I went into Yesterwynde with zero expectations after the last album, and it blew me away! Easily the best of the trilogy with Floor. A fine soundtrack for the darkening days of autumn; it makes me want to go outside and gaze upon the night sky. It's such a pity that they're not going to play any shows for a long time. I really would like to experience this live.
I didn’t care for Human Nature at all and I think this album blows it out of the water. I think it’s easily the best album they’ve done with Floor. Has some heavy songs like Ocean of Strange Islands, Antikythera Mechanism and The Weave. Also has catchy almost 80s inspired songs like The Day Of and The Children of Ata. Then you have beautiful ballads with Sway, Hiraeth and the real tear jerker that is Lanternlight. Plus it takes the few ideas that did work about the over-indulgent film score esque 2nd disc of Human Nature, weaves (haha!) them into full band, proper Nightwish songs and uses those cinematic qualities as part of the greater concept of the album (the string parts on Spider Silk are terrific for example). The concept, lyrics and ideas of the record itself are also the most focused and well executed since Imaginaerum. They almost lost me with Human Nature. So much so that I was very hesitant about Yesterwynde. Delighted to be proven wrong. Easy 9/10 from me. Best album they’ve released in over a decade. Welcome back Nightwish.
Nightwish’s power metal days seem to be over . They seem to be going more folk proggy rock and a lot of classical, orchestral elements. 12 very strong songs . Their best release since Imaginaerum. Something Whispered Follow Me is probably my favorite track. 10/10
The only problem I have with this album is that there is no tour for it. This was the last album of a trilogy and thus of a journey. For me, the musical development within this journey makes perfect sense. But that doesn't mean that this will be the future path of Nightwish. Where the path will lead, perhaps not even Tuomas knows. But whatever will come out musically in the end, it will be a work of art again and I will love it. Btw; do you know the difference between an artist and an average musician? Artists continue to develop ... I personally love art.
As someone who got into Nightwish a few years back and have therefore been retroactively experiencing their history, I find the Floor era generally excellent. It’s interesting that you really appreciated Endless Forms, but didn’t like Human Irritating Use of Colons 2 Nature, and I think, overall, Yesterwynde is better than Endless Forms. It achieves the trick of being both diverse and entirely coherent as a singe piece of music. I think the songs are more song-like than H2N and echo their early 2000’s past as much as they provide a conclusion to the 3 latest albums. Yes, I like the orchestral element but sometimes agree that with so many layered tracks in each song, the resulting ‘wall of sound’ can overwhelm the band somewhat. However, the overall effect is still rather splendid. You are marking this on your overall impression despite bigging-up most of the tracks. Lanternlight is my favourite track - I can’t think of a better written elegiac rumination on personal loss that is also celebratory of a meaningful life well lived - and Floor has never sung better. The nuances are such that repeated listens really elevate the album. I often wish for a few more simpler songs structurally, like Nemo, Sleeping Sun, Amaranthe etc., but those moments still exist - there are a lot of hooks and rousing choruses here, and yes, I’d like to hear the band dominate more, despite the tremendous musicianship that is quite evident - Kai and Jukka kick arse on this album - the Wintersun rhythm section coming to the fore. This is currently my favourite Nightwish album.
Another masterpiece from Toumas, the music is exceptional and the lyrical content is just outstanding, to think that English is not his first tongue. All the musicians in the band are extraordinary, they have to be, Toumas is a hard task master and pushes their talents to the limit, especially Floor. The song's weave a tapestry of life through it's many facets, our ancestry, our loves, our fears and our hope's, it's a kaleidoscope of our existence on this planet. My favourite track is the last one on the album, Lanternlight, Floor's voice is so emotional, Toumas's piano work so beautiful and the later orchestral touches and Troy's vocal right at the end make for an extraordinary peice of music and not a guitar in sight! 10/10
I'm just voicing my opinion, but I love the new album, is way better than their last one, all the tracks are great but "lantern light", is my favorite song, I guess I'm a sucker for ballads and Floors voice is just an amazing
I personally loved this album. It blows the previous record out of the water. I am disappointed that they won't be touring for the foreseeable future, and it would be amazing to hear them do songs from Yesterwynde live 😢
Pete i'm in total lock step with regarding "Human :ll: Nature" , but I think "Yesterwynde" is very different and a HUGE improvement. The one big hurdle it fails to clear is a suitable replacement for Marko, whose vocal contributions are sorely missed.
Tryed to rank the album songs, i think its a pure masterpiece!! i listened to the album several times by now, and i have to say,to the critics of the mix, the mix is perfect!! instead of just getting Floor, its a wall of sound, that is very much a part of creating the grand journey and atmosphere on this album. Yesterwynde - 8,8/10 A ocean of strange islands - 10/10 The Antikythera mecanism - 9/10 The day off.. - 9/10 Perfume of the timeless - 9,5/10 Sway - 9/10 The children of Ata - 9,5/10 Something whispered follow me - 8,8/10 Spider silk - 8,8/10 Hiraeth - 9,5/10 The weave - 9,2/10 Lanternlight - 10/10 Album rank: 9,3/10 My description of this album could be this, a wall of sounds, that takes you on a journey, and songs that take you in directions you cant predict, in a good way, also very diffrent vibes in the diffrent songs, after listeng to the album several times it did grow on me, and i feel the album gives a diffrent vibe listening to it from start to finish, then when i just listened to the singles, love the album by now its a masterpiece, Tuomas is just a genius, Floor is breathtaking, Troy is a joyful spice, and the rest of the band just amazing.!!
