musclassia
Posts: 7034 From: UK |
13.04.2020 - 17:08Rating: 5
I'm sure there will be a number of posters that disagree with this review; whatever your opinion, it would be nice if people could maintain the civilized tone of the discussion on the album thread here please.
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RaduP CertifiedHipster
Posts: 8628 From: Romania |
13.04.2020 - 17:19Rating: 6
RaduPCertifiedHipsterPosts: 8628 From: Romania
Written by musclassia on 13.04.2020 at 17:08
I'm sure there will be a number of posters that disagree with this review; whatever your opinion, it would be nice if people could maintain the civilized tone of the discussion on the album thread here please.
No no no, this is not how you do it.
Eternal curses upon the bloodline of whomever disagrees with my opinion. I fart in your general direction.
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Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
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metalwolf
Posts: 103 From: Belgium |
It's a pity that I can't disagree with this review...
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Cthulhu for President! Why settle for the lesser evil?
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JoHn Doe
Posts: 4874 |
13.04.2020 - 17:22Rating: 4
Written by RaduP on 13.04.2020 at 17:19
Written by musclassia on 13.04.2020 at 17:08
I'm sure there will be a number of posters that disagree with this review; whatever your opinion, it would be nice if people could maintain the civilized tone of the discussion on the album thread here please.
No no no, this is not how you do it.
Eternal curses upon the bloodline of whomever disagrees with my opinion. I fart in your general direction.
is it a noisy fart or a silent one?
if it's noisy, I'll giggle, if it's silent, I'll walk away.
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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RaduP CertifiedHipster
Posts: 8628 From: Romania |
13.04.2020 - 17:53Rating: 6
RaduPCertifiedHipsterPosts: 8628 From: Romania
I would like to use all the attention that this review gets to direct all you folks to Marko Hietala's new record.
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Do you think if the heart keeps on shrinking
One day there will be no heart at all?
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musclassia
Posts: 7034 From: UK |
13.04.2020 - 18:02Rating: 5
Written by RaduP on 13.04.2020 at 17:53
I would like to use all the attention that this review gets to direct all you folks to Marko Hietala's new record.
I preferred that to this (if nothing else then for the fact he sings a lot more on it), but can't say I was paritcular fond of it either
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mariano
Posts: 369 From: Argentina
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In my opinion, this is their worst album... and now I look back to those albums they released with Olson and they don't look that bad anymore.
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tominator At best deranged
Posts: 1061 From: Belgium |
13.04.2020 - 19:06Rating: 6
tominatorAt best derangedPosts: 1061 From: Belgium
Pretty much how I feel about this record. I don't see myself listening to a lot of these songs again in the future. Endless Forms wasn't exactly my favourite record but I liked tracks like Elan, My Walden and the title track.
Just like with Elan, I like the simplcity of Noise. Pan is indeed quite possibly the second best track for me. And there are some good things sprankled throughout the rest of the record, but not enough to make this album exceed the feel of averageness.
It doens't work for me, but I'm however glad that there are others who enjoy this record more than I do.
Great review btw!
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fenchik
Posts: 118 From: UK
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I really wanted to love this album!!! But i'm agree with the review :-( !! What the point having Floor (that i love!!!) they could have kept Anette... Want After Forever Back!!
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Fred
Posts: 30 From: Lebanon
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13.04.2020 - 20:21Rating: 6
Fred Posts: 30 From: Lebanon
Great review. Nothing more to add. Sums it up pretty much.
Sadly, I feel with Holopainen in this record a kind of Roy Khan effort in his final album with Kamelot "Poetry For The Poisoned".
It just seems like he's given up on Nightwish itself. The band definitely needs at this stage to go on a hiatus, to regroup and get back refreshed with new ideas. Or else, I feel Tuomas - and not the vocalist this time - will be out pretty soon.
This, considering that Marco's mind is already nowadays flying solo, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him drift away and continue in this direction.
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Fred
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Bad English Tage Westerlund
Posts: 60961 From: Sweden |
Olzon albums was much better as this, same first whit Floor. This is chatastrific album, big Let down to me
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Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!
Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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JoHn Doe
Posts: 4874 |
13.04.2020 - 20:40Rating: 4
Written by Bad English on 13.04.2020 at 20:31
Olzon albums was much better as this, same first whit Floor. This is chatastrific album, big Let down to me
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I thought the two primary purposes for the internet were cat memes and overreactions.
