Wishmaster [EXTRA TRACKS] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED]

Nightwish

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 6, 2008)
• Original Release Date: July 19, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Original recording reissued
• Label: Fontana Universal
• ASIN: B000WD66BC
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #42,412 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > World Music > Europe > Scandinavia > Finland

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Finland's Nightwish steps to the head of the atmospheric-metal class with their third album. The regal quintet blends the brooding qualities of goth and propulsion metal with the gorgeous operatic singing of Tarja Turunen. Thanks to musical prowess and the skilled hand of composer-keyboardist Tuomas Holpainen, what could be a ponderous and pretentious affair is a vibrant metal romp. Nightwish walks that fine line between heavy-rock bravado and classical pageantry without tipping too much in either direction; the balance of aggressive guitars and flowing keyboards is just right, and the multitracked female vocals and guitar harmonies are glorious. While some may find the lyrics a bit flowery, Wishmaster bumps atmospheric metal up a notch in the right direction. --Bryan Reesman

Product Description
2007 digitally remastered UK reissue of the third full length album with three bonus tracks from Finland's popular gothic metal band featuring Tuomas Holopainen of Nattvindens Grat and vocalist Tarja. This album peaked at #1 on the Finnish charts in May 2000 when first released in Europe. Tarja vocal style operatic and powerful with the deft ability to deliver heavy rockers and dreamy ballads. This edition includes three bonus tracks that didn't appear on the original issue: 'Sleepwalker' (a bonus track from a previous reissue), 'Wanderlust' and 'Deep Silent Complete'. The package includes an extensive booklet with new sleevenotes, photos and details about the band. Spinefarm

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic album - reissued, April 3, 2009

By	Justin Gaines "Corporate Rocker" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

2000's Wishmaster was the third release from Finnish metal sensation Nightwish. The band quickly made a name for themselves with their unique brand of "operatic metal", and would inspire countless imitators. Nightwish was the first though, and with Wishmaster they pretty much set the standard that nearly none of their peers could hope to match.

The band showed incredible potential on Angels Fall First, and continued to develop their sound on Oceanborn, but with Wishmaster you're hearing a band who is completely confident in their abilities, and whose songwriting skills are the equal of their musical talent. It's a grand, sweeping majestic album that takes full advantage of Tuomas Holopainen's keyboard and songwriting skills as well as Tarja Turunen's majestic, opera-caliber voice. The symphonic elements are the perfect accent to the traditional metal sound. Highlights include "Wanderlust", "Deep Silent Complete", "Fantasmic" and the rousing title track, but there really aren't any sub-par songs on the album.

I still think 2004's Once is Nightwish's ultimate achievement, but Wishmaster comes pretty close. Nearly a decade after its original release, it's still the standard by which most other "opera metal" bands are judged.

NOTE: The 2008 reissue of Wishmaster does not feature digitally remastered sound, but there are some extras that might give you sufficient reason to replace your older version. In addition to the expanded liner notes, there are three bonus tracks - live versions of "Wanderlust" and "Deep Silence Complete" and the original version of "Sleepwalker". Live tracks don't do much for me, but "Sleepwalker" is a great addition since it was previously only available as a b-side to an import single. Is that one song worth buying another copy of Wishmaster? Probably not, but I had already picked up the reissues of Angels Fall First and Oceanborn, so I went ahead and upgraded Wishmaster as well.