Wishmaster (album)
Encyclopedia
Wishmaster is the third album of Finnish symphonic metal
band Nightwish
, released on May 19, 2000 by Spinefarm Records.
Wishmaster's sound continues the bombastic symphonic power metal approach originally featured on Oceanborn
, albeit with more emphasis on atmosphere and melody versus powerful speed and heaviness. Perhaps even more so than its predecessor, Wishmaster has a very clear fantasy theme. While commonly considered to be closer to conventional power metal, there is still a great variety with slower songs like "Come Cover Me" and "Two for Tragedy", and more epic pieces like "Dead Boy's Poem" and "FantasMic". "The Kinslayer" is written about the victims of the Columbine High School massacre
. Wishmaster was inspired by the fantasy novels The Lord of the Rings
and Dragonlance
, mentioning Elbereth, Lórien, and the Grey Havens from the former; and Dalamar, Raistlin Majere
(Dalamar's shalafi, or "master"), Gilthanas, the Sla-Mori, and the Inn of the Last Home from the latter. "FantasMic
" is a song about the Disney animated movies, particularly their fantasy and fable elements, taking its title from the Disneyland
show Fantasmic!
.
The song "Wishmaster" has remained one of Nightwish's greatest hits, appearing on several best of compilations. Since its release, it has been a recurring track during live performances, and was featured on the live DVD End of an Era
, recorded in 2005. , it is still often performed live despite the band's change of vocalists. A new orchestral intro for the track was recorded during the orchestral recording of Dark Passion Play. The song was brought back to the metal community's mind by a cover version and video of metal a-cappella band van Canto
in 2008. Other recurring live songs from the album are "She Is My Sin", "Dead Boy's Poem" and "Come Cover Me".
Wishmaster was #1 in the official Finnish charts; the album also debuted in the Europe
an charts at #21 in Germany
and #66 in France
. Today, Wishmaster has sold more than 77,000 copies in Finland alone.
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...
, released on May 19, 2000 by Spinefarm Records.
Wishmaster's sound continues the bombastic symphonic power metal approach originally featured on 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...
, albeit with more emphasis on atmosphere and melody versus powerful speed and heaviness. Perhaps even more so than its predecessor, Wishmaster has a very clear fantasy theme. While commonly considered to be closer to conventional power metal, there is still a great variety with slower songs like "Come Cover Me" and "Two for Tragedy", and more epic pieces like "Dead Boy's Poem" and "FantasMic". "The Kinslayer" is written about the victims of the Columbine High School massacre
Columbine High School massacre
The Columbine High School massacre occurred on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in Columbine, an unincorporated area of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States, near Denver and Littleton. Two senior students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, embarked on a massacre, killing 12...
. Wishmaster was inspired by the fantasy novels The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy epic written by English philologist and University of Oxford professor J. R. R. Tolkien. The story began as a sequel to Tolkien's earlier, less complex children's fantasy novel The Hobbit , but eventually developed into a much larger work. It was written in...
and Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
, mentioning Elbereth, Lórien, and the Grey Havens from the former; and Dalamar, Raistlin Majere
Raistlin Majere
Raistlin Majere is a fictional character from the Dragonlance series of books created by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Raistlin played an extensive role in the two main series of books, particularly in Dragonlance: Legends in which he was both primary protagonist and antagonist...
(Dalamar's shalafi, or "master"), Gilthanas, the Sla-Mori, and the Inn of the Last Home from the latter. "FantasMic
FantasMic (Song)
"FantasMic" is a song by the Finnish power metal band Nightwish from their album Wishmaster.It was written by Tuomas Holopainen, the keyboardist and main songwriter of the band, and it is considered a tribute to Walt Disney and the movies and characters of the Walt Disney Studios...
" is a song about the Disney animated movies, particularly their fantasy and fable elements, taking its title from the Disneyland
Disneyland Park (Anaheim)
Disneyland Park is a theme park located in Anaheim, California, owned and operated by the Walt Disney Parks and Resorts division of the Walt Disney Company. Known as Disneyland when it opened on July 18, 1955, and still almost universally referred to by that name, it is the only theme park to be...
show Fantasmic!