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Nejde CommunityManager
Posts: 1453 From: Sweden |
NejdeCommunityManagerPosts: 1453 From: Sweden
I agree with the review. The whole album just feels "meh...". To me it feels kinda schizophrenic with split personalities. It doesn't know what it wants to be and the songs are going in all different directions and it lacks coherence. Disc 2 is totally unnecessary because it sounds like a film score that got rejected. Sadly there is a lot of musical talent wasted on this album.
For me Nightwish went into cardiac arrest when they fired Tarja. With Olzon they tried to resuscitate the band and now it just flatlined. I had the joy of seeing them live once and that was the very last concert they gave with Tarja and it was here in Umeå (home of Meshuggah and Cult of Luna). Two days later they released the statement that they had parted ways with Tarja and the Nightwish I loved was no more. R.I.P.
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musclassia
Posts: 7034 From: UK |
13.04.2020 - 21:15Rating: 5
Written by Nejde on 13.04.2020 at 20:48
I had the joy of seeing them live once and that was the very last concert they gave with Tarja and it was here in Umeå (home of Meshuggah and Cult of Luna). Two days later they released the statement that they had parted ways with Tarja and the Nightwish I loved was no more. R.I.P.
That's pretty wild, good that you got to go to that gig! I've seen Nightwish with Floor several times and, first time in particular, I was massively impressed, so much so that I was enjoying the material from Endless Forms... that I hadn't appreciated on the (at the time) recently released album. The issue isn't the musical abilities of the members (particularly with Floor replacing Anette), but the writing, which is unlikely to return to a direction that consistently grabs my interest any time soon if this is a sign of things to come
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BlankFile
Posts: 686 From: Portugal
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13.04.2020 - 21:46Rating: 6
I agree with this review. We don´t find a memorable song in this álbum, everything seems uninspired and boring, aside from maybe one or two songs.
Possibly the worst Nightwish álbum.
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Nejde CommunityManager
Posts: 1453 From: Sweden |
NejdeCommunityManagerPosts: 1453 From: Sweden
Written by musclassia on 13.04.2020 at 21:15
Written by Nejde on 13.04.2020 at 20:48
I had the joy of seeing them live once and that was the very last concert they gave with Tarja and it was here in Umeå (home of Meshuggah and Cult of Luna). Two days later they released the statement that they had parted ways with Tarja and the Nightwish I loved was no more. R.I.P.
That's pretty wild, good that you got to go to that gig! I've seen Nightwish with Floor several times and, first time in particular, I was massively impressed, so much so that I was enjoying the material from Endless Forms... that I hadn't appreciated on the (at the time) recently released album. The issue isn't the musical abilities of the members (particularly with Floor replacing Anette), but the writing, which is unlikely to return to a direction that consistently grabs my interest any time soon if this is a sign of things to come
It was a great gig. I still remember it well For me the problem with the post-Tarja albums is that they got less symphonical and more a mix of different musical ideas with the symphonical parts buried somewhere underneath the soundscapes. When it comes to Floor I don't have much of an opinion because I've never listened to any of the bands she was in prior to Nightwish. Although I admit she is an excellent singer. Not being an opera fan at all I still miss Tarja's opera vocals.
The last song I really enjoyed was Storytime from Imaginaerum because of the extremely catchy chorus and the instrumental middle part with the choir that really oozes of old honest Nightwish
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ohmayhem
Posts: 194 From: USA |
Man, I thought it was nostalgia that kept me from liking Endless Forms, but it sounds like I'm not the only one who felt like they lost their touch. I honestly forgot about the release of this one, not sure if I wanna waste my time. Fantastic review!
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beatlotus
Posts: 2
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Sad to see the band will never be able to move past the stigma of not having Tarja with them anymore. Sadly a group of fans never accepted the change.
I don't agree with the review, I think this album is an evolution from what they have done in the last few albums. I agree from DPP until now none of their albums have been 100% good, they have good moments but don't really work as an album. Human Nature, on the other hand, works better as an album than with individual songs. I didn't like Harvest when they released it as a single for example but within the context of the album, it works better.
On another note, it seems like this album was built with the intention to showcase every member of the band. Each of them has its moment to shine. People complain because Marko has a smaller role than Troy, but in reality, they both got to be the main singer in one song (Troy in Harvets and Marko in Endlessness) They both are backing vocals in the rest and they both play their instruments in every other song, so the balance is there. I like how Marko covers new grounds with his voice in Endelessness, I appreciate they are trying new things instead of just doing the same thing over and over as old school fans want. There are other bands out there doing what Nightwish did before, I don't think there's any need for them to do the same.
