It’s been a long time since I wrote an ‘Album of the Month’ post. The last few months have been incredibly taxing on my overall wellbeing; I am learning to recognise the warning signs of when I need a break, and overall, not to beat myself up when I am not being “productive”.
For nearly two decades, NIGHTWISH have played an important part in my life. I first came across them when I was sixteen years old; they were my introduction to symphonic metal, my personal favourite sub-genre. My mind was blown (and to an extent, still is) as to how two completely different styles of music could merge to create something so spectacular. The poetic lyrics from band leader/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen also inspired me to write. Fast forward to the present: here I am naming their latest album, Yesterwynde, my album of the month.
The nostalgia of discovering NIGHTWISH for the first time comes flooding back in the first few notes of An Ocean of Strange Islands – mainly through feelings of heart-stopping awe. The grandeur and beauty of this track takes me back to Shudder Before the Beautiful from the album Endless Forms Most Beautiful, the first album with Floor Jansen on lead vocals. Her beautifully distinct voice shines through here. Troy Donockley’s stunning pipe melodies bring me back to the stylings of Dark Passion Play, the first album I heard from them. There is also a hopeful ambience communicated through this part, reminding of me of the film The Prince of Egypt when Moses leads his people to freedom. I can see why this was picked as one of the single releases.
Singles The Day of… and Perfume of the Timeless got me very excited for the new release from NIGHTWISH. I made sure not to get my hopes up too much, in case the rest of the album would prove to be mediocre. This was not the case with Yesterwynde: the album was consistently a great listen, and a reminder of how much I love this band.
One thing NIGHTWISH know how to nail is an acoustic ballad, and Sway is the very one for Yesterwynde. It invokes reflective feelings, as you can hear clearly the poetic lyrics that allow you to immerse yourself into the world being described. There are hints of the melody from Away, and stylings that remind me of The Islander, these being two of my favourite songs by the band. Perhaps this is why I love the track so much. Either way, it helped me to find the inner peace I had been searching for. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and exhale as you take in the beauty of this track.
Another personal highlight is Spider Silk. Hearing the elegant yet sinister musical stylings, the Other Mother from Coraline strongly comes to mind. There is also something delicate within the music that is as fragile as the titular spider silk. The way this track is written makes you stand to attention: one touch can have the biggest consequences.
While this album brought back a lot of nostalgia, it also makes me wonder whether there will be another album to come in the future, or if this may be their last record. This comes through in strong closer Lanternlight, which leaves many possibilities open. Either way, this album has brought my focus back to what I love doing: listening to music and sharing my thoughts on it.
Yesterwynde is out now.
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