A Celebration Of Excellence
This is where Nightwish should have been performing last year when their London Astoria show put so many people in awe of their live sets. The Hammersmith Apollo provides the kind of rich, luxurious sound that sets off the gloriously overblown sound of Nightwish. With the photographers pit full to the brim and thousands of eager fans begging for the show to begin, it's obvious that this isn't any old band's show.
As the highly theatrical intro gives way to the explosive and unmistakeable beginning of 'Dark Chest of Wonders' throws itself energetically towards the back of the hall, the crowd changes. From a mixture of freakish dresses and black t-shirts a crowd of people appear who look at one with themselves. They look eagerly to the stage, to the group of people who enlighten them so. Nightwish are something very special. They're a band capable of crossing genres, ages, awards and countries. Nightwish have friends wherever they go and it's songs like 'Planet Hell' that demonstrate clearly just why they're renowned for their live performances. Tarja Turunen's voice is spellbinding and perfectly complemented by the dramatic, highly masculine vocal work of bassist Marco Heitala. 'Planet Hell', taken from their most recent epic, 'Once', allows Marco to take a healthier role in the songs front- besides a ferocious bassline that's somewhat masked by a thousand other sounds, what rises above is a voice that questions and a voice that remains unmistakable above everything else.
Slipping back an album to 'Century Child', Tarja once more takes sole vocal duties as the silvery soft beginning of 'Ever Dream' peals out over the adoring audience. A personal favourite with many fans, it goes down as well as the previous songs- it's impossible to say anything goes down better until after a stunning rendition of 'Kinslayer', possibly the best cover ever emerges. The souped up Nightwish version of 'Phantom of The Opera' has been peddled by many as better than the original and this dynamic version could well be the solid proof needed.
For many bands, pulling out the ace so early on would be a little dangerous, but Nightwish are capable of furthering the heated atmosphere with the deliciously oriental 'The Siren'. Again, Marco is given a larger part than usual, and the chorus is a heady mixture of ethereal wails and manly growls with a touch of the operatic about it as though he's not quite able to expel the operatic demon of the previous song.
After a quick dress change and a boy's only rendition of 'High Hopes', a Snow White-esque Tarja returns to the stage for another fan favourite from 'Century Child'. 'Slaying The Dreamer', one of the angriest Nightwish songs has a bite to the lyrics and all members of the band seem to darken a shade to pull off the angry, violent tones. Next up is 'Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan' which is all the more beautiful for being performed with Finnish lyrics.
Ending up on 'Nemo', the unmistakable piano tinklings fill the hall and thousands of smiles light up the venue. Even those who have remained relatively unanimated begin to feel that life pulsing beneath the surface of this hauntingly beautiful song and begin to take part in this celebration in what one band compiled of ordinary people with extrodinary talents have acheieved in the past year. The UK is a difficult place to break, and as the band finish the gig on their sultry 'Wish I Had An Angel', the feeling is one of youth, exuberance and a joyous example of what happens when a band is really worth the hype.