Anyway, this album was quite a ride, much better than Endless, Imaginarium and Dark Passion Play. Better thought out, better produced, better written and better executed. Unfortunately, without shaking off the drama and individual expectations, it is difficult to judge the music on itself.
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musclassia
Posts: 7034 From: UK |
14.04.2020 - 01:27Rating: 5
Written by beatlotus on 14.04.2020 at 00:10
Sad to see the band will never be able to move past the stigma of not having Tarja with them anymore. Sadly a group of fans never accepted the change.
I mean, for quite a few people that will always be the case, but I feel like claims such as this are sometimes used to deflect criticism of their subsequent releases, and I feel like the imperfections in their music from the past 15 years stand independent of Tarja and the albums released with her. Realistically, if Oceanborn->Once were never released and Nightwish's discography comprised DPP->H/N, they would barely be a blip on my register (I would maybe have maximum 10 Nightwish songs in my mp3 library?), so if anything, those albums can thank the amount of airplay I've given them to their association with the Tarja material. Personally, out of an 8-paragraph review, I mentioned Tarja in one sentence, so I don't think it's fair to start off a comment on this review with the above quoted statement.
Written by beatlotus on 14.04.2020 at 00:10
I don't agree with the review, I think this album is an evolution from what they have done in the last few albums. I agree from DPP until now none of their albums have been 100% good, they have good moments but don't really work as an album. Human Nature, on the other hand, works better as an album than with individual songs. I didn't like Harvest when they released it as a single for example but within the context of the album, it works better.
I respect your opinion on this, but personally I don't think there's necessarily much evolution here. It takes elements that have been introduced in past albums (use of folk like on I want My Tears Back, more complex symphonic arrangements such as on Ghost Love Score), but I don't think it synthesizes them in a novel and exciting way, or applies them more maturely (despite dabbling with more structured arrangements plenty more times since, nothing Holopainen has written on the symphonic side has come close to the emotional power of that instrumental break before "Bring me home..." in GLS). I also don't this works especially well as a collective package - disc 1, even disregarding the issues I have with individual songs, doesn't come across as particularly cohesive, nor do disc 1 and disc 2 feel like natural companions, but rather as a standard record with an orchestral suite tagged onto the end. I have a number of problems with Imaginaerum, but considering it was similarly varied and ambitious, I feel it works far better as a single entity than Human/Nature, as well as having several songs that eclipse anything here for me (Storytime, Tears, Last Ride, Rest Calm, plus that nice symphonic summary of the album at the end with the title track).
Written by beatlotus on 14.04.2020 at 00:10
On another note, it seems like this album was built with the intention to showcase every member of the band. Each of them has its moment to shine. People complain because Marko has a smaller role than Troy, but in reality, they both got to be the main singer in one song (Troy in Harvets and Marko in Endlessness) They both are backing vocals in the rest and they both play their instruments in every other song, so the balance is there. I like how Marko covers new grounds with his voice in Endelessness, I appreciate they are trying new things instead of just doing the same thing over and over as old school fans want. There are other bands out there doing what Nightwish did before, I don't think there's any need for them to do the same.
That may be the case. However, for an album with the intention to showcase every member of the band, Emppu didn't really have much to shine with. Additionally, Marko has one song where he does lead vocals, but he's barely even a backing singer elsewhere; across the record, he has far less to do here vocally than on most previous albums, and the one showcase he gets isn't much of a showcase. He covers new ground, but not particularly well - Endlessness doesn't play much to his strengths. The "they're trying something new" response is often said to people who dislike something new a band does, but involves forgetting the times that a band tries something new and people like it (Ghost Love Score stands out compared with the music they'd written prior to Once, with its lengthy orchestral break, but people love it). It's possible for an artist to do something new and not do it as well as what they did before, or as well as the people who already do the new thing they're trying, and when both of those things are the case, it's not unfair to acknowledge that. Last year, the main guy from Toxic Holocaust (thrash band) did a synthwave album. I quite liked it, but compared to other synthwave I've heard, it was somewhat limited; I'm not going to give him extra praise that I wouldn't give to someone more established in that scene just because it's outside of what he normally plays.
Written by beatlotus on 14.04.2020 at 00:10
Unfortunately, without shaking off the drama and individual expectations, it is difficult to judge the music on itself.
I mean, opinions on every album ever released by an artist of any reputation will be influenced by their past work. However, if this album was released by a no-name newcomer, apart from the fact that I would be extremely impressed by their production budget and the talent of their singer, I would still find it a relatively unengaging record compared with other artists within the genre. Maybe I would rate it a point higher to be kind to a new act finding its feet, but I don't imagine the score would reach or exceed 7.
