Nightwish – Once (2003)

January 28, 2022

I can’t remember why I bought this as a kid. I’ve never liked this kind of thing. Maybe I thought Tarja was hot? I honestly can’t remember.

This is an epic album, however. The usual, expected bombast of earlier Nightwish is present (before the poppy stuff took center stage), and there is a savage heaviness underpinning proceedings. Tracks like “Planet Hell”, or “Romanticide” keep the record grounded, whilst meandering suites such as “Creek Mary’s Blood” and “Ghost Love Score” take off on flights of operatic fancy. Of course, there’s “Dark Chest Of Wonders” and “Nemo” too, in case you want to sing along.