This is a monumental album. Time will tell but I think this will eventually be seen as a pinnacle in Nightwishs discography. I'm not sure what you mean by their power metal past because they constantly evolved and never dished up the same sound twice. Well maybe somewhat with Oceanborn and Wishmaster. There are some sound scape moments on this current album but for the most part its heavy with constant twists and turns that never let the listeners mind wander. I think most fans of the band feel this one was worth the wait.
To me Nightwish Have grown up. Power Metal is not as popular as it used to be. Listen to some of the top bands. Pink Floyd 60s better in the 70s Yes 60s better in the 70s. Bands change. And Nightwish are no different. They've gotten older. I think this is another brilliant album. I like everything they have done. But we all see things in a different way.we Can't agree. It would be boring.
To my ears, there's been something of an overcooked quality about symphonic metal that has kept me from being able to really get into it - I can't quite put my finger on it. I have listened to other Nightwish albums in the past. And I did listen to the newest one highlighted in this video - some real beauty on here, for sure. I guess I'll have to give it a few extra listens to form a more solid opinion.
Disappointing, but I anticipated the direction they are going. My favorite Nightwish tracks are Bye Bye Beautiful, Amaranth, Weak Fantasy, Poet and the Pendulum, and Romanticide, so one can surmise I will be disappointed in the lack of metal. Thank you for the review, Pete!
To my mind Human II Nature is a great album, especially All The Works Of Nature. The instrumental album is very good too. I'm glad I didn't settle for the standard single disc of "Yesterwynde" It seems to me to be a tadge OTT and very choppy. I have to admit to feeling a bit disappointed. The instrumental version seems to be much better and I found that quite enjoyable. The third disc is an orchestral version with all tracks on it apart from "Hiraeth." I found that disc a bit of a come down from the 2nd disc. Sometimes things need quite a few listenings for things to unfold and perhaps "Yesterwynde" is one of those albums. Toumas might need to have a rethink about the direction he is currently taking Nightwish in because I can see him alienating a few fans. I've never thought of a worst Nightwish album until now - only the best and for me that is "iimaginaerum" - but I' find myself thinking the standard version of "Yesterwynde" may just be the worst. I certainly don't regret buying it though.
The band is getting older and have already accomplished a tremendous amount so toning it down and experimenting is actually the normal progression and its still cool
Love, nice wishes early stuff, their later stuff I can’t get much into, I wish they would do more stuff like the older stuff, but I know people got evolve. Call me a dinosaur, but I’ve been getting into the older stuff lately. Anyway, thanks a lot for your comment, I tend to agree. I will listen to it, but I don’t think it will be me in my upper regimen of night stuff.
I‘ve only listened to this album once so far but the first impression it gave me was that Tuomas has lost interest in playing Metal. As you said, it seems like he wants to compose film scores and orchestral stuff and that‘s totally fine, but then, I wonder why he forces himself to make another Metal album where the Metal elements have so strongly been pushed into the background. Maybe it will grow on me with more listens but „Human Nature“ gives me that vibe too already, even though I actually like that album.
Initially, I listened to excerpts from some of the tracks and was looking forward to listening to the album in full, with the exception of the orchestral versions. After a full listen, I was a bit underwhelmed and agree with Pete’s comments. Also, I don’t think the production is that good. There seems to be a lot of compression and Floor’s vocals seem to be too low in the mix.
@jamesfarrow6752 there's no compression, that's why it sounds like it does. Some of these songs consist of 600 tracks so the band needed to use the 'Wall of Sound' approach to balance things out. Some of that doesn't quite work for me but you get used to the mix once you get a handle on the album.
@@davidcoyne7291 To me, it seems like there is very little dynamic range and a lack of space and scale. This is a pity given the theatrical nature of the music. Perhaps another listen will help.
Not for me. I used to enjoy Nightwish up to the Annette Olzon days but then I just bored with all of that kind of music - Lacuna Coil, The Gathering, several others too. They all try too hard to make the music "dense", every bit of silence has to be filled with someone's instrument or some bombastic orchestral "strum", it got very same-y very quickly. At the same time I got back into the classic 70's stuff - Yes, Genesis, ELP, Jethro Tull - and could see that with music back then was about giving every note "space" in which to work. Nightwish can have some credit - they made me go back and appreciate 70's prog a lot more.
I think it's major improvement over Human II Nature. It's more daring and exciting. But I do agree with the film score comment. Nightwish used to be a "metal band" first with major orchestral/symphonic touches. Now the "metal" aspect of it is dialed back and all instrumentation are on the same level. Like you would for a cinematic experience. I do enjoy this album more with every listen which is encouraging.
