Arts and Entertainment
By Joseph Hammann, Staff Writer
Four and a half years since their previous album, “Human :||: Nature,” Finnish metal band Nightwish has returned for their tenth studio album, “Yesterwynde.”
Almost 30 years since the band’s founding, the imagination of band founder Tuomas Holopainen still entwines listener’s minds and hearts. The relationship grows even stronger with front woman Floor Jansen’s vocal resonances, alongside the accompaniment from bassist Jukka Koskinen, drummer Kai Hahto, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen and vocalist Troy Donockley, who provides male vocals and plays Irish and other traditional instruments.
The stories and topics of the songs in “Yesterwynde” are meant to act as follow-ups to the songs in “Human :||: Nature” while also acting as the conclusion to a trilogy that includes those two albums plus 2015’s “Endless Forms Most Beautiful.” However, unlike the previous two albums, “Yesterwynde” focuses on much heavier sounds mixed with more solemn melodies from the traditional instruments, with some of the songs using a mix of the two styles.
The mix of musical styles is evident in “An Ocean of Strange Islands,” “Perfume of the Timeless” and “The Weave.” The band puts a large focus on the choir to back up the energy and emotion of the songs. This is most prevalent in “Yesterwynde,” “The Day Of…” and “The Children of ‘Ata,” where the voices increase tension and suspense that keeps the story engaging for the listener.
The term “Yesterwynde” came from Donockley and describes the “feeling of time, history, memory and being connected to past generations who have all had their lives expressing a feeling of only being an atom scattered across the universe. Before humans reach that state, they must be given something to think about.”
The term could easily be a mix of the words “yesterday” and “unwind” as the themes of spinning time and endless spirals of history play an integral role in defining the meanings of the songs. According to Holopainen, the album is about humanism, history and the inspiration thereof, whether it is seen as positive or negative.
Many of the specific topics touched upon throughout “Yesterwynde” include time as a voyage to various destinations and often as places to settle down and enjoy the view of life. Some of the songs, like “The Children Of ‘Ata,” particularly make reference to real world places like Tonga . Other songs like “The Day Of…” make references to time and societal based literature like George Orwell’s 1984.
Not every song focuses on the same style; this is a way to make each song stand out from one another and be more memorable. For example, the titular track is more hymnal-based to invite the listener on the journey that leads into “An Ocean of Strange Islands,” a long song dealing with the atmospheric wonders of island hopping amongst a timeless world.
Nightwish has been performing since 1996, which is over 28 years. Photo from 2008 album signing.
The track “The Antikythera Mechanism” is named after the oldest living analogical computer used to predict astronomical events and contained compelling bass riffs and powerful vocals.
As of October 2024, the album has risen to the top of the Finnish album charts and has reached a Top 10 status in other countries such as The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.
Even after reaching double digits in terms of studio album numbers, Nightwish still continues to bring new and compelling stories for its listeners to follow with their thought-provoking messages. After over three years of development of this album, it’s safe to say cheers to a new chapter in the Nightwish chronicle!
The track “The Antikythera Mechanism” is named after the oldest living analogical computer used to predict astronomical events and contained compelling bass riffs and powerful vocals.
As of October 2024, the album has risen to the top of the Finnish album charts and has reached a Top 10 status in other countries such as The Netherlands, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland.
Even after reaching double digits in terms of studio album numbers, Nightwish still continues to bring new and compelling stories for its listeners to follow with their thought-provoking messages. After over three years of development of this album, it’s safe to say cheers to a new chapter in the Nightwish chronicle!
