Written by:	Rand Al Thor
Published:	March 24, 2005
Event:	Nightwish

Nightwish concert review (Sydney March 23rd 2005)
support - Dungeon

6 years of waiting for this night to finally happen and now its been and gone, but in all honesty it was damn worth the wait because only Metallica put on a better show than what I saw last night. Doors opened around 8.30 pm with Dungeon tearing up the stage soon after and giving us traditional power metal all the way but Aussie style. The band includes a new rhythm section now and was very tight and sound wise on the money. I am predicting big things for Dungeon who have now supported such major acts as Opeth, Mayhem and now Nightwish also. They played a nice tight set got the crowd worked up and then it was time for the mighty Nightwish.

At around 10pm the lights went down and the intro came on. The crowd just went ballistic. It was always going to be a special night because fans were eagerly anticipating this performance and the band never having played here previously also. Out came Jukka first and that was it. Then Tuomas, Marco and Emppu strolled out and it was on straight into Dark Chest of Wonders. Nightwish are an amazing band as is, and in the live arena their sound is so much more powerful and alive.

Then out comes Tarja and it really is on now. Tarja Turunen is astoundingly beautiful, but up close in real life she looks truely like the most perfect angel. Her voice is so divine and her beauty unparalleled. She was truely inspiring and amazing on the night.
Everything was perfect, the crowd was loving it the band was so up for it and looked immensely happy and very pleased to be in Australia and the sound was so perfect.

After Dark Chest, they ripped straight into Planet Hell with no stopping and then continued on with The Kinslayer, The Siren, Phantom of The Opera and Sleeping Sun. After Sleeping Sun Tarja took a break and the 4 guys played us a Pink Floyd cover, but since Marco decided not to tell us the name I have no idea what it is. Tarja returns shortly after and they blast straight into Bless The Child which was a nice surprise to hear live indeed. The rest of the set was as I expected and I knew Nemo, Ghost Love Score and Wish I Had An Angel would be at the end, but with 2 big surprises those being Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan and Slaying The Dreamer. Tarja was bloody amazing on Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan and the crowd being as diverse as it was gave her a very warm response indeed but Slaying The Dreamer was so heavy and brutal sounding with Marco just ripping it up.

All in all this was a perfect night, well except for being ripped off by the candy machine and the end of the set was fantastic. Nemo sounds 50 times as good live as on cd. I can only say that this is one of the highlights of my life so far and I recommend seeing them live to everyone. Nightwish fucking rule.


Set list:
1. Dark Chest of Wonders
2. Planet Hell
3. The Kinslayer
4. The Siren
5. Phantom of The Opera
6. Sleeping Sun
7. Pink Floyd cover (No idea what but?)
8. Bless The Child
9. Wishmaster
10. Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan
11. Slaying The Dreamer
12. Nemo
13. Ghost Love Score
14. Wish I Had An Angel