Being an old prog. rock fan and fairly new to Nightwish, only the last 6 years, I like this direction for the band. For me that last song Lanternlight is quickly becoming my top three favorite Nightwish songs. I guess that is my Prog. and Celtic roots showing through. 😊😊
It surprised me but it won't be near my top of the year list. Better than Human II Nature, but less memorable than some of the standout songs on the three albums before that. But then again: Less meandering 12 or 24 minute songs where half of it is narration or whale noises. Floor is my favourite singer Nightwish had, but their 98-04 material is unbeatable (although certain moments on the two albums with Anette and the first one with Floor came close)
Best album since Dark Passion Play/Once. Very happy with it. Please review new Wintersun! I think you’ll like it and TimeI. You never talk about them. Two members are now in Nightwish and of course Megadeth.
I haven't listened to this yet because I lost interest a bit after EFMB and especially Human || Nature. I ought to give it a try though. Floor is a supreme vocalist, but I go back a lot to Once and Dark Passion Play.
I don't know. I enjoyed this way more than Human 2 Nature. Yesterwynde feels like it's a continuation of Endless Forms whereas H2N should have been a solo album by Tuomas.
I feel it's the stronger brother of Human:Nature and personally, I feel like the second half of the album is better than the first half. I like it, and I think it may grow on me.
I had the same feelings, for my personal taste it is too much orchestrations and too few riffs and solos (I guess there are no solos actually). The songs are really good and epic and I like the general atmosphere. I would say it is better than Human || Nature and worse than Endless Forms. About the production, I think Floor's voice sometimes are lower than the instruments and orchestras and it bothers me. Favorite song: An Ocean of Strange Islands 7/10
I find this album to be very laidback and very orchestral with occasional odd moments of heaviness, this could have easily fit in nicely as a film score as it leans very close to cinematic. It's a great album from start to finish but it really feels like this is Tuomas's solo project than a Nightwish album which is a shame as they've made excellent music in the past and I am seriously missing the metal in their material. Aside from all that, it is an enjoyable listening experience
I'd say definitely pick up Imaginaerum. I have Human Nature, but listened to it a few times when it first came out, and it's just been taking up room on the shelf ever since. I cancelled my preorder for this new one after I had the first two singles.
@@sabbracadabra7503 I was looking for Imaginaerum during my last CD haul but didn't find any copies on the shelf. So instead I got Arch Enemy - Doomsday Machine Lacuna Coil - Unleashed Memories (with Halflife EP as bonus tracks) Leaves Eyes - Njord Motley Crue - The Dirt Soundtrack Enforcer - Zenith In This Moment - The Dream
👍I know it's about the album but, i am a "live lover" ,this latest album surely has some spectaculair songs and songs,were i'm wondering how they would sound live,afterall,that's where they shine for me. I will be honest ,i like also a lot of the old songs but, in the way Floor does them,(not a opera fan at all) maby 2 or 3 songs of Tarja wich i realy like and no Anette for me either. A pitty they don't tour the latest album😞 I only can think with apreciation of them to keep things fresh for themselves and surprise us,it's hard to say what the future will be for them but,they surely will surprise us again .(i hope)🤘
I guess this is a “10-15 time listening before it’s great”album. My speculation is that Tuomas want to have a major break til 2026 to release that masterpiece and have Maco back in the band.👍😊
I thinks its a slight step up over the last album but not by much. Floor sounds great as always though. For me Epica has long since passed Nightwish as the best symphonic metal band around
This is a great summary of both this album and where Nightwish have been heading on their last few albums. I first got into them via Dark Passion Play (and that remains my favourite Nightwish album) and loved the metal mixed with the powerful vocals. I was over the moon when I first heard Floor singing with them (Ghost Love Score live at Wacken 2013 is one of my all time favourite songs). To me, the band has wasted Floor's metal capacity and I also think that they lost a big part of their DNA when Marco left. We're now left with Tuomas and he is clearly moving away from metal and Nightwish's origins. Good luck to him but the Nightwish that I loved is a thing of the past and this album is pushing me further away from them.
Yeah, people evolve and change and so does the bands - no band really stays the same and repeats the same song types in same style for ever - or at least those bands are boring to listen IMHO..
She IS overhyped if you compare her with Tarja, Annette and Marco her voice is average, good singer but average. She lack that uniqueness the others have with their voices. The most she do now is belting and is sound without power and energy, sound forced and monotonous.
Nightwish fans will like it, but i dont think it will bring in new fans. i agree its missing the punch. i am guessing its the real reason Marco left. it seems like the more Troy was involved the more they turned to this style.
I was interested to hear your thoughts on the new Nightwish album, particularly after you and Chris Alo's quite scathing review of the last album, which was part of a ranking video. I agreed with your ranking, although I have to say Human II Nature has grown up me a lot over the last couple of years. Probably still one of my least favourite Nightwish records, but not quite as terrible as I first thought. I think the same might be the case for Yesterwynde - these big, dense and very orchestrated latter Nightwish albums might just take a lot more 'getting into' than some of their earlier stuff. That said, at the moment I am not a big fan of it. I find a lot of it sounds quite samey, almost like it could just be one long track. The best way I can sum it up is there just isn't much for me to sing along to - it's not that catchy! Personally I much preferred the Imaginaerum period, with the likes of Storytime, I Want My Tears Back, and Last Ride of the Day.
