(16 June 2002) When I first read the introduction letter accompanying our copy of Century Child (Spinefarm (Finland) SPI148, 2002) I did not pay lot of attention to the text saying "Nightwish has taken a notable step forward with their new album." It sounded like the usual promotional text we are used to seeing widely just as interest stimulator.

The first listens did not open the album as easily as the previous ones, but as we all know, this is usually a good sign. But the letter was right and we have a very welcome album here. Especially the two albums before Century Child have presented usNightwish as they are and that sound has made the heavenly feeling of flying high "Over The Hlls" and so on--Century Child is obviously born under high pressure and expectations. The band survived change of one of their members; composer Tuomas Holopainen says "a lot of personal anxiety was involved when writing the new songs."

Century Child includes new sounds and elements. You can hear the participation of Joensuu City Orchestra, Tuomaschoir and for the first time a male vocalist together with the stunning Tarja Turunen. The new band member Marco Hietala (bass) sings the male vocal parts.

All the new elements compliment the original Nightwish-style composing we are familiar with, but overall listening brings you the feeling of an album slightly harder rocking than the previous ones, despite the balancing of classical elements. One tiny detail supporting the heavy line is the somewhat distorted bass part. The album remains well arranged and sounds great!

Musical Discoveries focus on Tarja Turunen as female lead vocalist of the band has been a continuous enjoyment ever since we learned to know their music. Her classical background and ongoing studies in Germany show her again as professional soprano loaning her voice for metal edged rock, although this was originally not to be at all her area of music as she publicly admits.

Tarja will continue her classical studies a couple more years and sadly this breaks Nightwish's tour plans. We first noticed Tarja to sing wider scale and lower tones when she co-operated with Beto Vazquez Infinity album last year (feature). We find the same on Century Child. The duets that Tarja and Marco sing are one of the highlights of this album and a good example of perfect success is the cover of "Phantom of the Opera."

Century Child went immediately to platinum in Nightwish's home country ofFinland. This is the ultimate local record of any artist making it in only two weeks.The album is at the top of our ratings for bands of similar style with a female lead vocalist. Nightwish has continuously shown their capability to create new elements out of surrounding dimensions and they certainly do it here again for our pleasure.

I rate the album third against the earlier Nightwish albums with Oceanborn andWishmaster rated above it. This is primarily because I personally prefer and enjoy the less hard sound of those albums and secondly after so much Nightwish listening the criticism hits hard on evry part you think you have heard from them already before.

In "Bless The Child," the choir at opening is very nice, and it is generally a well arranged piece. A mixed rock beat, not typical for Nightwish underscores "End of Hope" which follows. Marco makes his debut on vocals in "Dead To TheWorld" one of my favourite songs. The harder speed metal track "Slaying The Dreamer"didn't appeal much to me.

"Ever Dream" is the first single from the album that has had a lot of play time at our local radio; rich percussion is added to the typical Nightwish sound. We alsoenjoyed "Forever Yours." Another favourite is "Ocean Soul," a nice ballad backed witha rock beat. Tarja told us "this is one of the most enjoyable to sing." A nice duetand equally enjoyable is "Feel For You." But it is "Phantom Of The Opera" that generates a real wow!--the duet works fine.

The album concludes with the multi-part "Beauty of the Beast." Emppu's great guitar work is featured here and at five minutes running the track has a very powerful sound and really breaks the skies. There are two editions of the album available. Whileour promo included only one CD, the limited edition includes two with the second havingbonus material essential to serious Nightwish fans. Details are available on the band's official website. The album isgenerally available in Europe from the first week of July.--Mauri Osterholm,Scandinavian Bureau Chief

Interested visitors will want to check out our review of the "Ever Dream" single and the latest update to our Nightwish feature.