Nightwish - The Concert Review

First of all, I was never a fan of the wannabe opera diva Tarja Turunen and I won't become a die-hard Nightwish fan anymore either, but the Finnish reference when it comes to bombastic orchestral metal, the symphonic metal band around keyboarder Tuomas Holopainen are known for their unusual special effects and brilliant stage and light shows. Nightwish's work is bombastic, their sounds epic, passionate and breathtaking. I was able to experience how her new work sounds and is visually implemented on April 24th on the «Imaginaerum» World Tour in the Hallenstadion in Zurich. And what should I say? The show was just great and both sound and effects were perfectly coordinated, so that even an old Thrasher liked the performance of the Finns. How can this happen? Read it yourself…

A Nightwish concert without it the frying pan face Tarja? This was probably my first question when it came to whether you would like to come to the Nightwish concert. Yes, I don't like Tarja and I don't like Tarja at all and it was more than important for me to be sure that she didn't have a comeback in the band in the meantime, because that would definitely be a reason for me to stay away from the event like that Devil the holy water. But that evening there were also some hardcore Tarja fans who would not tolerate any goddesses next to her and they would have stayed at home more wisely, because Tuomas and his men have made a far better choice with Anette than with any third-rate would-be opera diva populate the metal stages of this world and whine the ears of the people. So the way was paved for a little broadening of horizons and friends I am glad that I dared. Nightwish put on a great show in the Hallenstadion Zurich!

Nightwish - 1 -Taikatalvi & Story Time (live) @ Hallenstadion Zurich 24.4.2012

The Battle Beasts were there to warm things up, but we completely missed their performance as we hung out over beers and friends for a little too long. But Battle Beast played Heavy Fuckin' Metal, which you could still hear outside. Note: Might be worth checking out. «Imaginaerum», the long-awaited follow-up to Nightwish «Dark Passion Play», is the reason for the tour and the album is also the soundtrack to a film whose protagonist is an old singer-songwriter with an incredible imagination. «Imaginaerum» appeals to our imagination and long-forgotten longings from a magical world.

The anticipation in the audience is huge and at a quarter to nine the main act begins with their performance to thunderous cheers, Nightwish came on stage. At least it sounded like it, because a huge rag curtain blocked the view of "Taikatalvi", which Marco sings on a rocking chair, also during the first half of "Storytime" a curtain covers the stage before it is dropped and the view. Above Tuomas with a top hat and tails, Marco with an even longer beard, Anette in an elegant dress and with black hair and blond boy Emppu, Jukka is enthroned on a high drum platform. A narrow, wide video screen that displayed colorful animations of carousels, forest landscapes and dark kitsch montages throughout the show. A gigantic and atmospheric light show and massive effects such as flame columns, smoke and red-colored fire, which even beats up from the organ pipes of Tuomas' keyboard, offer a spectacular show for the eye.

Nightwish I want my Tears back, Live in Zurich, April 24.4.12, XNUMX

With "Wish I Had An Angel" and "Amaranth" the Finns quickly cast a spell over Zurich, before Anette conveys her way of singing so convincingly in "Scaretale" that one can definitely only ask: "Who the fuck is Tarja?" . She sings the erotically crackling “Slow, Love, Slow” no less convincingly. Irish musician Troy Donockley is on stage for "I Want My Tears Back" and the numbers that follow, and will accompany the band throughout the tour. With his uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes), he not only provides live music for the eagerly clapped-along instrumental "Last Of The Wilds" and "The Islander", in which the audience creates a sea of ​​lights, but also for "Come Cover Me" for folk music. feeling Not only the "Wishmaster" number, but also "Planet Hell" and "Over The Hills And Far Away", played live for the first time since 2005, which were carefully rearranged for Anette's and Marco's voice, as well as "Dead To The World" prove once again that Anette can sing former Tarja standards in her very own way.

In between, the audience can look forward to a dreamy acoustic version of "Nemo", the current single "The Crow, The Owl And The Dove" and the menacing "Ghost River", before the instrumental "Finlandia" by Jean Sibelius introduces the block of encores. It makes it clear again that Nightwish are fully committed to their current album. The two encores "Song Of Myself" and the matching "Last Ride Of The Day" with fireworks also come from the new disc; Counting the orchestral title song as an outro, around ten new songs come into play. By the way, they work very well live, even if the «Dark Passion Play» songs and older numbers are of course celebrated the most. They didn't skimp on pyro effects either.

Nightwish - Ghost River (Live @ Zurich 2012 - 5/6)

My conclusion of the evening: Nightwish know how to deliver a great show! The boys have mastered their craft and also the art of staging. The secret front man was Marco - not only for the pieces in which he had a vocal part. The whirling Emppu, Jukka and Tuomas, who keeps picking up the bottle of wine on his keyboard, offer a very convincing performance and appear homogeneous with a constantly grinning, dancing and fantastic singing Anette. The fun can be clearly seen in the musicians on stage, Donockley's interventions make the sound even more multifaceted. The joy of playing, a successful setlist and the opulent show are definitely worth watching Nightwish!

setlist:

1. A magical winter
2. Storytime
3. Wish I Had an Angel
4. Amaranth
5. Scaretale
6. Slow, love, slow
7. I want my tears back
8. Come cover me
9. The Crow, the Owl and the Dove
10. The Islander
11. Nemo
12. Last of the Wilds
13. Planet Hell
14. Ghost River
15. Dead to the World
16. Over the Hills and Far Away (Gary Moore cover)

Again:

17. Finlandia (Jean Sibelius cover)
18. Song of Myself
19. Last ride of the day

Nightwish - Nemo - live @ Hallenstadion in Zurich, April 24.4.2012, XNUMX

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