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Nightwish - Demo - 1996 (Review)

Alas, we begin the very first review for the very first product that counts as a studio album. Yes, it's only a demo with three songs, but I still consider it a studio album because it came with the CD of 'Angels Fall First', which you will see in the next review.

'DEMO' from: Nightwish


Let's kick off this party with how this demo sounds like.

This was back in the year that Nightwish first formed in 1996, the same year this demo came out. At this point, the only three members at the time were Tarja, Emppu and Tuomas. You will notice that there is a large absence of drums and bass from the recording. The demo mainly is composed with beautiful acoustic guitars and synth/clean piano with majestic soaring vocals that Tarja delivers. Funny thing, there is two guitars doing leads but panning left and right.

1. THE FOREVER MOMENTS - 9.5/10

The song kicks off immediately with a grand piano playing a serene tune, before the acoustics kick in with a clean sound that gives off the essence for this song and the next two that it's like sitting by the campfire at night in the woods during a camping trip in Lappi, Finland.

2. NIGHTWISH - 10/10

This next one is the very song that gave this memorable band the name for what it would soon become in the next year during the recording of their debut album. Written as the very first song, this song gives off spacey synth at the beginning with a bit of ocean sounds before kicking into more acoustics.

This song is the essential and important bit of the demo overall and it pulls off a clip which would later be sampled in the first album that we all know as 'Beauty and the Beast'. This one is a personal favorite of mine that I hardly listen to, but do note its importance. Tarja's vocals never fail at least once and pull off fantastic melodies for the verses and chorus.

3. ETIAINEN - 9/10

This one is the last song on the demo and it is essential a part of the Lappi four parter in the debut album. As this is just part of the demo, there is much to note that it could be the complete version or not. The acoustics sound just like the actual full version, but misses a few element. Still, this is a passable version for what would be next.

Tarja still manages to hold some well done wordless vocals for the song. There is spoken word at the beginning of the track which I assume is Tuomas speaking in Finnish, but I cannot translate what he is saying.

OVERALL:

I thought this was a really good demo that Nightwish first came out with it all began the spark of a nw musical career force for the three of them to eventually find Jukka Nevelainen who would no doubtingly play the role as the drummer for the oncoming albums yet to come soon staring in 1997.

This demo shows what their ability at acoustic campfire music could be at with the essence of folk and symphonic mixed together, with a synth punch to add to the fun. Most metalheads won't really pay attention to this one, but it is good to hear this one if you want to go back to where Nightwish all started. Remember: It's all acoustic, but I'm sure you don't mind.

Rating: 
9.3 OUT OF 10

Next review:
"Angels Fall First"
 
 

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