Let us all rejoice as NIGHTWISH is back! I don’t mean this only in the sense that the Finnish unit are back with album number ten in their illustrious discography – the enigmatically titled “Yesterwynde” – but also in the sense that they got back to their heavier sound with some theatrical accents. “Yesterwynde” was released via Nuclear Blast on September 20th, 2024, and it paints a very accurate sonic picture of how well the older, more symphonic sound of the band can merge with their newer, more progressive approach.
In between the dense orchestrations, theatrical moments, heavier sections, Floor Jansen’s exquisite vocals, and beautiful choral arrangements, “Yesterwynde” convinced me more than “Human :II: Nature” ever did (full disclosure: I am not a fan of that record). Consequently, to me, these songs are just better – the songwriting is more compact, the melodies are stronger though not necessarily what you’d call catchy, the musical ideas are better defined, and the sound design is richer and more nuanced. Moreover, what has always made the band such a prestigious presence on the symphonic metal scene is Tuomas Holopainen’s attention to detail and there is so much to unpack on this record regarding just this aspect. That being said, there are still a few mishaps – especially when it comes to the production and songwriting sides of things – but overall I find “Yesterwynde” to have more things going for it than I had initially anticipated.
Feeling like what should have been the natural successor to “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” (2015), “Yesterwynde” is a much more focused affair with a clear start and a clear ending, both in the form of an old movie projection which winds on at the beginning of the title track/intro and winds off at the end of the stunning “Lanternlight.” This is where the aforementioned attention to detail comes into play as the listener is slowly drawn into the experience of the album and then gently released from it. Speaking of “Yesterwynde,” the intro does its job wonderfully by creating an enchanting atmosphere of choral arrangements and harmonized vocals before an acoustic section picks up the main melody that then gives way to Floor Jansen whose lower register adds a darker vibe to the music, and ties back to her vocals on “Lanternlight.” Even this shorter track proves how tight and nuanced the songwriting is, flowing seamlessly through various moods.
To enhance this idea, the transitions between one section and the next in various songs are masterfully done, with the best example being the 9-minute epic, “An Ocean of Strange Islands,” which goes from a soft beginning of keys and vocals to an explosive instrumental passage boasted by a great riff and supported by layers of orchestrations, choral arrangements, and fast-paced vocals which then give way to a great tribal-sounding drum part that Kai Hahto delivers superbly. The song balances between some really heavy sections and lighter moments, ending with a mournful pipe (or is it a bagpipe?) melody. At this point, I have to agree with our editor-in-chief who noted in her prelisting report that “this song felt quintessentially NIGHTWISH” as it is as epic in scale as it gets. Another example of seamless transitions is the 8-minute single, “Perfume of the Timeless,” though the universal problem with this track is the mixing, as the chorus feels buried under the rich orchestrations which makes for a rather frustrating listening experience. Otherwise this track tugs at the heartstrings with the line “We are because of a million loves” which puts life into a unique perspective, while musically it feels like a journey from ancient times until modern times moving from the tribal-drumming intro section into proper NIGHWISH territory with intense riffage, lush orchestration, and emotional vocals.
On the heavy side of the album, “The Antikythera Mechanism” sports not just great instrumentals but also a burst of energy in the chorus that will go over extremely well in a live setting (when they start touring again, that is) though some verses are dropped down to almost a whisper, like the chorus on “Shoemaker.” There’s a tempo change as Kai Hahto is given the spotlight again, his drumming adding to the intensity of the track, so much so that one can almost miss Floor Jansen’s voice-over, which is again buried by the instrumentals. Maybe I’m too set in my ways but I will never understand why you would purposefully push the main vocals down, and also why you would drop the tempo in a song. As it stands, “The Antikythera Mechanism” exemplifies both of these situations – to a lesser degree, true – that dampen my enjoyment of a rather interesting song. Up next, the poppy second single, “The Day of…,” is eerie and ominous mostly because of its lyrics which feel like a grocery shopping list of cataclysmic events. The children’s choir and Jukka Koskinen’s bassline only enhance the track’s foreboding sense of imminent peril. Towards the album’s tail end, “The Weave” has some impressive percussive elements adding weight to Emppu Vuorinen’s guitars and bass (honestly, Kai is the MVP of the record), while some theatrical accents pop up here and there to lighten the mood.
On the light and bright side of things, the acoustic ballad “Sway” is one of the album’s most beautiful moments centered around a gorgeous vocal melody wonderfully carried by Troy Donockley and Floor Jansen’s layered and harmonized vocals, while the melodic hook “The big reveal awaits us all” adds a bit of tension to the fold. On the same note, “Something Whispered Followed Me” and “Spider Silk” have an otherworldly beauty to them akin to the likes of “Edema Ruh” or “Alpenglow” from their 2015 outing. The first one has a distorted guitar melody offsetting the vocals and a serene, poppy chorus going for it, while the second one is more theatrical and maybe even a bit spooky (like anything spider-related), with booming instrumentals and swelling orchestrations. I already mentioned that the closing song, “Lanternlight,” is a stunner, and that because it has such an enchanting ambiance to it that is only intensified by Floor Jansen’s emotional and soulful delivery. Her low register is really rich and warm, giving a sense of gravitas to such lyrics as “I am the snow on your palm,” accompanied only by strings and piano.
Now, there are a few things on this album I won’t ever understand. “The Children of ‘Ata” is a song based on the story of the Tongan Castaways and as such incorporates some chants from Tongan natives…. alongside some ‘80s disco beats. The two clash in my mind and detract from the overall atmosphere of the track, because I don’t understand why those retro keyboards are part of the music. On the plus side, the chants add an air of authenticity and validate the lyrics, while the soaring chorus has a singalong quality to it. Then there’s “Hiraeth,” whose first half is minimalistic and atmospheric, centered around an acoustic guitar and Troy Donockley and Floor Jansen‘s entwined vocals, while the second part is energetic and loud, driven by a jaunty, folky melody. I guess Tuomas Holopainen really likes to play around with the tempos and moods to create such songs as these two.
All things considered, “Yesterwynde” showcases the band in splendid form, as everyone brought their A-game to the studio. I’ve already praised Kai Hahto’s performance on this record, and Floor Jansen deserves equal praise for delivering such incredibly nuanced vocals (after giving birth to her second child, no less!). However, its main strength is the variety of musical and lyrical ideas that Tuomas Holopainen came up with, which I know at this point should be a given, but it’s always intriguing to hear what he composes, and how he chooses to arrange it. I may not always understand it, but I am always amazed by it. As such, “Yesterwynde” is a complex, layered, and immersive musical journey that will definitely impress many fans of the band and/or the genre. Given the opulence of its arrangements and production, the album is best experienced through headphones.
Written by Andrea Crow
Tracklist
1. Yesterwynde
2. An Ocean Of Strange Islands
3. The Antikythera Mechanism
4. The Day Of…
5. Perfume Of The Timeless
6. Sway
7. The Children Of ‘Ata
8. Something Whispered Follow Me
9. Spider Silk
10. Hiraeth
11. The Weave
12. Lanternlight
Lineup
Floor Jansen – Vocals
Tuomas Holopainen – Keys
Emppu Vuorinen – Guitars
Jukka Koskinen – Bass
Troy Donockley – Uilleann Pipes, Low Whistles, Acoustic & Electric Guitars, Vocals
Kai Hahto – Drums & Percussion
Label
Nuclear Blast
