Search - Nightwish :: Century Child

Surprising...

Ocean_villa | 12/06/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Pros: Nightwish makes a transition closer to symphonic metal and pulls it off very well. The instrumentals are beautiful, the songs powerful as always, and, of course, Tarja's vocals are sung very well. They experiment with their songs this time around and it pays off, making each one sound unique.



Cons: Some songs don't match Marco's vocals at all (ie. Phantom of the Opera Cover) making his voice clash with Tarja's at times. Not good. Also, the album is only 10 tracks, making it quite short. You end with the feeling that there could have been - and is - more.



The Bottom Line: The CD is still a treat to listen to - with several powerhouse songs on the album for Nightwish fans to enjoy.



This album is a real surprise for me because, although I owned 4 of their albums before this one, I never planned to buy Century Child. I had heard "Bless the Child" years ago and didn't like the song at all. Fortunately, musical tastes change and, with the help of hearing "End of All Hope," I finally decided to give the album a try.



It's amazing what a few years can do for musical taste. "Bless the Child" happens to be a favourite of mine now. It's a very strong opener for this album - another ode to the loss of innocence theme. The intrumentals are cinematic in nature and crescendo slowly over a voice-over introducing the album. Of course, then we're thrown into the song itself. Tarja sings with a strong voice - but she can be passionate, sorrowful, and even sets a creepy mood at times. Especially the line "There's a poison drop in this cup of man, to drink it is to follow the left-hand path," is sung with regret at how people lose themselves/innocence. (Granted, my interpretation might not be accurate, but that's the way it looks to me) The song itself ends as it fades out in voice-over leading into...



"End of All Hope". This song works almost like the sequel or second part of "Bless the Child" except it's a powerhouse and Tarja's vocals strongly compliment it. It also carries the same theme, loss of innocence, within the piece. It catches you, pulls you in and takes you along for the ride - making it probably my favourite song on this album. (Though a few others do come close) Either way, if you want an adrenaline rush of a song, here it is.



"Dead to the World" is a different sort of song as it introduces Marco and has him sing alongside Tarja. The instrumentals are fantastic; but there's something missing when Marco sings at the beginning. It sounds, kind of flat - by flat I mean that there doesn't seem to be as much emotion put into the song. It's especially apparent when Tarja sings a few lines, as she adds the missing emotion into the piece, heightening the feeling of flatness to Marco's vocals. However, it does get better when he arrives at the chorus, which is very nicely done. Good song, but the vocalization could be better.



"Ever Dream" is a dream in itself. It's a beautiful lost-love song that could, and I have said this before, be part of a movie soundtrack. It's that great. I can't get enough of it, especially when Tarja sings the chorus. This song would be my second favourite off of the album.



"Slaying the Dreamer" has some well-done riffs and the songs is intensely catchy; however, the lyrical content is a problem. It's a bit too, how should I put this? I guess I could say that I find the analogies too graphic for what I like to listen to. Too bitter for my tastes as well. It talks about (in some disturbing terms) how people are used/abused/told that they're only "living a dream" and have no talent. Then the person snaps at the end with the "I truely hate you all" line. Don't misunderstand me though, I still enjoy the song; but it's a bit too much on the bitter side for my tastes. But, if you're angry, the song works if you want to get the frustration out.



Elsewhere, "Forever Yours" is a soothing tune. "Ocean Soul" and "Feel For You" are well done too, even though they could use a bit more power to them.



The "Phantom of the Opera" cover comes in next. As a huge fan of the original song (with Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford) I was a curious to see how Nightwish would spin it. The instrumentals have taken a metal edge, which was accomplished surpisingly well. Tarja actually tackles Christine's lines like a pro, even though you can tell she's singing at the top of her range. The song itself is extremely difficult to sing. But, the fact that Tarja pulled it off without being an opera singer is pretty amazing to say the least. Unfortunately though...there's Marco. It doesn't work. That's all I can say without getting upset and writing a rant. He does not match the song and I was very sad to see the Phantom's lines butchered in such a fashion. They would have done well to acquire a different type of singer for that part. Marco and Tarja do not harmonize well on this song - it sounds very bad at times. So, in the end, I enjoyed Tarja's parts and the instrumentals; but not Marco.



"Beauty of the Beast" finishes the album. It's around 10 minutes and it's another lovely piece that is split into 3 sections. They all combine and flow into each other with ease. It's a stunning finisher for the album and definately worth noting as a highlight.



After the album closes, you're left with a sense of satisfaction at the good songs. However, you're also wishing that there was more. I keep getting the feeling that there is supposed to be more - only there isn't. In all honesty, I really wish the album was longer. It feels cut short. That being said it is a very enjoyable CD to listen to. There are some amazing tracks on "Century Child" that you're bound to love.



Recommended: Yes. I'd suggest you pick it up if you're a Nightwish fan."