3 listens in and I'm beginning to hear more and more great stuff. I absolutely get what you say about the direction, and Human II Nature is for me similar but more disjointed. Sometimes the sound is so huge that the mix suffers, especially on An Ocean... The drums and guitar are there, but buried under the orchestral and choral stuff. Favourite track for me is Something Whispered...
@@sabbracadabra7503 poet and the pendulum had their best song but the rest was just anger. But they imaginerium was their best studio album. I did like oceanborn a lot as they fleshed out their ideas . I think tuomas writes for what he has to work with. I think the rhythm section is better and that they are not fixated on typical metal gallops. And floor is a vocal athlete and I wonder if Thomas is looking to see how much of a secretariat she is. This it’s gets bigger and more complicated .
Massively disappointed. Aside from the Oceans tracks it's a morose, unfocused, meandering thing. And please Tuomas, you can't sing. Plus, what is it with the overly compressed mix ? Sounds horrible.
I wasn't a big fan of Human Nature, and I'm finding that the best stuff on this new album sounds like it could have been leftover tracks from that one. All in all, like Human Nature, there's not much here that is particularly memorable, and there is definitely a Marko-shaped hole in the overall sound. I'm glad there are some folks who like it, but it's not really for me. It's definitely not the "return to form" it was being billed as.
I prefer the older sound too, and thought this album would be a disappointment (specially after the single The Day Of...) but after listening to the whole album I kinda dig it It may have to do with the fact it sounds really good as you said, but idk it just works for me That being said I don't think the individual songs are going to be classics of the band
I wish I could have seen them during Floor's first year with the band. Their Showtime Storytime live album from Waken in 2013 is still one of the greatest live albums ever! Yea.. Kinda wish they still sounded like that!
I'm in the minority in that I liked Human:Nature. It's certainly not my favorite Nightwish album by any stretch of the imagination, but I dug it nonetheless. This, however, exceeds many of their recent offerings by quite a bit. I think it's the best of the Floor era, and though a selfish part of me wants them to bring back more of the power metal elements of yesterday, I'm certainly not mad at this new direction. I give this a solid 8.6/10.
this album doesn't do much for me. this album is quite dull and my interest fades after a short period. with Thomas writing all music and lyrics it's more like a dictatorship!! ONLY use I can see for this cd is as a beer coaster. I know previous singer, Anette Olson, had her critics BUT I'm beginning to prefer those albums over the albums with Floor Jansen (even though I love her vocals in her earlier bands)
![LAVROV's interview with Tucker CARLSON 😁 [Parody]](/img/n.gif)
I went into Yesterwynde with zero expectations after the last album, and it blew me away! Easily the best of the trilogy with Floor. A fine soundtrack for the darkening days of autumn; it makes me want to go outside and gaze upon the night sky. It's such a pity that they're not going to play any shows for a long time. I really would like to experience this live.
I liked it upon first listen. "Something Whispered Follow Me" is all sorts of badass.
I didn’t care for Human Nature at all and I think this album blows it out of the water. I think it’s easily the best album they’ve done with Floor. Has some heavy songs like Ocean of Strange Islands, Antikythera Mechanism and The Weave. Also has catchy almost 80s inspired songs like The Day Of and The Children of Ata. Then you have beautiful ballads with Sway, Hiraeth and the real tear jerker that is Lanternlight.
Plus it takes the few ideas that did work about the over-indulgent film score esque 2nd disc of Human Nature, weaves (haha!) them into full band, proper Nightwish songs and uses those cinematic qualities as part of the greater concept of the album (the string parts on Spider Silk are terrific for example). The concept, lyrics and ideas of the record itself are also the most focused and well executed since Imaginaerum.
They almost lost me with Human Nature. So much so that I was very hesitant about Yesterwynde. Delighted to be proven wrong. Easy 9/10 from me. Best album they’ve released in over a decade.
Welcome back Nightwish.
Nightwish’s power metal days seem to be over . They seem to be going more folk proggy rock and a lot of classical, orchestral elements. 12 very strong songs . Their best release since Imaginaerum. Something Whispered Follow Me is probably my favorite track. 10/10
Imaginaerum is way superior
The only problem I have with this album is that there is no tour for it.
This was the last album of a trilogy and thus of a journey. For me, the musical development within this journey makes perfect sense. But that doesn't mean that this will be the future path of Nightwish. Where the path will lead, perhaps not even Tuomas knows. But whatever will come out musically in the end, it will be a work of art again and I will love it.
Btw; do you know the difference between an artist and an average musician? Artists continue to develop ... I personally love art.
As someone who got into Nightwish a few years back and have therefore been retroactively experiencing their history, I find the Floor era generally excellent. It’s interesting that you really appreciated Endless Forms, but didn’t like Human Irritating Use of Colons 2 Nature, and I think, overall, Yesterwynde is better than Endless Forms. It achieves the trick of being both diverse and entirely coherent as a singe piece of music.
