Nightwish Album: “Angels Fall First [Bonus Track]”

Originally released in 1997, Angels Fall First was the debut release from Finland's Nightwish. The album came at a time when European artists were radically changing the heavy metal landscape. Bands like Stratovarius and Conception were redefining the idea of progressive metal, the Gothenburg scene revolutionized the death metal genre, and bands like Blind Guardian and Rhapsody were changing the face of power metal. In this same manner Nightwish came along and essentially offered up an entirely new kind of heavy metal.

Keyboardist/songwriter Tuomas Holopainen merged elements of traditional heavy metal with orchestral arrangements (initially via keyboard and later with an actual orchestra), and operatic female vocals courtesy of classically-trained Tarja Turunin. The result was an album that was classy and melodic yet still retained a measure of the aggression and power that is so characteristic of heavy metal. Tarja's powerful and emotional vocal performance is what immediately stands out, though the symphonic elements and captivating songwriting reinforce the music's overall presence.

Today, symphonic metal bands with female vocalists are literally a dime a dozen, but the whole scene started with this album. Overall, Angels Fall First is probably the weakest of the "Tarja Era" Nightwish albums, but it's better than most of its imitators and will always stand out as a milestone for the genre. The fact that Nightwish would continue to improve significantly with each release that followed shows just how incredible this band was in their prime.

NOTE: The 2008 reissue of Angels Fall First features digitally remastered sound, expanded liner notes, and a handful of bonus tracks. The bonus tracks are Return to the Sea (originally from an import version of Angels Fall First) and demo versions of Nightwish, Forever Moments, and Etiainen. Another key difference between this reissue and the original version of Angels Fall First is that each part of the epic song Lappi (Lapland) is broken down here as a separate track. Between the improved sound, bonus tracks, and the new info and band photos, I didn't think twice about replacing my old copy of Angels Fall First with this classy reissue.

Nightwish really hit upon a good idea: Take European power metal music and combine it with operatic vocals courtesy of classically-trained singer Tarja Turunen, throw in a dash of gothicism for good measure, for a sound like no other. Unfortunately, their debut album "Angels Fall First" is plagued by the same problems that typically afflict debut albums: questionable production, sketchy songwriting, and an uneven quality in musicianship the result of a band "finding its sound." AFF certainly isn't a horrible album, but it's totally outclassed by Nightwish's subsequent efforts.

No doubt that Tarja is a beautifully gifted vocalist. But the lyrics on this album are often simplistic and shallow, and suffer from the "cheese" endemic to many power metal lyrics. Songs like "Elvenpath" and "Tutankhamen" are the absolute worst, good musically, but atrocious lyrically. The former reads like poetry from a Tolkien fanboy, and the latter like a reject from the Stargate soundtrack. The tracks like "The Carpenter" and "Astral Romance," while possessing some lyrical depth, fail to rise above the cheese of the rest. The only track not reeking of cheese is "Lappi" and only because it's sung partially in Finnish.

Another problem is the use of male vocals from Tuomas. His high-pitched voice sounds like something from a boy band, and it positively ruins tracks like "The Carpenter," "Beauty and the Beast," and "Astral Romance." Tarja is a brilliant vocalist, easily one of the best in heavy metal music today, so why ruin it with such a mediocre accompanying singer who can't harmonize with the lead? Mercifully, subsequent Nightwish albums would feature few, if any, male vocals.

Production wise, the album is also lacking. The music often sounds needlessly harsh and lacking the crispness of later albums, coming through as thin and lackluster. Worst of all, however, has to be the use of synth string instruments. Nothing says tacky like badly synthesized string instruments. Listen to Nightwish's latest album "Once" where an actual orchestra was used, and you can hear the difference.

Song Summaries:

1. Elvenpath - Tolkien-esque (even reciting passages from the book) opener, which is probably the heaviest song on the album. The lyrics are pure cheese, but it doesn't hurt the song too badly. B+

2. Beauty and the Beast - Tuomas's vocals make their first appearance here, and ruin what otherwise might have been a good song. Goes on for too long and tends to drag. C-

3. The Carpenter - A song about mankind's relationship with Jesus Christ, once again ruined by godawful male vocals. The way Tuomas sings "...who for us had died" makes me cringe. D+

4. Astral Romance - One of the better songs on the album, with some good guitar work and (mostly) absent male vocals. B+

5: Angels Fall First - The title track is mostly acoustic and flute dominated. Nightwish wouldn't ever release a song much like this on any of their following releases. B+

6: Tutankhamen - It's not bad musically, but lyrically it's pure cheese. Like many of the tracks on Angels Fall First, it runs on for far too long as well. C+

7: Nymphomaniac Fantasia - Profoundly silly song about some spurned woman who decides to exact revenge in a rather...unpleasant fashion. One of the songs Tuomas regretted writing, and it's not hard to see why. D-

8: Know Why the Nightingale Sings - Faster in tempo than most of the songs here, it merely hints at what the band would do on later albums - B+

9: Lappi (Lapland) - Four-part track, with lyrics in both Finnish and English. Beautiful work here, and a good way to end the album. A-

I have rather mixed feelings about this album. At many times you can hear the greatness that would evolve on later albums, but too often it's buried under a layer of bad male vocals, lyrical cheese and poor production. It's different enough to warrant a purchase from more devoted fans, showing more of a folk influence than metal, but otherwise, it's best to stick to their subsequent albums.

