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"Nightwish gives birth to an astonishing and balanced album with a varied and ambitious writing depth. Unquestionably a must of the year, in the genre, in metal, in music."
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5/5
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Nightwish is one of the biggest bands of the 21st century, thanks to the enthusiasm it has aroused across the planet. Its releases are eagerly awaited by millions of fans. Certainly the most eagerly awaited album of 2020, "Human. II: Nature" finally hits record stores. Unfortunately, the confinement of almost half of humanity is undermining the great promotion, but do they really need this to make their offspring successful? Probably not given the loyalty of their gigantic fan base.
For their tenth album, the Finns have made things big with a double concept album, a first for them. The title leaves no doubt as to the concept that will be human nature, Man and Nature. The first tracks are in the continuity of "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" with 'Music' which delicately opens on a slow symphonic rise then a first acoustic session before taking height towards a characteristic refrain and orchestration. It gives a first clue of the continuation which will be made of numerous vocal harmonies on the choruses with Marko Hietala and Troy Donokcley who often assist Floor on these parts giving an original and authentic aspect to the ensemble. Only the very metal 'Pan' derogates from the rule with many grandiloquent choruses made to reinforce the hymnic side of the chorus.
The vocal tendency of the album is to share the tasks. Of course, Floor is the main actress of this section but Troy, who takes the lead on the bucolic 'Harvest', and Marko, who does the same on 'Endlessness', are heavily involved in the vocal arrangements and their voices are very present on many tracks ('How's The Heart', 'Music'). Floor Jansen is certainly the greatest singer in the world and Tuomas Holopainen has understood this. She pushes the composer's limits in writing and he gives her memorable moments of bravery like the finale of 'Shoemaker' where her lyrical soprano singing shows the incredible vocal spectrum at his disposal. Emotion guaranteed.
From the very first listening, the impression of having already heard certain themes imposes itself on the listener, but this is due more to the formidable efficiency of Tuomas' writing than to a redundancy with previous releases. "Human. II: Nature" is a melodic standard, an obvious part of the group's overall work, and one where it can find its place in the blink of an eye.
The band's usual variety is present, with metalo-symphonic pieces (the acerbic criticism of the omnipresent screens'Noise' or the frantic 'Tribal'), soft, calm melodies (the delicate 'Procession') and Celtic hymns such as 'How's the Heart' with its unstoppable refrain and bluffing finale (thank you Mrs. Jansen), and 'Harvest', which Troy interprets magnificently. The latter is the expression of a unique bond between man and nature, illustrated by profound texts on the cult that man has always had of the nourishing earth, the very earth to which all beings return at the hour of death.
As for the second record, it is entirely dedicated to Nature, to the Ocean ('The Blue'), to the flora ('The Green'), to the earth ('The Moors'), and to the beauties of our sometimes icy world ('Quiet As The Snow'). Entitled 'All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The Earth', this long contemplative fresco of about thirty minutes is entirely instrumental and acoustic. It is mainly performed by The London Session Orchestra and The Metro Voices Choir, accompanied by Tuomas on keyboards and Troy on traditional instruments. Some grumblers will criticize the cello theme for being too close to the GoT theme, but Tuomas' compositional work is nonetheless daring and exceptional. He goes so far as to integrate in 'Anthropocene' the theme of the Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal, considered to be the oldest known musical composition and found on a Mesopotamian tablet dating back more than 3,200 years.
The last movement 'Ad Astra' brings the work to a majestic close with the famous quotation by the American astrophysicist Carl Sagan, who, in front of a photo of the entire solar system taken by the Voyager2 probe, was raving about the pale blue dot that is the Earth as seen from the vastness of space. This allegory alone sums up the quintessence of Nightwish's ambitious and magnificent compositional work on this magnificent album ending. This symphonic piece (in the literal sense), although far removed from what many of us listen to, brings an even greater dimension to the work than just musical creation. Holopainen seeks to make us aware of the rarity of our planet and its unique and exceptional nature. Let's listen to him.
The Chief said "no chronicles too long, they are not read". It's missed, and if you're still here, he was wrong. After several listenings, you'll understand that there are so many things to say on such an album and that a simple review is not enough. But if we have to sum up, let's say that Nightwish gives birth to an amazing and balanced album that will count in the history of symphonic metal by the depth of its varied and ambitious writing, by the exceptional interpretation of all musicians and by the emotion that its music is able to provide. Fans will not have hesitated but others can go there with their eyes closed because the epic variety of atmospheres and styles will necessarily give them reasons to appreciate it. Unquestionably a must of the year, of the genre, of metal, of music. - Official website
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TRACK LISTING:
01. Music
02. Noise
03. Shoemaker
04. Harvest
05. Pan
06. How's The Heart?
07. Procession
08. Tribal
09. Endlessness
10. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Vista
11. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - The Blue
12. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - The Green
13. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Moors
14. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Aurorae
15. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Quiet As The Snow
16. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Anthropocene (incl. "hurrian Hymn To Nikkal")
17. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Ad Astra
LINEUP:
Emppu Vuorinen: Guitares
Floor Jansen: Chant
Kai Hahto: Batterie
Marco Hietala: Chant / Basse
Troy Donockley: Flûte, Cornemuse
Tuomas Holopainen: Claviers
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(0) MIND(S) FROM OUR READERS
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(6) COMMENT(S)
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Cet opus est ambitieux mais il faut bien admettre que si Music, Noise, Pan, Tribal et Endlessness sont dans le style Metal symphonique de Nightwish que l'on aime avec de vrais trouvailles dans les arrangements et les capacités vocales de Floor avec les voix de Marco et Troy par moment, le reste est plutôt du folk progressif qui s'éloigne du Metal. Quand au CD2 purement instrumental, je veux bien que l'on donne une dimension symphonique à un manifeste pour la défense et l'amour de la terre mais il n'y a plus de Metal du tout et pour dire la vérité, je me suis ennuyé à la moitié de ce CD. J'ai noté 3.
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Certes la musique n est pas très metal mais ce n est pas gage de qualité musicale. Je considere cet album comme un des moins inspiré de leur carrière, un bel habit et de beaux arrangements qui ne masquent pas le fond...3/5
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J'entends vos commentaires et avis, et je les comprends. L'album ne sera pas forcément marquant pour les fans d'Oceanborn ou pour ceux que le virage moins metal que prend Nightwish n'apprécient pas. Mais il a d'autres qualités, mélodiques, de composition, d'universalité et d'osmose entre les musiciens qui draineront de nouveaux fans pour qui il représentera plus à leurs yeux et les amèneront vers les anciens albums. Nightwish continue d'écrire son histoire et elle n'est pas linéaire. Je trouve que c'est leur plus grande qualité.
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Surprenant, mais magnifique. Certes, ce n'est pas très métal, mais c'est juste de la splendide musique, qui navigue entre divers types musicaux! Comme d'autres l'ont écrit dans leurs commentaires, j'attendais à la base quelque chose de plus métal de la part de Nightwish. Au début je dis "dommage", puis on oublie. Franchement, ne cataloguez cet album dans aucune case, installez-vous confortablement un bon casque sur les oreilles, et profitez!
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Les titres Shoemaker, Pan,Procession,Endlessness sont du grand Nighrwish, alliant forcé et lyrisme. Noise et Harvest très en dessous de ses standards. Le reste étant tout juste passable. 2.5/5 pour le disque 1
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READERS
4.1/5 (15 view(s))
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STAFF:
4/5 (8 view(s))
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IN RELATION WITH NIGHTWISH
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OTHER REVIEWS
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OTHER(S) REVIEWS ABOUT NIGHTWISH
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