I think the songs are more song-like than H2N and echo their early 2000’s past as much as they provide a conclusion to the 3 latest albums. Yes, I like the orchestral element but sometimes agree that with so many layered tracks in each song, the resulting ‘wall of sound’ can overwhelm the band somewhat. However, the overall effect is still rather splendid. You are marking this on your overall impression despite bigging-up most of the tracks. Lanternlight is my favourite track - I can’t think of a better written elegiac rumination on personal loss that is also celebratory of a meaningful life well lived - and Floor has never sung better. The nuances are such that repeated listens really elevate the album.
I often wish for a few more simpler songs structurally, like Nemo, Sleeping Sun, Amaranthe etc., but those moments still exist - there are a lot of hooks and rousing choruses here, and yes, I’d like to hear the band dominate more, despite the tremendous musicianship that is quite evident - Kai and Jukka kick arse on this album - the Wintersun rhythm section coming to the fore. This is currently my favourite Nightwish album.
So proud to be Finnish ❤🇫🇮
Jep, sama täällä 😃 Ensin uusi Wintersun ja nyt tämä 🤘😎
EXCELLENT album. I’ve been listening to it daily since Friday.
Same😂
Another masterpiece from Toumas, the music is exceptional and the lyrical content is just outstanding, to think that English is not his first tongue. All the musicians in the band are extraordinary, they have to be, Toumas is a hard task master and pushes their talents to the limit, especially Floor. The song's weave a tapestry of life through it's many facets, our ancestry, our loves, our fears and our hope's, it's a kaleidoscope of our existence on this planet. My favourite track is the last one on the album, Lanternlight, Floor's voice is so emotional, Toumas's piano work so beautiful and the later orchestral touches and Troy's vocal right at the end make for an extraordinary peice of music and not a guitar in sight! 10/10
I'm just voicing my opinion, but I love the new album, is way better than their last one, all the tracks are great but "lantern light", is my favorite song, I guess I'm a sucker for ballads and Floors voice is just an amazing
Love this album. Sounds amazing
I personally loved this album. It blows the previous record out of the water. I am disappointed that they won't be touring for the foreseeable future, and it would be amazing to hear them do songs from Yesterwynde live 😢
Pete i'm in total lock step with regarding "Human :ll: Nature" , but I think "Yesterwynde" is very different and a HUGE improvement. The one big hurdle it fails to clear is a suitable replacement for Marko, whose vocal contributions are sorely missed.
Tryed to rank the album songs, i think its a pure masterpiece!!
i listened to the album several times by now, and i have to say,to the critics of the mix, the mix is perfect!! instead of just getting Floor, its a wall of sound, that is very much a part of creating the grand journey and atmosphere on this album.
Yesterwynde - 8,8/10
A ocean of strange islands - 10/10
The Antikythera mecanism - 9/10
The day off.. - 9/10
Perfume of the timeless - 9,5/10
Sway - 9/10
The children of Ata - 9,5/10
Something whispered follow me - 8,8/10
Spider silk - 8,8/10
Hiraeth - 9,5/10
The weave - 9,2/10
Lanternlight - 10/10
Album rank: 9,3/10
My description of this album could be this, a wall of sounds, that takes you on a journey, and songs that take you in directions you cant predict, in a good way, also very diffrent vibes in the diffrent songs, after listeng to the album several times it did grow on me, and i feel the album gives a diffrent vibe listening to it from start to finish, then when i just listened to the singles, love the album by now its a masterpiece, Tuomas is just a genius, Floor is breathtaking, Troy is a joyful spice, and the rest of the band just amazing.!!
This is a monumental album. Time will tell but I think this will eventually be seen as a pinnacle in Nightwishs discography.
I'm not sure what you mean by their power metal past because they constantly evolved and never dished up the same sound twice. Well maybe somewhat with Oceanborn and Wishmaster.
There are some sound scape moments on this current album but for the most part its heavy with constant twists and turns that never let the listeners mind wander.
I think most fans of the band feel this one was worth the wait.
To me Nightwish Have grown up. Power Metal is not as popular as it used to be. Listen to some of the top bands. Pink Floyd 60s better in the 70s Yes 60s better in the 70s. Bands change. And Nightwish are no different. They've gotten older. I think this is another brilliant album. I like everything they have done. But we all see things in a different way.we Can't agree. It would be boring.
To my ears, there's been something of an overcooked quality about symphonic metal that has kept me from being able to really get into it - I can't quite put my finger on it. I have listened to other Nightwish albums in the past. And I did listen to the newest one highlighted in this video - some real beauty on here, for sure. I guess I'll have to give it a few extra listens to form a more solid opinion.
Need to get rid of the bagpipes and get the Overdrive pedal back out, no disrespect to Floor, who is great.
Floor doesn't play the bagpipes ;)
The best Nightwish album to date, everything is perfect here. And the last song, Latern light is Tuomas magnum opus.
hahahhaha by far their worst album, check ears😂
Do you think Human nature is better? It’s not
@@stalkermonolith4841all symphonic metal ie lame
You can't be serious. Yes, buy new ears.
@@Bwarock Yes i am, but Imaginareum is close with the two latest Tanja albums.
