WISHMASTER

I should point out first that i corrected my previous review (Oceanborn), wich until another listen i realized that i was too harsh with some songs, so the score actually went up, but still 4 stars. Now let's see how this albums fares in comparison and stand-alone.

1. She Is My Sin 6/10 What a great and explosive start. The drums here sound like reggae for some reason and i dislike that, not only that, but the instrmental doesn't do much when Tharja is singing wich makes this song become boring quickly. It has a little nice solo and the chords are nice as always, so, it doesn't try much new overall but its just ok.

2. The Kinslayer 9/10 Now we're talking, those scales at the begining are what i like, and the chords that follow after are also really good. It plays exactly what it says, has the exact atmosphere needed. Really good, i wish it lasted more.

3. Come Cover Me 7/10 Tuomas, you're spoiling us with the great melodies, even though the start wasn't the best, you sure made up for it really quick. And as always the drums aren't your strong suit (as with many keyboard players). This one is a little less dynamic and more repetitive than the previous song, but still pretty good.

4. Wanderlust 7/10 Beethoven? Obviously an inspiration, sadly the song doesn't go much further with that in the overall song structure, it becomes really repetitive for a while until Tuomas enters again, and the song goes instrumental for a while, wich i apreciate even though it doesn't do much until the accapela part at the end wich is glorious and i also wish it was eplored further instead of going into a lame fade-out.

5. Two For Tragedy 6/10 I think that this piece could've been easily added to the previous song, that would've made it a more better a complete experience, in this overall CD package this song comes at the right time. Aside from that, it's pretty standard even more considering that Nightwish has done much better in the past with "Swanheart".

6. Wishmaster 8/10 What a way to break the ice, the other song finished on a really light note and this just explodes in front of you. Aside from that, i really like this one, the changes and time signatures, pretty nice stuff. It gets repetitive though, the overall structure is repeated 3 times and then it segues to a really nice and small solo that's always welcome, i would be happier if that part lasted more, wich it kind of does with the guitar part but it also leaves me wanting more.

7. Bare Grace Misery 7/10 What a voice, i really like those high notes, this song has all the nightwish staples also, where Tuomas charges on the strings and changes between that, a chorus and Arpeggios. Overall a nice song with nice changes that sadly is too short and that doesn't do much different, in this case, same is great but not better.

8. Crownless 10/10 WHAT? This insane! First time listening, reminds me A LOT of F-Zero. It has all, good solo, dynamic drums, lots of changes, good arpeggios, nice rythm overall, great singing, good choice of chords. The Stratovarius influence is strong in this one.

9. Deep Silent Complete 5/10 This is the first song that i ever listened by Nightwish, my mother used to play this one a lot and i always disliked it, it wasn't until i heard The Pharao Sails to Orion in where i became a fan. I understand why i dislike this song (obviously, since it was my opinion), the drums are stale, the rythm overall is boring and the song gets repetitive quickly, its like the most basic song that Nightwish can make, that isn't bad though, the chords are on point as always, and this song has a really nice change of pace in the middle, while i dislike it, it's still a job well done, and probably a good entry for people that aren't prog-rock fans.

10. Dead Boy's Poem 8/10 This is the better emotional song here, the lyrics, chords and notes reached by Tharja make this song really atmospheric and to top it off there goes the guitar solo. After the poem is read, the synths kick off and the song changes, it's really good.

11. FantasMic 7/10 With the lenght that it has and the start to this song it really feels like its going to take you places, sadly it falls short, while it has the adventure and many musical changes, it can get repetitive, specially the drums and guitar, and that distracts me a lot from the experience.

While i like the better songs on Oceanborn more, this album still gets a 73/100, this one has better standard songs and a better structure also, even though i almost jumped from my sit when "Wishmaster" started after "Two for Tragedy", good song but bad place to put it, this shows that Nightwish at that time was still having troubles with the song orders in their albums also, many of the songs on this album could've been great album openers.

Also, The Pharao Sails to Orion is the 9 closest to 10 that i have given, the 10 went on to Gethsemane so they share the score in some way. Something similar happens here with Crownless and The Kinslayer.

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