Symphonic metal giants Nightwish mark a number of milestones with Yesterwynde. It’s the band’s 10th studio album and it functions as the final offering to the tripart collection comprised of the previous two albums, Endless Forms Most Beautiful and Human. :||: Nature.. Further to this, the making of the album coincided with numerous intense personal events for the band’s members, while also seeing the band showcasing even more creativity from the album’s title to its musical and lyrical arrangements.
Tuomas Holopainen has expressed how this album is significantly more lyrically driven than its predecessors, and that becomes apparent early in the listening process. Another aspect that stands out is that Floor Jansen’s vocals are present to a lesser extent in the operatic style. We hear more of her voice in the ‘pop’ range enhancing the contrast when her belts and operatic voice do make an appearance. Yesterwynde’s singles, while providing a taste of what is to come in the full-length, fail to fully translate the wondrous storytelling that is at the heart of the album. It is most definitely a tracklist to be heard in its complete form in order to become fully immersed in the ideas explored.
Yesterwynde is bookended with the sound of a projector, an ode to part of the inspiration behind the album—colourised historical photographs. The title track opens the door to the album, with an ethereal choir and the gradual building of instrumental layers followed by the addition of Floor Jansen’s voice. It’s a short but powerful introduction bringing elements of light and hints of darkness. Exploding into An Ocean Of Strange Islands, the longest track on Yesterwynde, Nightwish’s iconic heavy rhythmical arrangement creates a juxtaposition from the calm and dreamy nature of Yesterwynde. A thunderous momentum runs throughout An Ocean Of Strange Islands, driven by heavy guitars and empowered with the dramatic tones and textures of the orchestra. Moments of serene inhabit the latter parts of the track; the calm after the storm shines a spotlight on Troy Donockley’s uilleann pipes.
The Antikythera Mechanism leans into an intriguing and eerie domain. Intensity from the heaviness is interspersed with moments of lighter sections. Chaos arises through mechanical-like sounds, a shift in the time signature and contrapuntal layers all heightening a dark sense of foreboding. The dystopian The Day Of…, the album’s second single release, is rhythmically driven and sees the return of a children’s choir. Dynamically shifting between the moody verses and soaring choruses, The Day Of… brings something a little different to a Nightwish album, it’s catchy and probably the most traditionally ‘single-like’ song on the track list, while carrying a new flavour. Venturing into the epic Perfume Of The Timeless, the enthralling journey transpires across grand arrangements. The track ends with Donockley performing the final chorus, his softer vocals to the backdrop of choir voices and dreamy instruments presents the narrative in an equally impactful though variant style.
Acoustic guitar melodies open Sway, soon followed by Donockley and Jansen’s harmonised vocals. Surrounding instruments ebb and flow enhancing the atmosphere of the song. Everything is delicately composed, from the arrival of the rhythmic drums and accenting melodies that dance around. The Children Of ‘Ata is based on a true story of children stranded on a desert island and who survived through cooperation. This is the second track, after The Day Of…, to feature ‘80s-esque synths and it certainly adds some variation to the band’s musical texture. Something Whispered Follow Me brings an uplifting quality; while the track’s shadowy melody motif carries a dark aspect, the chorus is elevated with a bright and captivating sound. The elegant nature of Spider Silk is conveyed in the track’s opening, before building into the full ensemble. Musically bringing to life the qualities of strength and fragility.
Gentle melodies provide the greeting in Hiraeth. With both Donockley and Jansen once again performing vocals, their performances are spellbinding. Interjecting percussion enhances the instrumental texture and provides a boost in preparation for the forthcoming switch up in instrumental arrangement as it transforms into a full ensemble display. Frantic strings and percussion manifest in The Weave. With grounding bass and brass rises, the track descends into a heavy exhibit. The power builds throughout to the ultimate ending of Jansen’s belt. Reaching the end of Yesterwynde’s track list, the serene Lanternlight awaits. This ghostly and ethereal piece highlights Jansen’s vocal precision with piano and string accompaniment, before the projector wheel slows and comes to a stop.
Yesterwynde delivers an array of memorable moments; catchy hooks, meaningful lyrics, and enthralling motifs that will stay with you. There are touches here and there where the vocals begin to blend a bit too seamlessly into the music, and given the significance of the lyrics, begins to run the risk of being lost. However, for the most part, Yesterwynde is beautifully produced and balanced across the multiple stylistic variants of Nightwish’s sound and succeeds in delivering on the grandeur and immersive worldbuilding and storytelling that is key to the band’s art.
For fans of: Wintersun, Epica, Eluveitie
‘Yesterwynde’ by Nightwish is released on 20th September on Nuclear Blast Records.
Words by Holly Royle