Nightwish peaked on “Once” for me. I’m ok with the new album but not nearly as good as their older work.
They even peaked with Wishmaster imho.
Though they did peak commercially with Once for sure, and it was a great album.
Disappointing, but I anticipated the direction they are going. My favorite Nightwish tracks are Bye Bye Beautiful, Amaranth, Weak Fantasy, Poet and the Pendulum, and Romanticide, so one can surmise I will be disappointed in the lack of metal.
Thank you for the review, Pete!
I'm a fan. It is a bit long. I prefer to listen to it in parts. Floor is amazing.
To my mind Human II Nature is a great album, especially All The Works Of Nature. The instrumental album is very good too. I'm glad I didn't settle for the standard single disc of "Yesterwynde" It seems to me to be a tadge OTT and very choppy. I have to admit to feeling a bit disappointed. The instrumental version seems to be much better and I found that quite enjoyable. The third disc is an orchestral version with all tracks on it apart from "Hiraeth." I found that disc a bit of a come down from the 2nd disc. Sometimes things need quite a few listenings for things to unfold and perhaps "Yesterwynde" is one of those albums. Toumas might need to have a rethink about the direction he is currently taking Nightwish in because I can see him alienating a few fans. I've never thought of a worst Nightwish album until now - only the best and for me that is "iimaginaerum" - but I' find myself thinking the standard version of "Yesterwynde" may just be the worst. I certainly don't regret buying it though.
The band is getting older and have already accomplished a tremendous amount so toning it down and experimenting is actually the normal progression and its still cool
most bands at this stage cash in. they are reimagining themselves. guts.
Been listening to this for a couple of days and it’s definitely the best Floor era album. Maybe overall track by track the best Nightwish album.
lmaooooo good one😂😂
I think the Weave is one of the best on the album. In my opinion the best album with Floor
Yes! they're back!! after a couple of somewhat boring efforts IMHO, at last a truly great album 🍺🤘!!
Love, nice wishes early stuff, their later stuff I can’t get much into, I wish they would do more stuff like the older stuff, but I know people got evolve. Call me a dinosaur, but I’ve been getting into the older stuff lately. Anyway, thanks a lot for your comment, I tend to agree. I will listen to it, but I don’t think it will be me in my upper regimen of night stuff.
Jouka is from Wintersun Pete
He never talks about them. I feel like he would love the first album and both Time albums.
I‘ve only listened to this album once so far but the first impression it gave me was that Tuomas has lost interest in playing Metal. As you said, it seems like he wants to compose film scores and orchestral stuff and that‘s totally fine, but then, I wonder why he forces himself to make another Metal album where the Metal elements have so strongly been pushed into the background. Maybe it will grow on me with more listens but „Human Nature“ gives me that vibe too already, even though I actually like that album.
Another Brilliant album from Nightwish. I love Human Nature. And the Tour was Amazing.
Initially, I listened to excerpts from some of the tracks and was looking forward to listening to the album in full, with the exception of the orchestral versions. After a full listen, I was a bit underwhelmed and agree with Pete’s comments. Also, I don’t think the production is that good. There seems to be a lot of compression and Floor’s vocals seem to be too low in the mix.
@jamesfarrow6752 there's no compression, that's why it sounds like it does. Some of these songs consist of 600 tracks so the band needed to use the 'Wall of Sound' approach to balance things out. Some of that doesn't quite work for me but you get used to the mix once you get a handle on the album.
@@davidcoyne7291 To me, it seems like there is very little dynamic range and a lack of space and scale. This is a pity given the theatrical nature of the music. Perhaps another listen will help.
Not for me. I used to enjoy Nightwish up to the Annette Olzon days but then I just bored with all of that kind of music - Lacuna Coil, The Gathering, several others too. They all try too hard to make the music "dense", every bit of silence has to be filled with someone's instrument or some bombastic orchestral "strum", it got very same-y very quickly.
At the same time I got back into the classic 70's stuff - Yes, Genesis, ELP, Jethro Tull - and could see that with music back then was about giving every note "space" in which to work.
Nightwish can have some credit - they made me go back and appreciate 70's prog a lot more.
I think it's major improvement over Human II Nature. It's more daring and exciting. But I do agree with the film score comment. Nightwish used to be a "metal band" first with major orchestral/symphonic touches. Now the "metal" aspect of it is dialed back and all instrumentation are on the same level. Like you would for a cinematic experience. I do enjoy this album more with every listen which is encouraging.
Hey Pete you're almost at 100K congrats!
Being an old prog. rock fan and fairly new to Nightwish, only the last 6 years, I like this direction for the band. For me that last song Lanternlight is quickly becoming my top three favorite Nightwish songs. I guess that is my Prog. and Celtic roots showing through. 😊😊
they are more prog than metal nowadays.
@@dougmphilly Yes I would agree.
Gearing up for Helene's arrival here in Florida. Still pondering evacuating to higher elevation - only a block and a half from Tampa Bay.
I enjoy it. Will there be any feedback from Mr. Alo? I have a feeling he might call it a shitter.
