Yet more haunting metal from Finland!
Nightwish are the strangest of bands. Comprising of a fully trained female opera singer and four blokes who rage with the most ferocious, refreshing metal you’ve heard in recent months, you’d think it would be a very bad combination for a live concert. Surprisingly, these two contrasting genres work together on stage as though they’re made for each other and the rabid, ever-so-slightly-obsessed crowd is proof. The fans clamour to get nearer the stage and ultimately, the Finnish gods of symphonic opera metal. Many will tell you afterwards that Nightwish's music helped them through the darkest moments of their lives or how the hauntingly beautiful, highly talented front woman is their idol. Most will tell you both.
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They begin with "Dark Chest Of Wonders" and it’s a good choice for it is an expansive landscape of sound that crunches and squeals like a rabbit under a car wheel. The growing synth flourishes added in give a feeling of desperation of majestic proportions whilst heart gripping drumming also brings a feeling of urgency to the song. It’s good, but it just doesn’t feel complete. What’s missing is the voice of Tarja Turunen, which sounds twice as large as the woman it rises from. The smooth vocals provide comfort from what would otherwise be a vicious assault of spiky guitars and bass lines which threaten to carve The Astoria in two. The crowd is in heaven, and all the doubts that newcomers to this most unusual band may have had are disposed of in just a few lines of the first verse. From the final closing stomp rises the eerie "Planet Hell". The band don’t even attempt to recreate the full orchestra intro and so resort to using the album's version. Slightly naughty of them, since an improvisation of the shrieking violins that twist like a greased monkey would be interesting to say the least. The intro, no matter how ridden with the scent of death, can’t soften the blow when the crazed voice of bassist Marco Hietala declares ‘Denying the lying/A million children fighting’ but again, this is a matter of contrasts. Nightwish seem to be all about the fork in the path and what lies beyond both options. The apocalyptic prophecy put forward is welcomed with wild movement in the crowd as though the rest of the room has fallen under the spell of the devil. The full-out anger felt in this song, mainly on Hietala’s part is astounding. His part on Nightwish's unique cover of Phantom of the Opera is also needed to prevent Tarja from dipping into full out opera. The result is a version that still haunts like it should, but can also pack a punch rather than just evaporating without a trace.
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By far, one of the (many) highlights of this unusual and highly varied set has to be the current single "Nemo". Tarja’s voice is clearer than ever, and the chorus is a sublime mix of melting vocals and guitars which seem to hack away into your mind like a rusty saw. The song was improved by the addition of a large inflatable Nemo which found its way onto stage for the second chorus. Predictable, but fun - at least for the photographers appeared to enjoy moving it around by the various band members for photographs.
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In the second half of the set Tarja quietly slips off the stage and leaves the boys to entertain the crowd. A wonderful rendition of "Symphony of Destruction" is the result, and shows that Nightwish can rock as hard as the next band. The best song, however, is saved to last. "Wish I Had An Angel" is what happens when beautiful lyrics and muscular guitars are allowed to reproduce. The creation is a song that alternates between slamming you into a wall and sending shivers down your spine by stroking you with feathery synths. Tarja bends her voice into a ghostly vision of beauty. It’s amazing just how well madman growls fit beside a soaring angelic voice.
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No one leaves The Astoria disappointed, for even if many of the crowd’s favourite songs were not played, the effort put in by all the members of the band ensured that the ones which were will be a fond memory for months, if not years to come.
To view all photos taken during this set click here. There are 19 available.