Fantasmic!
Fantasmic! is a Disney nighttime show at Disneyland in the Disneyland Resort, Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World and Tokyo DisneySea in Tokyo Disney Resort. The show features fireworks, live actors, water effects, fire, music, several boats, decorated rafts and projections onto large...
.
The song "Wishmaster" has remained one of Nightwish's greatest hits, appearing on several best of compilations. Since its release, it has been a recurring track during live performances, and was featured on the live DVD End of an Era
End of an Era
End of an Era is a DVD and double CD from Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. Nuclear Blast recorded their live performance at the Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland on October 21, 2005, the final concert of a long worldwide tour for their album Once...
, recorded in 2005. , it is still often performed live despite the band's change of vocalists. A new orchestral intro for the track was recorded during the orchestral recording of Dark Passion Play. The song was brought back to the metal community's mind by a cover version and video of metal a-cappella band van Canto
Van Canto
Van Canto is an a cappella metal band from Germany, founded in 2006 and composed of five singers and a drummer. Although the group is often classified as an a cappella ensemble, they use real drums in their music, instead of vocal percussion or beatboxing....
in 2008. Other recurring live songs from the album are "She Is My Sin", "Dead Boy's Poem" and "Come Cover Me".
Wishmaster was #1 in the official Finnish charts; the album also debuted in the Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an charts at #21 in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and #66 in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Today, Wishmaster has sold more than 77,000 copies in Finland alone.
Track listing
| Title | Writers | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "She Is My Sin" | 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.... |
4:46 |
| 2. | "The Kinslayer The Kinslayer The Kinslayer is the sixth single released by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, was the first single from their third album, Wishmaster, released online only.... " (feat. Ike Vil Ike Vil Ike Vil is the keyboardist and singer of the Finnish deathrock band Babylon Whores, which he has been a part of since its founding in 1994.He made a guest appearance on the Nightwish song, "The Kinslayer".- References :... ) |
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.... |
3:59 |
| 3. | "Come Cover Me" | 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.... & Vuorinen |
4:34 |
| 4. | "Wanderlust" | 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.... |
4:50 |
| 5. | "Two for Tragedy" | 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.... |
3:50 |
| 6. | "Wishmaster" | 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.... |
4:24 |
| 7. | "Bare Grace Misery" | 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.... & Vuorinen |
3:41 |
| 8. | "Crownless" | 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.... & Vuorinen |
4:28 |
| 9. | "Deep Silent Complete Deep Silent Complete Deep Silent Complete is the seventh single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released as the second single from their album Wishmaster... " |
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.... |
3:57 |
| 10. | "Dead Boy's Poem" (feat. Sam Hardwick) | 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.... |
6:47 |
| 11. | "FantasMic FantasMic (Song) "FantasMic" is a song by the Finnish power metal band Nightwish from their album Wishmaster.It was written by Tuomas Holopainen, the keyboardist and main songwriter of the band, and it is considered a tribute to Walt Disney and the movies and characters of the Walt Disney Studios... " |
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.... |
8:17 |
| 12. | "Sleepwalker" (Bonus track) | 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.... |
2:55 |
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 - Erno "Emppu" Vuorinen – Guitars
- Sami VänskäSami VänskäSami Vänskä is the former bassist of Finnish symphonic power metal band Nightwish.-Background story:He started playing bass as a private study. He has played in a few bands which have been mostly from the metal genre....
- Bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - 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... - 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...
Guests
- Ike VilIke VilIke Vil is the keyboardist and singer of the Finnish deathrock band Babylon Whores, which he has been a part of since its founding in 1994.He made a guest appearance on the Nightwish song, "The Kinslayer".- References :...
- Spoken parts in "The Kinslayer" - Sam Hardwick - Spoken parts in "Dead Boy's Poem"
- Esa Lehtinen - FluteFluteThe flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
- Ville Laaksonen - Tenor singerTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
- Matias Kaila - Tenor singerTenorThe tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
- Kimmo Kallio - Baritone singerBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
- Riku Salminen - Bass singer
- Anssi Honkanen - Bass singer
- V. Laaksonen - ChoirChoirA choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
arrangements