Nightwish – Wishmaster (2000)
Artist: Nightwish
Album: Wishmaster
Released: May 4, 2000
Label: Spinefarm Records / Nuclear Blast
Genre: Symphonic metal, power metal
Length: 49:32
Producer: Tero Kinnunen, Nightwish
Overview
Wishmaster is the third studio album by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, and it solidified the band’s reputation internationally. The album emphasizes fast-paced power metal, with symphonic keyboards, epic orchestrations, and Tarja Turunen’s operatic vocals at the forefront. Lyrically, it draws heavily on fantasy, mythology, and epic storytelling, inspired by Tolkien, fairy tales, and personal reflections.
Album Credits
Band Members
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Tarja Turunen – lead vocals
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Tuomas Holopainen – keyboards, songwriting
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Emppu Vuorinen – guitars
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Jukka Nevalainen – drums, percussion
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Sami Vänskä – bass
Production
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Producer & Engineer: Tero Kinnunen
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Mixing: Mikko Karmila
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Label: Spinefarm Records / Nuclear Blast
Tracklist
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She Is My Sin – 4:39
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The Kinslayer – 4:53
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Come Cover Me – 4:36
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Wanderlust – 4:05
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Two for Tragedy – 4:26
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Wishmaster – 4:05
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Bare Grace Misery – 4:45
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Deep Silent Complete – 4:34
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The Pharaoh Sails to Orion – 7:32
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Dead Boy’s Poem – 5:04
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FantasMic – 0:53 (instrumental, hidden track in some editions)
Musical Style & Themes
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Combines high-speed power metal riffs, symphonic keyboards, and operatic vocal lines.
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More epic and polished production compared to Oceanborn.
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Fantasy, mythology, and introspective lyrics dominate:
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The Kinslayer deals with the Columbine tragedy, a rare real-world inspired track.
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Wishmaster is inspired by fantasy literature.
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Dead Boy’s Poem showcases emotional, reflective songwriting.
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Key Tracks
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Wishmaster: Anthemic, symphonic opener and fan favorite.
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She Is My Sin: Combines melody and heavy riffs; often performed live.
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The Pharaoh Sails to Orion: Epic, cinematic, and progressive in structure.
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Dead Boy’s Poem: Emotional ballad, showing the band’s lyrical depth.
Fun Facts & Trivia
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The album helped Nightwish break into Germany, the Netherlands, and other European countries.
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“The Kinslayer” was controversial due to its lyrics about school shootings but was written as a tribute to victims.
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The band’s use of orchestral keyboards became more sophisticated, foreshadowing later symphonic arrangements.
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Wishmaster was the last Nightwish album to feature Sami Vänskä on bass, who left the band in 2001.
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Many tracks, like Deep Silent Complete and Dead Boy’s Poem, became live staples for years.
Did You Know?
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Wishmaster is often considered the album that defined Nightwish’s signature symphonic power metal style, combining operatic vocals with fast metal riffs.
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Tarja Turunen’s classical training allows her to sing highly challenging melodies with precision, setting Nightwish apart from other metal bands.
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Tuomas Holopainen wrote most of the lyrics inspired by fantasy books, personal reflections, and storytelling, creating a cinematic experience across the album.
Commercial Performance & Legacy
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Peaked in multiple European charts, including Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands.
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Cemented Nightwish as a major force in European metal.
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Tracks like Wishmaster, She Is My Sin, and Dead Boy’s Poem remain fan favorites and live set staples.
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Inspired the next wave of symphonic metal bands, influencing groups like Within Temptation and Epica.
Critical Reception
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Praised for:
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Strong songwriting and symphonic arrangements
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Powerful operatic vocals
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Cohesive fantasy-metal aesthetic
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Minor criticism:
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Some critics noted the band was still evolving in its guitar work and production compared to later albums.
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Album Rating
⭐ 8.5/10
Wishmaster represents Nightwish’s definitive step into symphonic power metal, combining fast riffs, operatic vocals, and fantasy-driven lyrics. It remains one of the band’s most influential early albums and a favorite among fans of symphonic metal.
Download Nightwish's Albums from Amazon Music
More Albums:
Nightwish - Angels Fall First (1997)
Nightwish - Century Child (2002)
Nightwish - Dark Passion Play (2007)
Nightwish - Imaginaerum (2011)
Nightwish - Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015)
