Like I alluded to my last review back in June, the month of July is devoted to Power Metal bands where girls are the star! Though Heavy Metal could certain be sexist at times in it’s history, once women were allowed to enter the clubhouse as it were, every single guy that doubted the power of the fairer sex to rock & jam as hard as them were quickly evaporated. When it comes to Power Metal, it seemed like women found a place they could call home in a sense. The more graceful/beautiful voice of a woman really lent a force to the sword-and-sorcery stylings of this subgenre, and I could think of no other Power Metal band to first show this off....than Nightwish.
Yes, Nightwish. Since 1997, the group has crafted some of the finest Power Metal tinged Symphonic Metal ever put to a CD. Though they’ve had female leads change over the years, I can think the one that stands out over the rest would be their original lead, Tarja Turunen. A soprano that has a vocal range of three octaves, this woman’s voice helped put Nightwish on the map, and her sweet notes still ring in many of our ears to this very day. So to celebrate this phenomenal women and the power she wields, I though it would be fun to take a look at the band’s second album Oceanborn, and see just what the group was all about. Let the review begin!
Background
Taken from Wikipedia:
“Speaking to Kerrang! in 2008, band founder Tuomas Holopainen reminisced that the band got really ambitious after the debut album "that was never meant to be released as a proper record. It happened almost by accident, so we decided to put everything into making Oceanborn great." He added:
We were all such amateurs when it came to recording. We didn't really know what we were doing, so we were just experimenting with a lot of different things, we even brought in this string trio who were complete shit, then another violin, then another violin on top. So we ended up with 'Moondance' having 20 tracks of violin, just because we hadn't done this before and didn't know what we were doing! It's a pretty stuffed album, but I also think it's one of our best because you can hear the excitement of trying all these new things. It seems strange that this became a breakthrough album, because back at the time the music was so funny. It was really operatic, and when you look at the pictures, they look pretty horrific.
According to Kerrang!, "for all its Royal Albert Hall grandiosity, Oceanborn was actually recorded in a Finnish school."
This album marked a definitive change in musical scope for Nightwish from their folk-laden roots in Angels Fall First, showcasing a more bombastic, power metal-oriented sound with faster tempos, harmonic guitar/keyboard leads, and plenty of double-bass-heavy drumwork. During that time, Stratovarius was Holopainen's biggest inspiration, hence the power metal sound of the album. Oceanborn's sound hearkens a more dramatic approach in the overall musical scope, mostly relegated to the symphonic keyboard work and lead singer Tarja Turunen's vocals. Most of the album is fantasy-themed, with tracks like "Swanheart" and "Walking in the Air", a cover from the animated TV special The Snowman, as typical examples; however, the song "Gethsemane", has a more religious feel to it. In addition, there are also some theatrical tracks like "Devil & the Deep Dark Ocean". Oceanborn is among their darkest albums, making use of the harsh vocals of Tapio Wilska in the songs "The Pharaoh Sails to Orion" and "Devil & the Deep Dark Ocean"”
Basic Description
90s Power Metal classic!
With the 80s out of the way (But with 80s pioneers still around), those that decided to take up the mantle of Power Metal found a blueprint laid out in front of them, and they all went in different directions but stayed true to formula at the same time. Nightwish was no exception to this, as they stayed true to the origins of Power Metal, but kept their symphonic origins intact at the same time. The end result is an album that’s distinctly Power Metal, but coupled with the symphonic element, adds an aura of sophistication that’s become common with many bands that go with this style. Coupled with an incredible female lead, and the staying power continues to stick around.
Best Track
Picking a single best track off of Oceanborn should be something of a crime. The whole entire album is filled with some of the finest Power Metal tinged Symphonic Metal (Or Symphonic Metal tinged Power Metal if you prefer that order), and it’s so incredibly moving you’re swept up in the emotion of it all. As far as my favorites are concerned, I’m torn between the 2nd track Gethsemane and the concluding track Walking in the Air. The former has something of a religious bent to it, which shouldn’t be a surprise since it actually references a passage from the bible concerning Jesus (Which one specifically, I don’t know), and it’s treat with a great deal of respect. The latter is actually a cover of a song. A cover used in an animated film of Raymond Briggs' 1978 children's book The Snowman, to be exact. Kinda like Gethsemane, there’s a level of reverence & respect that’s readily apparent throughout the whole track. Where as Tarja was louder & more operatic in the previously mentioned track, she more slower & melodic on this one, not to mention softer with her voice. It’s really beautiful, and it’s a song I definitely recommend.
Gethsemane
Walking in the Air
Worst Track
In a similar manner to Odyssey from last month, Oceanborn leans heavily towards one style over the other. In this album’s case, Oceanborn leans more towards the symphonic side of things rather than it’s Power Metal side. That’s not to say that there isn’t any Power Metal, or the fact that all of the songs don’t use Power Metal stylings, cause that’s not true in both case. The problem is that for some reason the record prefers to use one sub-genre over the other, and in the process creates a lop-sided product. A lop-sided product with quality, however.
Other
If you’re interested in listening to this album, check out the link below:
Oceanborn
Overall Impression & Rating
Oceanborn marks another step in the evolution of Power Metal. A step in which gender stigma is discarded, and both sides can find equal footing. Tarja Turunen unfortunately is no longer with Nightwish, but with her powerful voice has left a mark that has never gone away. While styles are a little uneven here on this album, it’s obvious that Symphonic Metal & Power Metal can easily become best friends, and can work incredible magic together. If you like your Power Metal more on the 90s side of things, Oceanborn might be the album for you!
Oceanborn gets a 9.5 out of 10. A nearly flawless classic!
So that was part 1 of Ladies Month over here in Power Metal Pandemonium. A look into how women can kick just as much as in the world of Heavy Metal as the guys can, and with a force like Power Metal out there, they can really accomplish a lot! See you all later this month, when I’ll have my annual Connecticon review up, not to mention a look at a modern Power Metal titan, fronted by one of the baddest chicks around! Until then, may you feel empowered ladies.
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