NIGHTWISH

Wishmaster

As symphonic metal began to creep out of the European mainland and catch the ears of UK fans, there was one band whose name was on everyone’s lips. Now, they’re Finland’s biggest-ever musical export, but in 2000 Nightwish were a true oddity: a band who mixed swathes of dramatic synth with galloping heavy metal and Tarja Turunen’s unmistakable soprano tones.

Third album Wishmaster produced some of the band’s biggest-ever hits, not least the gung ho attack of She Is My Sin and the scintillating, hauntingly beautiful Dead Boy’s Poem. Even so, no one could have guessed where they’d end up.

LISTEN TO: She Is My Sin