Me too
It surprised me but it won't be near my top of the year list. Better than Human II Nature, but less memorable than some of the standout songs on the three albums before that. But then again: Less meandering 12 or 24 minute songs where half of it is narration or whale noises. Floor is my favourite singer Nightwish had, but their 98-04 material is unbeatable (although certain moments on the two albums with Anette and the first one with Floor came close)
Best album since Dark Passion Play/Once. Very happy with it. Please review new Wintersun! I think you’ll like it and TimeI. You never talk about them. Two members are now in Nightwish and of course Megadeth.
5/5
I haven't listened to this yet because I lost interest a bit after EFMB and especially Human || Nature. I ought to give it a try though. Floor is a supreme vocalist, but I go back a lot to Once and Dark Passion Play.
I don't know. I enjoyed this way more than Human 2 Nature. Yesterwynde feels like it's a continuation of Endless Forms whereas H2N should have been a solo album by Tuomas.
My thoughts exactly. To me this is closer to EFMB than H2N. To each their own, I guess.
I feel it's the stronger brother of Human:Nature and personally, I feel like the second half of the album is better than the first half. I like it, and I think it may grow on me.
I had the same feelings, for my personal taste it is too much orchestrations and too few riffs and solos (I guess there are no solos actually). The songs are really good and epic and I like the general atmosphere. I would say it is better than Human || Nature and worse than Endless Forms. About the production, I think Floor's voice sometimes are lower than the instruments and orchestras and it bothers me. Favorite song: An Ocean of Strange Islands
7/10
What a great return to form for one of my fav bands.
I find this album to be very laidback and very orchestral with occasional odd moments of heaviness, this could have easily fit in nicely as a film score as it leans very close to cinematic. It's a great album from start to finish but it really feels like this is Tuomas's solo project than a Nightwish album which is a shame as they've made excellent music in the past and I am seriously missing the metal in their material. Aside from all that, it is an enjoyable listening experience
I have most of Nightwish's albums. I'm only missing this album, Human 2 Nature and Imaginaerium. I'd get their 7th album before getting this.
I'd say definitely pick up Imaginaerum. I have Human Nature, but listened to it a few times when it first came out, and it's just been taking up room on the shelf ever since. I cancelled my preorder for this new one after I had the first two singles.
@@sabbracadabra7503 I was looking for Imaginaerum during my last CD haul but didn't find any copies on the shelf. So instead I got
Arch Enemy - Doomsday Machine
Lacuna Coil - Unleashed Memories (with Halflife EP as bonus tracks)
Leaves Eyes - Njord
Motley Crue - The Dirt Soundtrack
Enforcer - Zenith
In This Moment - The Dream
I would love to see a Therion ranking.Love your Channel.
👍I know it's about the album but, i am a "live lover" ,this latest album surely has some spectaculair songs and songs,were i'm wondering how they would sound live,afterall,that's where they shine for me. I will be honest ,i like also a lot of the old songs but, in the way Floor does them,(not a opera fan at all) maby 2 or 3 songs of Tarja wich i realy like and no Anette for me either. A pitty they don't tour the latest album😞 I only can think with apreciation of them to keep things fresh for themselves and surprise us,it's hard to say what the future will be for them but,they surely will surprise us again .(i hope)🤘
I agree. Not my cup of tea. Just like the previous one, I'll pass.
I guess this is a “10-15 time listening before it’s great”album.
My speculation is that Tuomas want to have a major break til 2026 to release that masterpiece and have Maco back in the band.👍😊
I thinks its a slight step up over the last album but not by much. Floor sounds great as always though. For me Epica has long since passed Nightwish as the best symphonic metal band around
100%!
@@seaoftranquilityprog did you get the chance to watch Epica livestream show?
New album snippers sounded amazing
Edge of Paradise are flying the Flag for Symphonic Metal Epica are excellent 2
This is a great summary of both this album and where Nightwish have been heading on their last few albums. I first got into them via Dark Passion Play (and that remains my favourite Nightwish album) and loved the metal mixed with the powerful vocals. I was over the moon when I first heard Floor singing with them (Ghost Love Score live at Wacken 2013 is one of my all time favourite songs).
To me, the band has wasted Floor's metal capacity and I also think that they lost a big part of their DNA when Marco left.
We're now left with Tuomas and he is clearly moving away from metal and Nightwish's origins.
Good luck to him but the Nightwish that I loved is a thing of the past and this album is pushing me further away from them.
Yeah, people evolve and change and so does the bands - no band really stays the same and repeats the same song types in same style for ever - or at least those bands are boring to listen IMHO..
Since floor joined the band the albums have been pretty bad i think she is being overhyped. Their best 3 are once and the 2 with anette.
Must be the joke of the week !
Why are you blaming Floor? She didn't write the songs!
Yes the downward spiral the past 3 albums is sad.
@@Whateve909 He's absolutely right.
She IS overhyped if you compare her with Tarja, Annette and Marco her voice is average, good singer but average. She lack that uniqueness the others have with their voices. The most she do now is belting and is sound without power and energy, sound forced and monotonous.
Nightwish fans will like it, but i dont think it will bring in new fans. i agree its missing the punch. i am guessing its the real reason Marco left. it seems like the more Troy was involved the more they turned to this style.
