Nightwish

Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal group from Kitee, Finland, active since 1996. It forms around keyboardist and primary songwriter Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen and vocalist Tarja Turunen. The group is associated with metal, power metal and symphonic metal, and records for Spinefarm Records.

Early years and first albums

The band adds drummer Jukka Nevalainen and bassist Sami Vänskä after the release of its debut album, Angels Fall First (1997). That record brings the group domestic attention, and its follow-up albums Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000) and Century Child (2002) establish a wider international profile.

Commercial breakthrough and lineup changes

Once (2004) becomes the band’s commercial breakthrough, selling over one million copies and marking a significant step in the United States. The single “Wish I Had an Angel” receives MTV airplay and appears on three US film soundtracks. The album also leads to additional singles and music videos, and the group re-records “Sleeping Sun” for the compilation Highest Hopes: The Best of Nightwish (2005).

Tarja Turunen leaves in October 2005, and Anette Olzon joins as lead vocalist in May 2007. The band then releases Dark Passion Play in September 2007, an album that sells nearly two million copies and includes the single “Amaranth”, which finds notable success in Europe. Imaginaerum follows in 2011.

Later members and recognition

Olzon leaves in October 2012. Floor Jansen becomes a permanent member in October 2013, alongside session musician Troy Donockley. Kai Hahto, who has filled in for Jukka Nevalainen since 2014, becomes the official drummer in 2019 after Nevalainen confirms that he does not return to the band. Bassist Marko Hietala leaves in 2021 and is succeeded by Jukka Koskinen in 2022.

Nightwish is one of the best-selling acts in Finland, with nearly 900,000 certified domestic copies, over 10 million records sold worldwide, and more than 60 gold and platinum awards. The group has six number-one albums and thirteen number-one singles. In 2018, it is inducted into the Finnish Music Hall of Fame.

Selected studio albums

Angels Fall First (1997), Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000), Century Child (2002), Once (2004), Dark Passion Play (2007), Imaginaerum (2011), Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015), Human. :II: Nature. (2020) and Yesterwynde (2024).