Friday, March 27, 2020

Nightwish - Human.:II: Nature (2020) | Analysis, Fun Facts & Trivia

Nightwish - Human.:II: Nature (2020)

Album front and back image covers

Nightwish – Human. :II: Nature. (2020)

Artist: Nightwish
Album: Human. :II: Nature.
Released: April 10, 2020
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genre: Symphonic metal, cinematic metal, progressive metal
Length: 81:14
Producer: Tuomas Holopainen, Mikko Karmila

Overview

Human. :II: Nature. is the ninth studio album by Nightwish, continuing the band’s symphonic and cinematic approach established in Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015). The album is a double release, with the first disc featuring traditional symphonic metal songs, while the second disc (All the Works of Nature Which Adorn the World) consists of a single 80-minute orchestral piece, emphasizing orchestral, cinematic, and experimental compositions.

This album explores themes of humanity, nature, life, and existential reflection, blending metal, orchestral arrangements, folk elements, and progressive structures. It’s the second full-length studio album with Floor Jansen as lead vocalist and features Troy Donockley as a permanent member.

Album Credits

Band Members

Floor Jansen – lead vocals
Tuomas Holopainen – keyboards, songwriting, orchestrations
Emppu Vuorinen – guitars
Jukka Nevalainen – drums, percussion
Marko Hietala – bass, male vocals, backing vocals (final album featuring Marko on studio recordings)
Troy Donockley – uilleann pipes, low whistle, backing vocals

Additional Credits

Orchestration & Choir: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Metro Voices Choir
Producer & Mixing: Tuomas Holopainen, Mikko Karmila
Mastering: Mika Jussila
Label: Nuclear Blast

Tracklist

Disc 1 – Traditional Symphonic Metal

Music – 3:55
Noise – 4:47
Harvest – 4:41
How’s the Heart? – 4:11
Procession – 4:03
Shoemaker – 4:51
The Greatest Show on Earth (Part I–V) – 11:10 (revisited version from previous themes)
Pan – 4:36
Endless Forms Most Beautiful (Reprise) – 4:40

Disc 2 – Orchestral/Cinematic

All the Works of Nature Which Adorn the World – 80:00
- A continuous orchestral, cinematic composition divided into multiple movements exploring humanity and nature.

Note: Some editions may slightly vary in track divisions or include bonus tracks.

Musical Style & Themes

Combines symphonic metal, progressive metal, folk elements, and orchestral/cinematic compositions.
Vocals: Floor Jansen’s powerful operatic and rock vocals, with Marko Hietala providing male voice backing.
Lyrics and themes: humanity, nature, environmental reflection, life, death, and introspection.
The second disc showcases pure orchestral storytelling, integrating themes from the first disc.

Key Tracks

Noise: Aggressive, fast-paced symphonic metal with complex orchestration.
Shoemaker: Mid-tempo track with folk and orchestral textures, reminiscent of storytelling ballads.
Harvest: Epic track with soaring choruses and symphonic layering.
All the Works of Nature Which Adorn the World: A monumental orchestral journey reflecting the album’s thematic core.

Fun Facts & Trivia

The album took four years of writing and recording, making it one of the longest production cycles in Nightwish’s history.
Marko Hietala retired from the band shortly after the release, making this his last studio album contribution.
Floor Jansen’s vocals are highlighted across a wider range, demonstrating her versatility in both operatic and rock styles.
The second disc’s 80-minute orchestral piece is considered one of the most ambitious works in modern symphonic metal.
The album’s themes are heavily influenced by environmental consciousness, human reflection, and natural beauty, tying in with Darwin-inspired concepts from previous albums.

Did You Know?

Nightwish originally intended the album to be entirely orchestral, but later split it into two discs to preserve their metal identity alongside the cinematic experience.
“Shoemaker” is inspired by the Finnish astronomer Clausius Shoemaker, connecting science with human storytelling.
The album continues the band’s tradition of integrating multi-layered choirs, orchestral instruments, and cinematic narrative into symphonic metal.

Commercial Performance & Legacy

Debuted at #1 in Finland, Germany, and several European countries.
Singles like Noise, Harvest, and Shoemaker received strong radio and streaming success.
Critically acclaimed for its ambition and musical diversity, balancing traditional metal tracks with orchestral experimentation.
Seen as a culmination of Nightwish’s symphonic and cinematic evolution, bridging metal with orchestral art forms.

Critical Reception

Praised for:
- Orchestral and symphonic complexity
- Floor Jansen’s vocal performance
- Ambitious dual-disc concept and storytelling
Minor criticism:
- Long orchestral second disc may be challenging for casual listeners.
- Some fans missed the raw power metal energy of earlier albums.

Album Rating

⭐ 9/10

Human. :II: Nature. is Nightwish’s most ambitious and cinematic album, blending symphonic metal, orchestral composition, and progressive structures. It serves as a modern milestone in the band’s career, showcasing Floor Jansen’s vocal mastery and the band’s evolving musical vision.