Nightwish Songs Ranked

Nightwish is a Finnish symphonic metal band from Kitee, Finland. The band was formed in 1996 by lead songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and former lead singer Tarja Turunen. The band soon picked up drummer Jukka Nevalainen, and then bassist Sami Vänskä after the release of their debut album, Angels Fall First (1997). In 2001, Vänskä was replaced by Marko Hietala, who also took over the male vocalist role previously filled by Holopainen or guest singers. Nightwish is the third-best-selling band and musical entity in Finland with certified sales of nearly 900,000 certified copies. The group is also the most successful Finnish band worldwide, selling more than 9 million records, and receiving more than 60 gold and platinum awards, having released six Number 1 albums and thirteen Number 1 singles. On October 26, 2018, Nightwish was inducted into the Finnish Music Hall of Fame, becoming the honorary gallery’s 11th member. Here are all of Nightwish’s songs ranked.

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20. Dark Chest of Wonders (Once, 2004)

“This is another song I could never get bored with no matter how many times I hear it. And it makes me feel so alive! One of the best songs ever!”

19. Over the Hills and Far Away (Over the Hills and Far Away, 2001)

“This song was originally done by Gary Moore. His version is OK, but Nightwish definitely does it better. The vocals are better and the instruments are better. Epic song!”

18. The Islander (Dark Passion Play, 2007)

“Every time I hear this song, I promise myself it’s going to be a good day. Even if it’s not truly what I hoped for the future, but I need to hold on to what I know. This song gives me so much love and life, in fact, it is what rooted me to the ground, when my brother sexually abused me. I just wanted to die, but this song made me feel warm and golden. This song means life and death to me, I had been so upset over my brother, and I just wanted to die. This song is truly beautiful.”

17. Ever Dream (Century Child, 2002)

“The lyrics are beautiful, Tarja is beautiful and the instrumental is amazing. The most amazing Nightwish song ever. In my opinion.”

See more: Nightwish Albums Ranked

16. Last Ride of the Day (Imaginaerum, 2011)

“Last Ride Of The Day has such a dark and gothic melody. The vocals are fabulous. Listening to the music, I feel giddy with all the eerie sensations. The metaphorical lyrics are really something. I could ponder their meaning for hours at a time! This song is an epic piece of music.”

15. Phantom of the Opera (Century Child, 2002)

“This was a really epic cover of the classic Phantom of the Opera theme. Like all of Nightwish’s songs, it has a heavy feel to it but still has the beautiful opera/symphonic element to it.”

14. Passion and the Opera (Oceanborn, 1998)

“One of the best guitar masterpieces I’ve ever heard, this song takes a true Opera song and fuses it with a fabulous piece of guitar playing, even the drumming, and the bass are awesome. One of the best Metal songs of the ’90s, that if it isn’t THE BEST!”

13. While Your Lips are Still Red (Dark Passion Play, 2007)

“I actually started to cry when I first heard this song. It’s absolutely the most beautiful piece of music I have ever heard. I love this song and I think Marcos voice is amazing. You can listen to this song hundred times and you still don’t get fed up with it. I can’t even describe how much this particular song means to me. It’s sweet and touching and kind of sad. Beautiful. Masterpiece. I love this one. I really do.”

12. Song of Myself (Imaginaerum, 2011)

“This song is just too good for words. The heavy intro and powerful melody which leads into the outro at 76. Then a bunch of people telling their stories one by one. ” Ever seen the lord smile? All the care for the world made beautiful a sad man? Why do we still carry a device of torture around our necks? Oh, how rotten your pre-apocalypse is All you bible-black fools living over nightmare ground. I see all those empty cradles and wonder If man will never change” that’s just gold right there”

11. The Greatest Show On Earth (Endless Forms Most Beautiful, 2015)

“This song is magical. A masterpiece. “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” is their best album to date as all the songs have a symphonic element. But the “Greatest Show On Earth” is something else, comprised of a full orchestra, a thing of beauty that causes the hairs on our skin to rise, and our hearts to beat in bliss. “The Greatest Show On Earth” is the best song ever, trumping music made by Beethoven and Mozart, to Frank Sinatra and Hank Williams, to the Beatles and Pink Floyd.”

10. Bye Bye Beautiful (Dark Passion Play, 2007)

“The first time I watched this video, I didn’t notice the women had changed into men. That said, this song is fantastic. Marco’s growls complement Anette’s vocals perfectly. Masterpiece.”

9. The Pharaoh Sails to Orion (Oceanborn, 1998)

“I feel Oceanborn in general doesn’t get the recognition it really deserves. Either does this song, which is by far one of their best. Energetic, melodic and epic; the very peak of the Nightwish symphonic power metal period.”

8. Planet Hell (Once, 2004)

“Everything about this song is fantastic. From the dramatic choirs to Marco’s powerful voice. Absolutely perfect. The beats at the start and the lyrics all throughout just take the cake”

7. Wish I Had an Angel (Once, 2004)

“There is nothing better than turn the volume up and listen to ‘Wish I had an angel’. I love the chorus, Marco’s voice is amazing! This one makes me scream and jump and sing along. Masterpiece, indeed.”

6. Storytime (Imaginaerum, 2011)

“The lyric “a soaring kite against the blue blue sky” really catches me every time. The repetition of the word blue combined with the pitch just feels so wonderfully… childish? And then it captures you again with those mystical, meaningless words of the next line: “Every chimney every moonlight sight”. This song is truly legendary”

5. Wishmaster (Wishmaster, 2000)

“Nightwish’s best album. In my opinion, of course. This album is much more epic sounding and much more to the power metal side than previous and preceding releases. Operatic power metal I feel would be the appropriate genre for this Nightwish album.”

See more: Killswitch Engage Songs Ranked

4. Amaranth (Dark Passion Play, 2007)

“The melody will get stuck in your head for a long time. The lyrics and the video are so beautiful. A true masterpiece of music.”

3. Nemo (Once, 2004)

“Nemo encompasses all the different aspects that Nightwish does so well. It brings together heavy metal and melodic vocals and a beautiful background symphony to create a scene and presence not heard by any of their other songs. “

2. Ghost Love Score (Once, 2004)

“It encompasses so many moods during its hefty running time, through its changes of pace, and inclusion of diverse instruments. I feel this song is almost too beautiful, that sometimes it makes me sad to think that one day when life vanishes from this planet, there will be no one left to enjoy this auditory perfection… And it deserves to exist forever. To me, it doesn’t even feel like something that was written by mankind. It feels like it was a gift from another world, and it takes me there every time I hear it.”

1. The Poet and the Pendulum (Dark Passion Play, 2007)

“I love the intermittent shifts between each section of the song, especially Marco’s extreme section of screaming. In one instance, your pulse is racing because of the hard-hitting instrumentals- the next, you realize you are drooling over Annette’s mystically beautiful vocals.”