Nightwish has returned with a splendid offering on the heels of the heavy 'Century Child,' with 'Once' picking up right where that one left off. The majestic Finnish band continues to blend crunching metal with underlying key and orchestra work, and when topped by the enchanting female vocals of Tarja Turunen the results are often hair-raising and magical. The occasional male vocals continue to make their appearance (unfortunately still sounding a bit Graham Bonnet-like) as well.
Overall, 'Once' is probably the most straight-forward and heaviest platter of Nightwish's career -- and yet they still retain that elusive and unique sound that separates them from almost everyone else in the metal field.
The cutting and grinding "Dark Chest of Wonders" breaks the seal, with "Wish I Had an Angel" being a pounding followup. The mid-paced "Nemo" is the disc's first single, and some excellent vocal harmonizing are a definite song highlight.
"Planet Hell" features some male/female vocal tradeoffs overtop a heavy mainframe, both "Dead Garden" and "Romanticide" are guitar-driven, and "Creek Mary's Blood" mixes distortion with finesse. "Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijen" is a beautiful ballad sung in Suomi/Finnish; it is an intoxicating treat.

TRACK LIST: Dark Chest of Wonders/Wish I Had an Angel/Nemo/Planet Hell/Creek Mary's Blood/The Siren/Dead Garden/Romanticide/Ghost Love Score/ Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan/Higher Than Hope