Yeah, I think you're right. I can definitely imagine Marko not being thrilled with the new direction and deciding to split.
I was interested to hear your thoughts on the new Nightwish album, particularly after you and Chris Alo's quite scathing review of the last album, which was part of a ranking video. I agreed with your ranking, although I have to say Human II Nature has grown up me a lot over the last couple of years. Probably still one of my least favourite Nightwish records, but not quite as terrible as I first thought. I think the same might be the case for Yesterwynde - these big, dense and very orchestrated latter Nightwish albums might just take a lot more 'getting into' than some of their earlier stuff. That said, at the moment I am not a big fan of it. I find a lot of it sounds quite samey, almost like it could just be one long track. The best way I can sum it up is there just isn't much for me to sing along to - it's not that catchy! Personally I much preferred the Imaginaerum period, with the likes of Storytime, I Want My Tears Back, and Last Ride of the Day.
Thank you, Pete, for your excellent review. All the damn time.
I will give, Nightwish’s new release a listen.
🎤🎸🎵🎹🥁
Life is better with music
3 listens in and I'm beginning to hear more and more great stuff. I absolutely get what you say about the direction, and Human II Nature is for me similar but more disjointed. Sometimes the sound is so huge that the mix suffers, especially on An Ocean... The drums and guitar are there, but buried under the orchestral and choral stuff. Favourite track for me is Something Whispered...
Ironically the albums I prefer most are the ones with Annette, the weakest singer of the three. Just my view.
probably because tuomas had to rely more on the songs than singer. imaginerium is close to perfection.
Songwise, those two Anette albums are great and really do blow the Floor albums out of the water.
@@sabbracadabra7503 poet and the pendulum had their best song but the rest was just anger. But they imaginerium was their best studio album. I did like oceanborn a lot as they fleshed out their ideas . I think tuomas writes for what he has to work with. I think the rhythm section is better and that they are not fixated on typical metal gallops. And floor is a vocal athlete and I wonder if Thomas is looking to see how much of a secretariat she is. This it’s gets bigger and more complicated .
I agree...Dark Passion Play was my introduction to the band and remains my favourite album, closely followed by Imaginaerium.
This doesn't strike me as being as bloated as Human :||: Nature, I'll give it that.
I find it overlong and annoying, not sure which tracks to chop out yet but I'm not warming to it, its good but....
Massively disappointed. Aside from the Oceans tracks it's a morose, unfocused, meandering thing. And please Tuomas, you can't sing. Plus, what is it with the overly compressed mix ? Sounds horrible.
I wasn't a big fan of Human Nature, and I'm finding that the best stuff on this new album sounds like it could have been leftover tracks from that one. All in all, like Human Nature, there's not much here that is particularly memorable, and there is definitely a Marko-shaped hole in the overall sound. I'm glad there are some folks who like it, but it's not really for me. It's definitely not the "return to form" it was being billed as.
I prefer the older sound too, and thought this album would be a disappointment (specially after the single The Day Of...) but after listening to the whole album I kinda dig it
It may have to do with the fact it sounds really good as you said, but idk it just works for me
That being said I don't think the individual songs are going to be classics of the band
I wish I could have seen them during Floor's first year with the band. Their Showtime Storytime live album from Waken in 2013 is still one of the greatest live albums ever! Yea.. Kinda wish they still sounded like that!
Nope…🤮i want Rewamp and a new album with Northward
The album craps. It s an Auri album for the most of the songs. NW are gone.
I'm in the minority in that I liked Human:Nature. It's certainly not my favorite Nightwish album by any stretch of the imagination, but I dug it nonetheless. This, however, exceeds many of their recent offerings by quite a bit. I think it's the best of the Floor era, and though a selfish part of me wants them to bring back more of the power metal elements of yesterday, I'm certainly not mad at this new direction. I give this a solid 8.6/10.
This album is rubbish, the worst album they have ever made. I would give 0.5 out of 5.
Seriously? For what reason?
So it's worse than Human Nature ? Now that's bad !
@@ericrobertson2024 I don't really like Human Nature, but yeah, I'd take it over this new one. At least it has Marko on it.
Oceans is pretty great. The rest does (so far) suck.
That's a bit generous.
Floor Jansen is my favorite female singer of all time, but man, Nightwish is so boring.
I think is ok to admit this is another dull album from the Floor era.
I lost my interest in the band since Tarja left
The two Anette albums are really good, especially the first one. And the first one with Floor has its moments. But these last two are just bad.
this album doesn't do much for me. this album is quite dull and my interest fades after a short period. with Thomas writing all music and lyrics it's more like a dictatorship!! ONLY use I can see for this cd is as a beer coaster. I know previous singer, Anette Olson, had her critics BUT I'm beginning to prefer those albums over the albums with Floor Jansen (even though I love her vocals in her earlier bands)
If we're just talking about song quality, both of the Anette albums are far better than anything they released since Floor joined the band.
@@sabbracadabra7503 Totally agree.
@@sabbracadabra7503 Definitely.
@@sabbracadabra7503 Agreed. It's just a bit sad, because I thought with Floor comes new potetial.