me with endless love This vagrant island Earth A pilgrim shining bright We are shuddering Before the beautiful Before the plentiful We, the voyagers
The unknown The grand show The choir of the stars Interstellar Theatre play The nebula curtain falls Imagination Evolution A species from the veil As we wander In search of The source of the tale
The music of this awe Deep silence between the notes Deafens me with endless love This vagrant island Earth A pilgrim shining bright We are shuddering Before the beautiful Before the plentiful We, the voyagers
The music of this awe Deep silence between the notes Deafens me with endless love This vagrant island Earth A pilgrim shining bright We are shuddering Before the beautiful Before the plentiful We, the voyagers
The music of this awe Deep silence between the notes Deafens me with endless love This vagrant island Earth A pilgrim shining bright We are shuddering Before the beautiful Before the plentiful We, the voyagers
This is Nightwish. I liked the first single, 'Elan', which I posted last month, but it was missing that "kick" that basically every first single Nightwish releases lacks. Their first singles always sound like like samples or a taste of much bigger things to come on the forthcoming album.
'Shudder Before the Beautiful' is vintage Nightwish, musically, with vocal melodies fitting their more recent work. Very familiar intro, riff, and a bridge passage that is better than ever. It's the established sound of Nightwish. It's a track that would have easily had a place on their earlier albums. And the song has, perhaps, their best guitar solo since 2004.
They've been playing 'Dark Chest of Wonders' as their opening track at most of their concerts since 2004, and with 'Shudder Before the Beautiful' being the definition of a opening track like that one, it'll will probably take its place on their upcoming 2015-2016 world tour.
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Fri Mar 13, 2015 10:59 am
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
A fan created a stunning unofficial lyric video for "Shudder Before The Beautiful" that the band has taken an interest in and shared:
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Sun Mar 22, 2015 10:49 pm
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
Length: 78:36 Label: Nuclear Blast
Track Listing: 1. Shudder Before the Beautiful (06:29) 2. Weak Fantasy (05:23) 3. Elan (04:45) 4. Yours Is an Empty Hope (05:34) 5. Our Decades in the Sun (06:37) 6. My Walden (04:38) 7. Endless Forms Most Beautiful (05:07) 8. Edema Ruh (05:15) 9. Alpenglow (04:45) 10. The Eyes of Sharbat Gula (06:03) 11. The Greatest Show on Earth (24:00)
It is such a rare feat these days that a band can boast a back catalogue of such highly acclaimed albums. Nightwish’s career has not stagnated once in their nearly 20 years of existence, and despite highly publicised vocalist changes that has quartered the fanbases, their popularity has gone nothing but up. Why? Their music is simply immense. So here we are with album number 8, but after throwing so much into their previous effort ‘Imaginaerum‘, have the band finally run out of steam?
If the opening track of ‘Endless Forms Most Beautiful‘ has anything to say about it, absolutely not. The album opens with Richard Dawkins, the figurehead in the album’s theme of evolution, speaking to provide a brief introduction to the loose concept. Without hesitation the album bursts into life with ‘Shudder Before The Beautiful‘, orchestras blaring, keyboards frantic, and suddenly a wall of guitars thickening into one of Nightwish’s heaviest tracks in their career. The band have gone all out in this one, from a massive chorus transitioning to a prolonged solo battle between guitars and keyboards. It purely represents the things to come on the album, a raw Nightwish that has tapped all the highlights of their career into a transcendent epic.
Moving straight on to ‘Weak Fantasy‘, the band does not immediately lift up the power and aggression, yet makes an immediate impact of the spectrum of elements the instrumentalists now have to offer on the album. From a massive heavy chorus of ominous choirs transitioning into folk guitar melodies and tribal drumming, overlaid by the diverse vocals of Floor Jansen marking her Nightwish recording debut. The further addition of Troy Donockley as a full time member proves to be one of the wisest of investments as they make use of his talents with the vast array of unique instruments evident with tracks such as ‘Elan‘ and ‘My Walden‘.
There are moments of this album that represent pure passion and take us on a journey of reminiscence of styles throughout Nightwish’s career, whilst building on top of them with the vast resources of choirs and full orchestra the band now have at their disposal. The softer ‘Elan‘ takes us to the softer metal with hook that Nightwish singles in recent years, while the heavier ‘Endless Forms Most Beautiful‘ and playful ‘Alpenglow‘ revisit the ‘Century Child‘ days with a diverse range of Emppu Vuorinen’s erratic guitar work with memorable guitar melodies, and dramatic choruses that completely define Nightwish as a musical force.