It's good for what it is. It's no surprise that Nightwish's presentation isn't quite as confident as on later releases. After all, who could've guessed that they would become one of Finland's most successful musicians in history? But Angels Fall First still delivers, and anyone who has heard their later material owes it to themselves to go back and pick this gem up.

Like any other Nightwish album, the music is clearly driven by Tarja's heavenly operatic vocals. The woman sings like no other, and she's what makes such songs as "Elvenpath" and "Tutankhamen" stand out from the typical power metal mold. Emppu, one of the guitarists I respect most, once again fails to disappoint with his fast and harmonious riffs. What makes Angels Fall First stand out from later releases, however, is the frequent use of acoustics. They are done quite beautifully, if I must say, and fit the songs very well. It is no surprise that the band originally started out as an acoustic project. Jukka's drumming and Tuomas' keyboards are once again well done, but the thin production isn't exactly to my liking, particularly the keyboards, which often blend in too much with the guitars. My main problem however, is Tuomas' vocals. I notice others have the same irritations - he sounds way off-key, can't harmonize with Tarja, has too strong of an accent, etc. I'm glad he doesn't sing on any other albums, if I must say so myself.

I'd say the highlights for me include the driving "Elvenpath", the beautiful ballad "Angels Fall First", the Egyptian-oriented "Tutankhamen" and also "The Carpenter", which is far from perfect (bad vocal parts, annoying clicking noises) but still manages to be a decent Nightwish single. Their first, actually. =)

Once again, get this if you've heard the other albums and like them. I still don't think I'd recommend this as a first Nightwish experience, let that be Oceanborn, or maybe Century Child.

9/10

This album proves that at the beginning, Nightwish rocked.

Tarja (the soprano)demonstrates that even at age 19, she could really, really sing. Some think the male vocals suck. I personally disagree. Tuomas (keys & male vocals) isn't World's Best Singer, but despite the fact that he is out of tune, he manages to sound okay. Anyways, to rate the songs:

Elvenpath (5 Stars) - An incredible opener that is a tribue to Tolkien.

Beauty and the Beast (4 Stars) - A duet between Tarja and Tuomas. It's a longish song, around 7 minutes. The live version from OTHAFA is superior.

The Carpenter (5 Stars) - Mainly with Tuomas' vocals. I love this song, but it seems like the chorus gets more and more out of tune throughout the song.

Astral Romance (4 Stars) - I'm really not crazy about this song, but it's still great.

Angels Fall First (1,000 Stars!) - One of my top three favorite Nightwish songs. Tarja sounds so beautiful on this. The acoustic guitar and the flute perfect it!

Tutukhamen (4 Stars) - An Egytian themed song. Sloe verses, with a faster staccato chorus. I adore the way Tarja says "Stargate" during the chorus!

Nymphomanic Fantasia (5 Stars) - This song has wonderful music. And Tarja sounds amazing when she sings "Hear the starry choir".

Know Why The Nightengale Sings (5 Stars) - I love the piano near the end. This song is pretty energetic.

Lappi (4.5 Stars) - I love the acoutstic guitars that the beginning. Witchdrums us a pretty good instrumental. A very nice way to end the CD.

I reccomend this CD to any familiar with Nightiwsh. I wouldn't buy this as my first NW CD, though. Oceanborn and Wishmaster are much better CDs to introduce yourself to this great band.

This is the first album of Nightwish and this is great album! "Elvenpath" is wonderful song. What a lyrics and sound! "Beauty and the Beast" is quite long song, but that is great. "The Carpenter" is the hit single of this album, but it is quite different from the other songs of Nightwish. "Angels Fall First" is sad song... You have to listen to the lyrics and think about them. "Tutankhamen" has got great music but lyrics are quite... Hollow. "Nymphomaniac Fantasia" is breath-taking song! Wow! The lyrics are very erotical and I really think that the way Tuomas has written about sex so beautifully is something I can't do! Tuomas, you're the best! "Know Why the Nightingale Sings" is probably one of the ebst songs of the album. It's very much like rock music... But the best is coming after that... Lappi (Lapland)! Many songs in one great song. Great! I think that this is wonderful album. Everybody says that "Oceanborn" and "Wishmaster" are better. They are more grown up and you can see that Angels Fall First is the first album but I really can't say what is REALLY the best album of Nightwish because every album of them is great in it's own way. "Oh Lord Why... The angels fall first?"