Origin : Finland
Genre : Symphonic Metal
Release : 2000 (Reissue 2012)
Album Info / Review
**Nightwish – Wish Master (2000)
A Symphonic‑Metal Masterstroke that Still Sounds “Wish‑tastic” 10/10**
From the opening chords of *“I Can Fly”* Nightwish throws you past the entrance of a gothic castle built upon pyrotechnics, keyboards, and Tarja Turunen’s cry‑scream mountain range. The album is a full‑blown symphonic metal masterpiece that feels both a step‑forward from their debut *Angels Fall First* and a bridge toward the grandiosity of *The Silent Forest* and *Once*.
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### Sound & Atmosphere
Right from the get-go, Wishmaster introduces a much richer sonic palette. The production—handled by Timo Tolkki and Pyat—mixes the choir sweepings, the rapid violin/timpani glissandi, and the trademark keyboards into a soundstage wide enough to swing from a cavernous hall to a small, intimate bar. Instrumentally the band leans into the “current” that places them in the same camp as Dream Theater and Symphony X but with their own lyrical, almost mythic twist.
– **Keyboards**: Where the first album had a more “punk‑metal‑keyboard” vibe, Wishmaster’s keyboards are the linchpin of atmosphere. The acoustic piano-like synths and layered string pads create a nocturnal backdrop that feels both ancient and cinematic. It wraps the entire record, turning each track into a daydreaming odyssey.
– **Choirs & Strings**: Reviewers for the first time notice a full choir at least on *“The Land of the Living”* and *“Damnation”*. These sections swell to epic proportions, giving the songs a dramatic, almost operatic vibe. The orchestral hits are meticulously programmed, yet they never overwhelm the guitars.
– **Guitar & Bass**: The guitar work evolves from the murky diesel Rutterbrock riffing to a more melodic approach. Marko Hietala’s bass lines are more prominent, anchoring the progressive feel. The guitars carry a certain “pow‑facto”‑sludge yet remain tuned to bright, transcendental notes.
– **Drums & Percussion**: A band of medieval drums is used at times; the percussion feels fresh yet reverberates with Carnage or Black Sabbath heaviness in places. Notably, the drum break in *“Altars of Madness”* feels like a climax detached yet tied beautifully back to the track’s feel.
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### Riffs & Songwriting
Nightwish’s songwriting proves to be the album’s backbone and one of its most impressive contributions.
1. **“I Can Fly”** – Do you ever want to dissolve your mortal coil? Precisely. The track demonstrates a “wild magnetic riff” that climbs into the high register. The chorus is a masterclass in anthemic songwriting—singable, satisfying, and printed with that unmistakable call‑and‑response vibe.
2. **“Heart of a Dragon”** – Tarja’s soaring parts, a melodically accelerated riff, and a 45-second teaser into gothic harmony deliver a soaring experience that’s simultaneously motley and polished.
3. **“The Land of the Living”** – Strongly synth‑heavy, this track’s melody is an emotional journey. The music builds up to a “long, enriched crescendo that guarantees a truly dreamy effect.” Strings overlay a high guitar riff that together produce awe factor.
4. **“Damnation”** – All the power of Tolkki’s “gorgeous, glorious” progressive riffs can be tasted. **“Afterward is soon Appealing.”** The track’s “metal guitars hooks” feel harrowing but resonate.
5. **“Altars of Madness”** – The “exploding riffs, soaring lyrical themes” place it comfortably between the first three tracks and the entire album. The dramatic hook in the guitar sounds like a perfect finish to Nightwish’s completely successful masterpiece.
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### Production Quality
In 2000, *Wishmaster* was not expected to surpass *Kaiser* or *The Mastiff’s Ghost*’s sonic perfection. Yet the audio supports a definitive, crisp image in its own mythic world. The instruments are present but not over‑emphasised; Tarja’s voice is clearly in the front of the spectrum. With a worldwide release, the album managed to maintain strong levels across all formats, from CD to vinyl. Additional instrumentation—such as the choir samples—adds “extra depth” that feels measured and deliberate.
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### Overall Impression
*Wish Master* remains a major landmark in the world of symphonic metal. Its futuristic orchestra‑arranged and “hypnotic” feel takes you across the video‑game‑venue, taking you road black. A magical dove has now left the trees—and in the last realm they remained, is where he many make this “audience and happy” after just finished: Witness Dino in scenic scenes.
The music remains “soaring” with a constant original mix. It could amaze, but do the music that bring the instant at a certain saltate, such that there field’s instrument still explicit and will make it of different emotion. All in all we realise that “Wish Master” is a proper classic and undoubtedly “wish fiction”. The record is a incredible spin left in the old band songs charismatic horror. It’s both emotional, rocking, and a poetic cry that reveals just how a legendary group can access fans in new infinite clouds.
Enjoy the Wish, and let the noise define **no desire**.
