Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015) CD
Review:
The music writing talents of Tuomas Holopainen are conducive to the
voice his writes for. With Tarja Turunen he found a niche that Symphonic
Rock bands have been trying to emulate since Nightwish's first CD. But
the combination of grandiose music melding Rock instruments with
orchestral arrangements, clever and imaginative lyrics (Tuomas's
strongest suit) and Tarja's vocals were no match for the emulators. With
each new CD, Nightwish's sound evolved into a perfect hybrid of Rock,
Goth, Opera, Classical, and Heavy Metal. Tuomas could switch gears for
maximum speed or cruising along oceanside, and Nightwish was the perfect
vehicle for his drive to keep the hybrid growing. The addition of Marco
Hietala to the band only lent more credence to Tuomas's genius as the
gravel-voiced vocalist from Tarot (Marco's former band) matched perfectly with Tarja's operatic range as evident in their near perfect CD ONCE.
But with Tarja's departure from the band, which we won't get into here,
the search was on for another singer. Fans all over the world
recommended singers from the emulator bands whose vocalists resembled
Tarja in operatic range; however, Tuomas went with Annette Olsen, whose
vocal range was more suited for a Hard Rock band than a Symphonic Rock
band. But not with Tuomas writing songs for her. Their first CD together
was Dark Passion Play (2007), which showed a harder Rock sound edging out the classical leanings. Imaginaerum
(2010), Nightwish's second CD with Annette, found the perfect blend to
send Tuomas's hybrid of music soaring again. Then Annette left the
band, which we won't get into here.
Floor Jansen, from After Forever, one of those emulator bands,
took over Anette's touring duties on vocals as Nightwish continued with
their concert touring for Imaginaerum. Of course, Nightwish was still
looking for a new vocalist, but Jansen turned into such a crowd favorite
that Tuomas invited her to join the band. Now, After Forever is no
slouch band; they gave Nightwish a run for their money in the
song-writing and vocals department, so Nightwish fans were eager to hear
what the new Nightwish CD would sound like with Floor. Well, that CD is
now out and it is called Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015).
Well, Tuomas seems a bit confused about whom he is writing for. Floor
has that Tarja range, but not the Hard Rock edge of Annette, so the new
CD seems to be trying to sound new but it is a rehash of the Tarja-esque
sound of Once with leftover themes from Imaginaerum.
I mean, hell, Nightwish could write Country music and I'd eat it up, so
the new CD is a stunning selection of songs that will have you singing
along with the best of the Nightwish oeuvre. If only they didn't sound
so familiar. The hybrid has stalled. Tuomas doesn't seem to know how to
write for Floor's vocal range, as he seems to be avoiding writing
Tarja-esque songs for a Tarja-esque voice and yet continues to write
Olsen-esque songs for a non-Olsen-esque style. Floor is up for the
challenge. She brings the professionalism she showed with her former
band and the grandiose range, but the Hard Rock has softened.
The true test will come Friday when I see the latest incarnation of
Nightwish live performing songs from the new CD (comprises half the
show). Of course, the band will be playing classics from the songlist
that have proved popular with fans when Floor made them her own,
especially on Ghost Love Score which she turned from Grandiose to
Gothic. And the next test will, of course, be on the next CD. Will
Tuomas get his songwriting back on track and move the band forward with
the new singer ready for music made strictly for her? We'll have to wait
and see, but I'll be there to pick up a copy. Even if it's a Country
album