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BlankFile
Posts: 686 From: Portugal
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14.04.2020 - 01:29Rating: 6
Only good songs are "Noise" and maybe "Pan". The rest of them are boring, generic and uninteresting, in my view. And i´ve already gave it a few spins.
Even the second part of the CD, the instrumental one, is nothing special. Nothing out of this world, let´s say.
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ickoriss
Posts: 305 From: USA |
Even though I still feel like a lackluster Nightwish album is still a decent album in general, I do agree with a lot of the points made in the review. They have a massive amount of talent in their lineup and a lot of it isn't utilized at all. Floor is a lot more capable than what she's given on the record and the lack of Marco just really blows my mind. Also, let Emppu off his leash and shred a bit here and there. I feel like he wasn't given a lot on this record either.
I'll still probably revisit this record on occasion, but they're better than this. It's no Oceanborn or Dark Passion Play for me. Here's hoping the next one's a big improvement.
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justsaying
Posts: 24
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14.04.2020 - 09:16Rating: 9
Written by musclassia on 13.04.2020 at 17:08
I'm sure there will be a number of posters that disagree with this review; whatever your opinion, it would be nice if people could maintain the civilized tone of the discussion on the album thread here please.
I'm one of those disagreeing.
First, people seem to miss completely that this album is way heavier than the previous one, very typical Nightwish sections, clear reminiscents e.g. from Oceanborn to begin with. This is way closer to stuff from Tarja era musically than the previous one.
Another thing is that many seem to think that high hc belting (which Floor does on this one too) or high operatic (which Floor does on this one too) equal difficult singing. False.
In truth, they are pushing Floor's vocals here way more than on the previous one, just the melismatic style polished to the total precision of timing etc e.g. in Music is highly technical and no average singer can pull it off. Floor basically goes through all of her scale on this album.
One doesn't hear Marco so much, because e.g. in How's the Heart the harmonies - polished by Marco by the way - are so well done that their voices just blend in and it's not the only time on the album when that happens - all three of them singing.
Musically, the whole album is way more complex than the previous one. They've had songs before lacking the traditional structure, did all kinds of experimentations even in Tarja era, but Tarja sang basically only in operatic style. For some reason I get the feeling some thought this would be more like going back to the roots, kind of early Nightwish but Floor doing opera and belting instead of Tarja singing opera.
I'm way more impressed of Floor's singing here than hearing her live the first time with GLS etc.
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The Melting Snow
Posts: 615 From: Pakistan |
14.04.2020 - 10:16Rating: 5
Good review. the only thing missing is a grilling over the guitars.
i remember showing off the Guitars in Oceanborn and Wishmaster to my friends back in the day... luckily I don't meet those guys anymore or they would've shoved it right in my face now :p
the lack of guitars in the past 3 albums is what's gutted me most about them
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The Melting Snow
Posts: 615 From: Pakistan |
14.04.2020 - 10:19Rating: 5
Written by ickoriss on 14.04.2020 at 06:43
Here's hoping the next one's a big improvement.
that's me since Dark Passion Play.
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MariLee
Posts: 3
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This review is written in style of talks of an old man: 'In my times it was different...', 'Everything was better than it is now', 'The ice cream was tastier, than now'. Just try to forget about Tarja, Oceanborn and other 20-yeard-old stuff. The world is being changing all the time in an tremendous speed. The new energies are felt in many things and people, just open your mind and try to notice that. This album is something completely new, but at the same with unique Nightwish soul preserved. Tuomas and this band in gegeral is one of the best examples of endless evolution.
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musclassia
Posts: 7034 From: UK |
14.04.2020 - 10:48Rating: 5
Written by justsaying on 14.04.2020 at 09:16
I'm one of those disagreeing.
First, people seem to miss completely that this album is way heavier than the previous one, very typical Nightwish sections, clear reminiscents e.g. from Oceanborn to begin with. This is way closer to stuff from Tarja era musically than the previous one.
