NIGHTWISH
Human. :||: Nature.
Nuclear Blast
Finnish symphonic folk metal masters NIGHTWISH have once again eclipsed other bands in the genre and exceeded the expectations of listeners worldwide. Human. :||: Nature. is the band’s ninth studio album and their second with vocalist Floor Jansen. The band charted at in the top ten of multiple international music charts and debuted in the #1 spot in their home country of Finland. Dutch powerhouse Jansen joined the band seven years ago in the midst of the band’s tour for Imaginarium. She had two days to learn the lyrics to the setlist in order for the tour to continue due to the rapid and unexpected departure of then vocalist Annette Olzen. Not only did she learn the songs, but her breakout performance at Wacken in 2013 forever termed her incredible vocal range “the Floor-gasm”.
Incidentally, Jansen has made herself at home by exercising extreme vocal versatility as she is able to master the band’s early material with first vocalist Tarja Tarunen as well as slaying the songs recorded with Olzen. Jansen’s debut performance on Endless Forms Most Beautiful left no doubt that she was the right choice for the band.
This new two-disc set includes the opening track “Music” and leads the listener on a journey through the creation of sound and music while staying true to the band’s signature formula created by founder and primary songwriter Tuomas Holopainen. The remaining members of the band are bassist Marko Hietala, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, Uilleann Piper Troy Donockley, and drummer Kai Hahto.
The first disc is a conglomeration of tunes that discuss music, people and the earth and in order to showcase the fine male vocal talents of Hietala and Donockley, each was given their own song to lead. Hietala sings lead on “Endlessness” and Donockley takes over the job on “Harvest”. Both equally compliment Jansen in a backing vocal role throughout the rest of the album.
The standout on the first disc is also the song released as a first single and video; “Noise” takes the listener on a journey through all of the frenetic energy people face in the world today while the video shows an incredible visual of people tethered to technology rather than making meaningful human connections.
Another favorite is “Pan”. The lyrical evocation of emotion is one that twists and turns with arias and blast beats all incorporated into one large musical canvas. The ending stanza sums up the entire song;
“A pale blue theatre stage, A feast of beautiful tragedy, wonderful fantasy, The play is
yours to write, Yours to live, Ready the night by a playwright”.
The second disc is eight songs that are connected into one story entitled All The Works of Nature Which Adorn The World. Holopainen has deemed it his "love letter to our world". His use of symphony creates a peaceful atmosphere just as quickly as it can bring thundering doom. This album is everything one would expect from NIGHTWISH and more.
While touring for the album has been suspended pending international restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fans can still interact with the band on social media, purchase merchandise from the band website and stay tuned to the band’s official social media outlets for updates on their European and North American touring schedules.
Additionally, the album is available in multiple formats; CD, Digital and two different vinyl releases in colored or traditional black vinyl with gatefold art and liner notes.
5.0 Out Of 5.0
