Nightwish

Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish (Century Media)
by Scott Hefflon

The Best of Nightwish. Uh, what else do you need to know? Finnish, on Spinefarm, ranging from classic heavy metal to dark, Gothy stuff, to full-on prog (aka keyboardist can shred better than most guitarists). Anyone into Evanescence (who thinks they’re the only one, when there’s a whole goddamn genre of the stuff) who can live with layered operatic screeches and metal mall-strutting should check this out. Me? The vocals get in my way. I like Therion and Cradle of Filth with their angelic counterpart, but Pat Benetar and Tori Amos and Lullacry suit my tastes better. This stuff’s a little too Renaissance Fair metal for me.
(www.centurymedia.com)