I mean, most of your comment contains things that I would disagree with, but they would ultimately be things to 'agree to disagree' over. This point, on the other hand, sorry I don't see where you're coming from here. When you initially said 'this album is way heavier', I thought you would mean thematically, which would be one interpretation, but by then specifying that you mean in relation to Oceanborn and the 'typical' Tarja Nightwish sound, you're meaning it's more heavy metal, and I just don't see it. The only two songs that are really comparable in tone are Noise and Pan, and previous albums have had as many, if not more, songs along those lines (particularly Endless Forms...). I don't think the likes of Music, Shoemaker, Harvest, How's Your Heart, Procession, etc., can really be said to be 'way heavier' than the music on the previous record. And 'reminiscents from Oceanborn' - which songs here would you say are reminiscent of Oceanborn? I did not hear anything that made me think of Stargazers, Devil and the Deep Ocean, Sacrament of Wilderness, etc; even the heavier songs sound closer to Once/Dark Passion Play than Oceanborn/Wishmaster to my ears.
Quite a few of the comments in relation to this album have been people saying it's less heavy, less metal, and I'm not saying that's a direct relation to the quality of the music, but as an objective summation of the music here I completely agree that it's less heavy, and even most people who like the album are saying that just because it's less heavy that doesn't mean it's bad (which is completely true as a statement), rather than denying that it's less heavy; you're the first person I've seen on this website who's made this argument, so I'm curious what you're specifically referring to.
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musclassia
Posts: 7034 From: UK |
14.04.2020 - 10:50Rating: 5
Written by MariLee on 14.04.2020 at 10:38
This review is written in style of talks of an old man: 'In my times it was different...', 'Everything was better than it is now', 'The ice cream was tastier, than now'. Just try to forget about Tarja, Oceanborn and other 20-yeard-old stuff. The world is being changing all the time in an tremendous speed. The new energies are felt in many things and people, just open your mind and try to notice that. This album is something completely new, but at the same with unique Nightwish soul preserved. Tuomas and this band in gegeral is one of the best examples of endless evolution.
"Just try to forget about Tarja, Oceanborn and other 20-yeard-old stuff" - please highlight anywhere in my review that I mentioned Oceanborn, and where I fixated on Tarja
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The Melting Snow
Posts: 615 From: Pakistan |
14.04.2020 - 10:55Rating: 5
Written by MariLee on 14.04.2020 at 10:38
This review is written in style of talks of an old man: 'In my times it was different...', 'Everything was better than it is now', 'The ice cream was tastier, than now'. Just try to forget about Tarja, Oceanborn and other 20-yeard-old stuff. The world is being changing all the time in an tremendous speed. The new energies are felt in many things and people, just open your mind and try to notice that. This album is something completely new, but at the same with unique Nightwish soul preserved. Tuomas and this band in gegeral is one of the best examples of endless evolution.
If I'm counting right, this is the 3rd profile made just to support this album
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MariLee
Posts: 3
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Written by musclassia on 14.04.2020 at 10:50
Written by MariLee on 14.04.2020 at 10:38
This review is written in style of talks of an old man: 'In my times it was different...', 'Everything was better than it is now', 'The ice cream was tastier, than now'. Just try to forget about Tarja, Oceanborn and other 20-yeard-old stuff. The world is being changing all the time in an tremendous speed. The new energies are felt in many things and people, just open your mind and try to notice that. This album is something completely new, but at the same with unique Nightwish soul preserved. Tuomas and this band in gegeral is one of the best examples of endless evolution.
"Just try to forget about Tarja, Oceanborn and other 20-yeard-old stuff" - please highlight anywhere in my review that I mentioned Oceanborn, and where I fixated on Tarja
There was no need from your side to mention that directly. It is written between the lines (and confirmed by other comments) like at most reviews coming from so-called experts, who are best in criticising, what is the easier part to do. Do you feel satisfaction after creation of such reviews, you've spent 20 minutes on, which is destroying the reputation of an Artist's multi-year project? Are you able to propose any concrete actions that would improve the situation? Are you able to create anything better? Or at least anything on the same level?
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Cynic Metalhead Paisa Vich Nasha
Posts: 6808 From: India |
Written by The Melting Snow on 14.04.2020 at 10:55
Written by MariLee on 14.04.2020 at 10:38
This review is written in style of talks of an old man: 'In my times it was different...', 'Everything was better than it is now', 'The ice cream was tastier, than now'. Just try to forget about Tarja, Oceanborn and other 20-yeard-old stuff. The world is being changing all the time in an tremendous speed. The new energies are felt in many things and people, just open your mind and try to notice that. This album is something completely new, but at the same with unique Nightwish soul preserved. Tuomas and this band in gegeral is one of the best examples of endless evolution.
If I'm counting right, this is the 3rd profile made just to support this album
Well spotted.
MariLee, justsaying and beatlotus all looks familiar.
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