Angels Fall First
Encyclopedia
Angels Fall First is the debut album of Finnish symphonic metal
band Nightwish
. The original limited edition of which only 500 copies were released features seven tracks, two of which are not on the regular edition.
and acoustically
oriented than its successors. Its folky sound is also more or less reduced on later albums. Even though the only single, "The Carpenter
", reached number three on the Finnish
singles chart, Nightwish only gained international fame after the release of their second studio album, Oceanborn
, 1998.
, as well as the whispers in the beginning of the demo version of "Etiäinen". Following this release, Holopainen never sang credited on an album again, because he thought that he was not good enough. He has however provided the background shouts on "Moondance" on the 1998 album Oceanborn
, as well as some background growling on "Master Passion Greed" on the 2007 album Dark Passion Play
.
As of December 2009, Angels Fall First has sold more than 36,000 copies in Finland alone.
The songs of the album were played more and more seldom live leading up to the departure of vocalist Tarja Turunen
in October 2005, and no songs from the album has been performed with the new vocalist Anette Olzon
since. The band, and especially band leader and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen
has since frowned upon the album. In a 2011 interview, when asked what album other than Imaginaerum Holopainen wanted to make into a movie, he replied that it would be Angels Fall First, and that it would be "a black-and-white comedy".
The band
Main Crew
Guests
Touring members
Symphonic metal
Symphonic metal is a term used to describe heavy metal music that has symphonic elements; that is, elements that are either borrowed from classical music or, as with progressive rock music, create a style reminiscent of it, e.g...
band Nightwish
Nightwish
Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. Formed in 1996 by songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former vocalist Tarja Turunen, Nightwish's current line-up has five members, although Tarja has been replaced by Anette Olzon and the...
. The original limited edition of which only 500 copies were released features seven tracks, two of which are not on the regular edition.
Musical style
Angels Fall First is very different from the later releases; it is much more folk metalFolk metal
Folk metal is a sub-genre of heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s. As the name suggests, the genre is a fusion of heavy metal with traditional folk music...
and acoustically
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
oriented than its successors. Its folky sound is also more or less reduced on later albums. Even though the only single, "The Carpenter
The Carpenter
-Personnel:*Tarja Turunen - Vocals*Tuomas Holopainen - Keyboards, Piano, Vocals *Emppu Vuorinen - Guitars, Acoustic guitars, Bass guitar*Jukka Nevalainen - Drums-Video:...
", reached number three on the Finnish
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
singles chart, Nightwish only gained international fame after the release of their second studio album, Oceanborn
Oceanborn
-Personnel:Credits for Oceanborn adapted from liner notes.The band*Tarja Turunen - Vocals*Tuomas Holopainen - Keyboards*Emppu Vuorinen - Lead guitar*Sami Vänskä - Bass guitar*Jukka Nevalainen - Drums and PercussionMain Crew...
, 1998.
History
The male vocals heard on "Beauty and the Beast", "The Carpenter", "Astral Romance" and "Once Upon a Troubadour" are sung by keyboardist–band leader Tuomas HolopainenTuomas Holopainen
Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish composer known best for symphonic metal music. He has also studied jazz and classical styles, but prefers to be influenced by harmonic film music....
, as well as the whispers in the beginning of the demo version of "Etiäinen". Following this release, Holopainen never sang credited on an album again, because he thought that he was not good enough. He has however provided the background shouts on "Moondance" on the 1998 album Oceanborn
Oceanborn
-Personnel:Credits for Oceanborn adapted from liner notes.The band*Tarja Turunen - Vocals*Tuomas Holopainen - Keyboards*Emppu Vuorinen - Lead guitar*Sami Vänskä - Bass guitar*Jukka Nevalainen - Drums and PercussionMain Crew...
, as well as some background growling on "Master Passion Greed" on the 2007 album Dark Passion Play
Dark Passion Play
Dark Passion Play is the sixth studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released on 26 September, 2007 in Finland, 28 September in Europe and 2 October 2007 in the United States. It was the first Nightwish album with the band's current lead singer, Anette Olzon, and the first album...
.
As of December 2009, Angels Fall First has sold more than 36,000 copies in Finland alone.
The songs of the album were played more and more seldom live leading up to the departure of vocalist Tarja Turunen
Tarja Turunen
Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
in October 2005, and no songs from the album has been performed with the new vocalist Anette Olzon
Anette Olzon
Anette Ingegerd Olsson , known by the stage name Anette Olzon, is a Swedish singer from Helsingborg, best known as the second lead vocalist of Finnish symphonic power metal band Nightwish. Olzon was formerly the vocalist in the Swedish AOR band Alyson Avenue...
since. The band, and especially band leader and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen
Tuomas Holopainen
Tuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish composer known best for symphonic metal music. He has also studied jazz and classical styles, but prefers to be influenced by harmonic film music....
has since frowned upon the album. In a 2011 interview, when asked what album other than Imaginaerum Holopainen wanted to make into a movie, he replied that it would be Angels Fall First, and that it would be "a black-and-white comedy".
Track listing
Charts performance
| Chart (1998) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Finnish Albums Chart Mitä hittiä The Official Finnish Charts is a national record chart in Finland composed by Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland.The singles chart was started in January 1991 as Radiomafian lista and was broadcast on the radio station Radiomafia of the Finnish Broadcasting Company, YLE. This chart is based on a... |
31 |
Personnel
Credits for Angels Fall First adapted from liner notes.The band
- Tarja TurunenTarja TurunenTarja Soile Susanna Turunen Cabuli is a Finnish singer-songwriter and composer. She is a full lyric soprano and has a vocal range of three octaves....
- Vocals - Tuomas HolopainenTuomas HolopainenTuomas Lauri Johannes Holopainen is a Finnish composer known best for symphonic metal music. He has also studied jazz and classical styles, but prefers to be influenced by harmonic film music....
- KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, PianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and male vocals - Emppu VuorinenEmppu VuorinenErno "Emppu" Matti Juhani Vuorinen is a Finnish guitarist, most famous for being a founding member and occasional songwriter of the symphonic metal band Nightwish...
- Lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, Acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
and Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Jukka NevalainenJukka NevalainenJukka Antero "Julius" Nevalainen is the drummer in the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish and the Finnish progressive metal band Sethian.- Biography :He spent his early years in the city of Kitee...
- Drums and PercussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
Main Crew
- Tero Kinnunen - Sound engineer
- Mika Jussila - Mastering engineer
- Garry Black - Cover Artwork
- Toni Härkönen - Band Photography
Guests
- Esa Lehtinen - Flutes
Touring members
- Samppa Hirvonen - bass guitar
- Marjaana Pellinen - backing vocals