![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zq8lsgoKNyo/UPT52D8eh_I/AAAAAAAAAIY/UJ3TLYFXycQ/s1600/beautiful-winter-wallpaper.jpg)

I don't know about your situation, but here in Belgrade, winter is slowly coming to an end. Nature and trees showed up beneath the melted snow and one can now take a walk outside without feeling harsh cold wind in his face. 

Don't get me wrong, I love winter. But more the aesthetic side of it - the picturesque forests and mountains covered in white blanket, gloomy cities and it's empty streets, bonfires, blankets, fresh winter air and a smell of hot cocoa in it. Being cold is not something I enjoy that much.

Anyway, there's still some time for wintery band suggestions. Previously, I wrote about

- [Wintersun](https://steemit.com/music/@alcibiades/heavy-metal-suggestions-for-this-winter-wintersun), 
- [Agalloch](https://steemit.com/music/@alcibiades/heavy-metal-suggestions-for-this-winter-agalloch-about-woods-snow-and-silent-storms),
- [Summoning](https://steemit.com/music/@alcibiades/heavy-metal-suggestions-for-this-winter-summoning-about-frozen-shadows-and-a-long-glory)
- [Ensiferum](https://steemit.com/music/@alcibiades/heavy-metal-suggestions-for-this-winter-ensiferum-heroes-of-the-north)
- [Alcest](https://steemit.com/music/@alcibiades/heavy-metal-suggestions-for-this-winter-alcest-journey-through-fairy-land)
- [Amon Amarth](https://steemit.com/music/@alcibiades/heavy-metal-suggestions-for-this-winter-amon-amarth-vikings-of-the-north)

Most of these belong to subgenres like atmospheric black metal, folk or melodic death metal. Today I'm going to write about a band very different compared to them. You're probably familiar with this one.

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# Nightwish

![](http://i2.offnews.bg/events/2016/05/20/629710/phpt5ikzy.jpg)

In July, 1996. somewhere on the island of Kitee (Finland) Tuomas Holopainen got the idea for musical project that would play atmospheric music with guitars, flutes, piano and female vocals. The vision soon became clear when his two friends, Emppu Vuorinen on guitar and vocalist Tarja Turunen joined and the recordings for their first demo started. 

They never would have thought that Nightwish was about to become one of the biggest sensations in heavy metal Europe and beyond. What was imagined to be a music around the campfire grew to one of the most complex metal projects influencing vast number of bands in the upcoming years.

Nightwish is a Symphonic metal band from Finland. They started off as a trio, but later changed their line-up multiple times. Despite all the roster changes, their usage of female vocal has become a trademark. First singer, Tarja Turunen, charismatic frontwoman with a powerful operatic voice gave the band it's unique identity. 

Their music has also been described as melodic, gothic or power metal, cinematic or theatrical striving to epicness with it's power and profound lyrics. 

After the rise of many similar bands in mid 2000s who tried to copy them, Nightwish started moving away from opera-heavy songs, more towards mainstream. It was noticeable on their 5th studio release, "Once", and especially after that, when the band and Tarja Turunen took separate ways. This came as a shock for majority of the fans who had to choose side of this ugly breakup.

Tuomas Holopainen, mastermind behind the project, leader, keyboardist and songwriter, is mostly influenced by harmonic film music (He even wrote music for Nightwish's own movie - Imaginaerum released in 2012).

Early lyrics he wrote revolved mostly around fantasy world and mythological themes from Tolkien's, Steven King's and similar books. Later they became more personal and emotional like in the song "Dead Boy's Poem". [Tuomas](http://nightwish.com/en/band/tuomas-holopainen) said about it:

"*I wanted to do this song before I die, because I wanted to tell the whole world what I think and feel. It expresses a lot of myself.*" 

"*My aim in the band is to become a more balanced human being, friend and co-worker through creating music and stories, to give the listeners a place to escape to and to create their own universes, and to simply have a wondrous time with this bunch! Nightwish is my soul image, my retreat, trash can & life’s work all rolled in one.*"

![](http://www.dailybackgrounds.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/nightwish-wide-screen-wallpaper-1024x689.jpg)

Their latest album, Endless Forms Most Beautiful, explores the world of metaphysics and nature and Tuomas' admiration for the work of Carl Sagan and other astronomers. 

After the weak Anette Alzon era, Nightwish returned to their symphonic roots with powerful, both contemporary and classical, vocal of Floor Jansen, previously singer in After Forever. 

You might like one band era more than others depending on the singing style you prefer, but you can't be indifferent about Nightwish. It was one of the bands that got me into the world of heavy metal 15 years ago. And I'm sure many of you metalheads out there can say the same.

Here are some song suggestions and a lyrics teaser.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/see_TY5ANEc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/eJEJ6kcyss4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/smiFk6KHr_8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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<center>Teach me passion for I fear it's gone
Show me love, hold the lorn
So much more I wanted to give to the ones who love me
I'm sorry
Time will tell (this bitter farewell)
I live no more to shame nor me nor you
And you... I wish I didn't feel for you anymore...</center>

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You can check out Nightwish on [Enter Night](http://www.enter-night.com/bands/nightwish.php), my website for the fans of heavy sound.

Until next time \m/

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*Images: [1](http://www.phombo.com/wallpapers/winter-hd-images/1030061/full/popular/), [2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-6UwEnNsUA), [3](http://www.dailybackgrounds.com/nightwish-wallpapers/)*

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