Nightwish - Human :II: Nature.

[Musicisfreedom 5,837]

When Finnish sextet Nightwish announce a new studio album people tend to take notice. They know that something special is brewing. Band leader Tuomas Holopainen once said that whenever he creates a new record he has the intention of capturing something rare and unique, a monument and a true album experience. In 2020 he’s certain to achieve his objective once again. Nightwish have completed the recordings for their 9th studio album and are proud to announce the title, artwork and tracklisting.

HUMAN. :II: NATURE. will be released on 10th April 2020. The long-awaited record, following 2015’s critically-acclaimed “Endless Forms Most Beautiful”, will be a double album containing 9 tracks on the main CD and one long track, divided into eight chapters on CD 2.The tracklisting will read as follows:

 

Disc 1:

01. Music

02. Noise

03. Shoemaker

04. Harvest

05. Pan

06. How’s The Heart?

07. Procession

08. Tribal

09. Endlessness

 

Disc 2:

01. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Vista

02. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - The Blue

03. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - The Green

04. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Moors

05. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Aurorae

06. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Quiet As The Snow

07. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Anthropocene (incl. “Hurrian Hymn To Nikkal”)

08. All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World - Ad Astra

 

The album pre-order will start on February 7th.

HUMAN. :II: NATURE. was recorded from August to October 2019 at Röskö campsite, Petrax Studios and Troykington castle, as well as Finnvox Studios, by Tero Kinnunen, Mikko Karmila and Troy Donockley. The mixing was done by Mikko Karmila at Finnvox, with Tuomas Holopainen and Tero Kinnunen. Mastering was done by Mika Jussila at Finnvox.

 

[JazzGa 14,623]

Lord this sounds conceptualT    Ready to be slayed, I just know I am going to love that hour long nature suite

[Xardas 1,601]

I am more afraid than excited, but let's wait... I don't want to have EFMB 2:0  (at least Floor's vocals are said to be unharnessed <3) 

[Darcklighter22 2,358]

Can't wait! Gaga take note! 

[mmkay 854]

This album concept is interesting. I can't wait to listen what kinda stuff is on the second disk. I always hoped they would make and album like "Dark Passion Play" with Floor. I like the more playful but dark atmosphere.

[mmkay 854]

I found a great review of the album. They had the "first listen" event few weeks ago and here's the translated review of the album. If your intrested, please read it below:

"The first song, “Music,” starts off with a very interdimensional intrusion that could well portray the birth of the universe right through to the first stages of life. The strong drums are felt all the way to the abdomen. The sound of Floor Jansen brings to mind the spring sun and the unspoiled meadow above which birds fly freely towards the sky. The slow-moving composition skilfully draws the musical line of the entire disc. Nightwish makes no compromises. Nightwish does not bow. “Music” is a work of art that is designed to awaken the listener to open all senses.

Then it's time to raise the rounds. “Noise” is somewhat reminiscent of “Storytime”, but now the roller coaster is going terribly fast without safety rails and the brakesman. Emppu Vuorinen doesn't spare his guitar and the riffs sound really heavy. “Shoemaker” balances nicely and takes the listener closer to the band's most distinctive features. Strong riffs and symphonic parts shake hands well. The song stayed a bit distant, but with additional listening, the nodes will definitely open. At times, it feels like music is transporting the listener to different continents and eras. "Harvest", in particular, succeeds here, and images of the irony and the great campfire are far from being buried. The guitar solo by Emppu Vuorinen and the fine vocal harmonies give the song the depth and grip it needs. In the middle of the album, "Pan" then finally explodes consciousness. Floor Jansen sounds like he was released from the shackles. The riffs on the lining threaten to force you and you can imagine how to rearrange your neck vertebrae live. The orchestral parts blow with awful power innocent people towards eternal loss. This is a battle between good and evil, where the hornhead seems to have reached the neck. I can only imagine how Chief Architect Holopainen shakes his head.



“How`s The Heart” represents the lighter side of the album, with Troy Donockley taking full control of the instruments. For some reason the song evoked a desert and light brown color. Fine and more traditional composition. “Procession” is definitely the most beautiful track on the album. This will make the tears of the most sensitive fans flow. Tears won't even dry up until you find yourself in the jungles of Brazil. You're in the middle of a big tribal meeting, possibly in a warming pot. "Tribal" hypnotically bombards different percussion instruments from all directions and forcibly seeks out Sepultura's "Roots" album. If anyone still claims that Nightwish can't make metal is wrong. The best heavy metal songs in Finland, the green trousers-Hietala pulls their parts very convincingly. The Lord seems to be at his best when it is only 50 years behind us.

The endlessness of the first disc seemed to represent a more serene and clearly calmer line, but not a typical disc ending ballad, but rather a storm-blowing tide.

When the last notes of the album are finished, there is complete silence in the room. Seconds seem like eternity. The spontaneous reaction would be to stand up and shepherd in the Peruvian style of "damn what disc did you make!". In the end, we just settle for the applause of both, sitting internationally. The mind is completely empty. I look at my notes and I'm terrified of getting readers to read a line from the album. Human: II: Nature's number one album is in itself such a sensible entity that it will take time, at least for me, to internalize it.

After a short break, we listened to the album 2's "All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn". It's over half an hour's musical experience that's hard to internalize on a one-to-one basis. In my mind, space, starry sky, nature, human birth ... and death flash in large images. Everything is captured in a beautiful and touching way. In short, I ended up writing down a "homage to life." The movie is not done yet. The music is ready.

Nightwish is in a rare position in the sense that there are no competitors. The world created by the band is completely unique. In the meantime, I want to emphasize that the musical direction has only gone forward. If you are still waiting for the new "Oceanborn" or "Wishmaster", you will be disappointed. “Human: II: Nature.” Is the band's most ambitious and powerful show. I believe that success will be greater than ever."