As the album draws to a close, we come to expect a poetic closure of such an exquisite palette of music, however the higlights of the album are only to come. The beautiful instrumental ‘The Eyes of Sharbat Gula‘ serve as dramatic solace before the storm in the centerpiece of the album – the 24-minute monster of ‘The Greatest Show on Earth‘. This progressive epic highlights the songwriting brilliance of Tuomas Holopainen, taking on the theme of ‘life and evolution by natural selection’, the track takes on the aggressive, the beautiful, the mysterious and everything that the band have to offer in one neat package, making full use of the massive vocal range of Floor Jansen and the masculine prowess of Marco Hietala. One of the finest tracks in Nightwish’s career if I may say so!
‘Endless Forms Most Beautiful‘ simply put is sheer brilliance. Where the previous opus’ of ‘Dark Passion Play‘ and ‘Imaginaerum‘ continued a theatrical progression off of the success of ‘Once‘, this album has taken a renewed and raw approach to songwriting, revisitng the process of old and writing songs to highlight talents of band. The broad and experience-laced musicianship has put to full use just englightening us again as to why this band has made, and will continue to make history, and should be very proud of their 8th album. Forget about the past controversies, put aside your vocalist disputes, Nightwish has produced a fantastic album that can be adored by all.
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Wed Mar 25, 2015 10:06 pm
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
Nightwish's 8th studio album, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, is setting new peak positions in most countries for the band in its first week of sales:
Australia - #16 (New Band Peak) Belgium - #15 (New Band Peak) Finland - #1 (6th #1 album in their home country) Netherlands - #3 (New Band Peak) New Zealand - #32 (First album to ever chart here) Poland - #10 (Second Top 10 debut here) Sweden - #4 (New Band Peak) UK - #12 (New Band Peak); #1 on the Rock & Metal Charts
They'll headline the SSE Arena, Wembley in England in December this year.
It also debuted at #31 in Japan on its first day.
Their previous high on the US Billboard 200 was 2011's Imaginarum, which debuted at #27, and hopefully Endless Forms Most Beautiful beats that. It was in Amazon's Top 10 (currently #22) during most of the past week, so we could see a nice debut in a couple days.
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Sun Apr 05, 2015 10:27 pm
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Symphonic Metal (Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautifu
Top 10 Debuts: Czech Republic - #1 (Second #1 debut here) Germany - #2 (3rd Top 2 debut here) Finland - #1 (6th #1 album in their home country) Netherlands - #3 (New Band Peak) Poland - #10 (Second Top 10 debut here) Sweden - #4 (New Band Peak)
Other Debuts: Australia - #16 (New Band Peak) Belgium - #15 (New Band Peak) New Zealand - #32 (First album to ever chart here) UK - #12 (New Band Peak) [8,463 copies sold]
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Last edited by Corpse on Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Tue Apr 07, 2015 8:39 pm
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful (Chart Position
"Endless Forms Most Beautiful", the eighth album from Finnish / Dutch / British symphonic metallers Nightwish has registered the following first-week chart positions:
The #34 rank in the US didn't beat their previous peak of #27, but the new album did deliver their biggest first week in sales, selling 5,832 more copies (46% increase) than their last album.
Their 6th World Tour, The Endless Forms Most Beautiful World Tour (2015-2016) begins tonight in New York, NY. Their last world tour, The Imaginarum World Tour (2012-2013), had 104 shows and sold over 1.5 million tickets across 34 countries.
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Thu Apr 09, 2015 9:16 pm
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful (Chart Position
Nightwish began the South American leg of their 2015-2016 world tour last week, and performed at Rock in Rio yesterday in front of a sold out crowd of 85,000 strong:
This performance was streamed, and featured Tony Kakko (of Sonata Arctica) on a couple songs:
Nightwish have revived the live performances of several older songs since Floor Jansen joined them, which included the old classic 'Wishmaster', from their 2000 album of the same name, at this concert.
Rock in Rio Setlist:
Roll Tide (Hans Zimmer intro) Shudder Before the Beautiful Yours Is an Empty Hope Wishmaster My Walden Weak Fantasy (Preceded by a Dawkins Narration) Stargazers The Islander (with Tony Kakko) Last Ride of the Day (with Tony Kakko) Ghost Love Score The Greatest Show on Earth Chapter IV: The Understanding The Greatest Show on Earth Chapter V: Sea-Worn Driftwood
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Sat Sep 26, 2015 12:50 pm
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful (Wembley Arena)
Nightwish performed for a sold out crowd at the Wembley Arena last Saturday, December, 19th, making history by being the first Finnish based band to ever perform at the famous arena.
