Editor Reviews:

Album Description:
"NIGHTWISH could very well have cloned their last full studio album, Wishmaster, and would have been guaranteed to sell as many copies without the fanbase batting an eyelash. Simply put, the band is that good. NIGHTWISH is not stupid, firmly believing in artistic integrity over sales and clearly having the balls to branch out, explore and experiment with their craft. For a start, the level of bombast seems to have been turned down a notch on Century Child in favour of a more metal approach, even singer Tarja toning down her all-out opera vocals somewhat and using her voice with much broader scope. Ironically, the band has become more operatic at the same time with the addition of bassist Marco Hietala - recently stolen from Sinergy - who acts as Tarja's male lead vocal counterpart on several tracks, making a huge impact on the band's sound. No question that NIGHTWISH would be just another band with out Tarja though, who shines brighter than she ever has before. ! Century Child is yet another firm step towards greatness." (9 out of 10 review) – BRAVE WORDS & BLOODY KNUCKLES

-1st new album in over two years! Massive anticipation! -Fourth full-length from one of gothic metal’s leading acts. -NIGHTWISH have already received double platinum and gold album awards in their native Finland, as well as winning two Emma Awards (the Finnish equivalent of a Grammy) and scoring four Top 10 hits at radio. -Produced by Tero Kinnunen (Nightwish) and Mikko Karmila (Amorphis, Stratovarius, Avantasia) at Caverock and Finnvox Studios in Finland.

Rating : - Another Great CD by Nightwish
Century Child marks the beginning of a change of sound for Nightwish. After (and in) this album, they start to focus more on the symphonic sounds, rather than the power-metal qualities their prievious albums had.

Of course, for people like me, this is a great change. While Nightwish were great with power metal, they are epic with their symphonic metal qualities.

The first four songs still retain some of the power metal sounds, but they do show the transition between the two styles.

Then the fifth song, "Slaying the Dreamer" is a really fast paced, angry sounding song, especially in the latter half, but it still sounds great, and is one of my favourite songs on the album.

"Forever Yours" is the only song on the album that is slow all the way through, but it sounds really beautiful, as all of Nightwish's slow songs tend to do.

"Ocean Soul" and "Feel For You" are two good songs, but I think almost all the other songs overshadow them.

Then Nightwish does a cover of "Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber. This is my favourite song on the album, and it really is great. People who are used to hearing the original version of this song may be thrown off by Marco's gravelly version of the Phantom, but you should be able to get over it rather quickly.

Finally, the most epic song on Century Child, "Beauty of the Beast." It really is a masterpiece in pretty much any way one looks at it. It's also a great way to end the album, with a ten-and-a-half-minute-long epic.


Overall, this is a great album, although I personally like their next album, Once, a lot more. If you like Once or Dark Passion Play, you'll most likely like this album too. The reverse is true too, if you like this, then you'll probably like Once and Dark Passion Play.