NIGHTWISH: OCEANBORN

SCORE: 100/100

The sheer power of Tarja Turunen is enough to drive this album - and it's clear that Finland is absolutely unmatchable when it comes to metal; especially symphonic metal. Turnen provides stunning high vocals that draw the more symphonic sound of the album out more while the instrumentals are just heavy enough.

Synths, orchestral elements, symphonies, and striking melodies make 'Oceanborn' an absolute must for anyone looking for a symphonic metal album - this one might as well be the face of the entire genre. It's instantaneously captivating to the highest degree, and it's an album that you simply won't want to put down for anything at all.

'Oceanborn' is composed in a way that is simply marvelous - the compositions of each track are wonderful in every sense of the word; and this album truthfully feels like the standard. This is EXACTLY what all symphonic metal should sound like, what every band in the genre should strive to sound like.

When a symphonic metal/gothic metal band has a vocalist as stunningly romantic with their tone as Turunen manages to be all throughout 'Oceanborn', they're destined to leave behind a striking trail of albums, with Nightwish being no different. Female vocalists rule symphonic metal to the highest degree, and the stunning vocal work of Turunen is something to truly marvel at.

This is one of the few albums I've heard that have given me genuine reactions from how incredible it is. I'm so surprised by this album and I can't help but think that this is one of the best albums I've ever heard - not just within the metal genre, but within music in its entirety. 'Oceanborn' is immediately captivating - not only is it captivating, it's alluring.

It's rare (although it has happened a lot recently due to the discovery trail I've been on) that an album makes me emotional because it's just THAT good, but this album did exactly that. There will never be an album that comes even close to this one - and this is symphonic metal at its finest. Turunen's operatic style of vocal work alongside the blissfully heavy instrumentals make this album an absolute must, and this is the blueprint that all symphonic metal should follow - at all times.

Both the elegant and heavy elements of symphonic metal come together into one massively cinematic and stunning picture on 'Oceanborn', with it managing to not only be some of the best symphonic metal I have heard - but some of the best metal I have heard as a whole.

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