The concert was filmed, and along with other filmed shows from the past year, will be included on next year's Blu-Ray/DVD release.
Wembley Setlist: Shudder Before the Beautiful Yours Is an Empty Hope Ever Dream Storytime My Walden While Your Lips Are Still Red Élan Weak Fantasy (Preceded by a Dawkins' narration) 7 Days to the Wolves Alpenglow The Poet and the Pendulum Nemo I Want My Tears Back Stargazers Ghost Love Score Last Ride of the Day The Greatest Show on Earth (Chapter I: Four Point Six; Chapter II: Life; Chapter III: The Toolmaker) The Greatest Show on Earth (with guest appearance by professor Richard Dawkins)
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Last edited by Corpse on Fri Feb 07, 2020 6:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Sun Dec 27, 2015 1:32 am
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: General Symphonic Metal - Nightwish New Single & Album
I don't believe any of the Symphonic Metal (or Nightwish) fans still post here, other than myself, but Nightwish will be releasing their ninth studio album, and first double album, on April 20th, titled "Human. :II: Nature.".
Disc 2: "All the Works of Nature Which Adorn the World" 1. "Vista" 3:59 2. "The Blue" 3:35 3. "The Green" 4:42 4. "Moors" 4:44 5. "Aurorae" 2:07 6. "Quiet as the Snow" 4:05 7. "Anthropocene (incl. "Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal")" 3:05 8. "Ad Astra" 4:41 Total length: 30:58
The first single & music video, "Noise", was released today:
Lyrics:
Crave the machine Revere the screen Zoom in for flak and misery Bleed some pixels Shoot yourself Pose for the dead Have a near-life experience In a hot air matrix Now you're a star Vain avatar Feeding the beast In your loud Egoland You have become Tool of a tool Digital ghouls Telling you to Shut up and dance!
Color a yarn and the crowds will gather
Noise From a sunless world Your mirror is black, only a copy stares back At a slave of brave new world Noise To decoy the human voice Brain insomniac, paranoiac Endless noise!
Please love me See how I bleed Please endure I have such empathy in me Hum, noise, hum Beautifully numb Tapping the quiet air To have a meaning By a carrion Sad hologram Lost in the maze The real and human feel Sunset is free From this deity The Earth has a real voice Go out and get in (I will follow)
Color a yarn and the crowds will gather
Noise From a sunless world Your mirror is black, only a copy stares back At a slave of brave new world Noise To decoy the human voice Brain insomniac, paranoiac Endless noise!
Feast your eyes on the black mirror Feed the beast, join the gathering, tell a tale Feast of fears is drawing nearer
Feast your eyes on the black mirror Feed the beast, join the gathering, tell a tale Feast of fears is drawing nearer
Beyond the human horizon Something terrifying sleeps
Noise From a sunless world Your mirror is black, only a copy stares back At a slave of brave new world Noise To decoy the human voice Brain insomniac, paranoiac Endless noise!
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Fri Feb 07, 2020 6:33 pm
Flava'd vs The World
The Kramer
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am Posts: 25162 Location: Classified
Re: General Symphonic Metal - Nightwish New Single & Album
Is Tarja back yet?
Fri Feb 07, 2020 8:44 pm
Corpse
Don't Dream It, Be It
Joined: Wed Aug 02, 2006 12:45 pm Posts: 37162 Location: The Graveyard
Re: General Symphonic Metal - Nightwish New Single & Album
I love Tarja, but Floor is so much better. Tarja's vocals are pretty restricted in its classical/operatic tone (where she totally owns), while Floor can do the classical/operatic vocals along with rock belts, pop melodies, growls/distortion, and so much more.
Floor was one of the musical guests in last year's Dutch reality show Beste Zangers (Best Singers), and really displayed what she could do outside of the metal scene. If interested, check these out:
“Gods are great ... but the heart is greater. For it is from our hearts they come, and to our hearts they shall return.” “We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other.” “There are three things all wise men fear: the sea in storm, a night with no moon, and the anger of a gentle man.” “You have to pretend you get an endgame. You have to carry on like you will; otherwise, you can't carry on at all.” "Paper is dead without words / Ink idle without a poem / All the world dead without stories."
Sat Feb 08, 2020 1:09 am
Flava'd vs The World
The Kramer
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2004 11:36 am Posts: 25162 Location: Classified
Re: General Symphonic Metal - Nightwish New Single & Album
Honestly I only really love the Once album. I just feel like Tarja coming back would be a big deal and get them some love on the festival circuit.
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