As four guys looking like they’re fresh out of high-school  and a girl in leatherpants played at the legendary rock-venue Lepakko in Helsinki,  Finland, no-one could’ve known that one day they would be performing  gigantic tours and would become the most successful band to ever come from  Finland with album sales in figures with more than six digits. From their first  album of 'Angels Fall First' onwards <b>Nightwish</b> gradually grew, or  rather evolved.<br><br>

The youthful admirations of favourite bands might've been obvious  in these first recordings, but as years went by the maturity and the unrelentless  way of the group doing their own thing made Nightwish a voice that stands out.  The final shackles of labeling scattered with the release of their fourth album,  entitled 'Century Child'. It strayed more away from the more obvious  references to melodic “power” metal, and showed promise of a band  that was really starting to find its own sound, a band that would yet become  something greater. The orchestrations and the choirs met on this album were  indeed magnificent and befitting the epic feel of that Nightwish had always  yearned for. But this was a mere overture to what was to become. Nightwish's  2004 album 'Once' was that which broke all remaining traces of separation  between people. <br>
The album sold platinum on its release day in Finland and later  in Germany, and gold in Austria, Sweden, Norway and Switzerland, and went over  the magical '<b>1 million copies sold worldwide</b>'-limit. Everybody knew  of Nightwish. Hell, even the Finnish prime minister confided as a Nightwish-fan. <br><br>
 
The  first era of Nightwish ended with an open letter in which the band fired its  formidable frontperson Tarja Turunen. Was this to be the end of Nightwish?    No one knew. People took sides, and a true circus of the media-type began.    Countless of pages of Finnish magazines alone were spent on this episode,    but everything that needed to be said was already public. Slowly the ruckus    ended in silence, and Tuomas retreated to his own confines bringing to life    what was to be the future. <b>And now?</b><br><br>

We sail on darkened waters. A sea-fare    is a fitting metaphore as of the four elements water is the one representing    emotions. On 'Dark Passion Play' the music in conjunction with    the lyrics conjure a brooding atmosphere never yet seen, or actually felt,    in this magnitude in the saga of Nightwish. The fables and their reflections    have always portrayed a deciphered view to their creator’s mind, in    this case that of Tuomas Holopainen. The past years and the events leading    to this day have naturally affected the outcome of this album, as it is known    that Tuomas communicates best through music. And this music is filled with    emotions, at times subtle – at times overwhelming. I daresay it is    this what makes Nightwish such a popular band. Excellent music is not only    to be heard, it is to be felt. To be experienced. Sensitive music for sensitive    people, if one was looking for a catch-phrase. <br><br>
 
This<b> sixth Nightwish</b> album    stands at a dividing line, separating what has been and what will become.    And it stands strong; resonating the confidence    of its composer. Confidence of a new time, never looking back but boldly    doing whatever the heart desires. And yet again no signs of compromises shine    through, the musical innocence is ever-present within these tunes. These    songs take us through multitude of emotions on their journey, and it is richer    and more varied than before, touching lightly on more ethnic flavours and    being as ever bombastic as it bloody well can be. The heavenly voice of Anette    Olzon carries through bright and powerful – and also more varied that    of her predecessor. She truly is what Nightwish's music deserves. <br><br>
 
Despite    the fact that this musical passionwork is heavy with darker atmospheres,    within it still lie optimistic undertones. It tells us that even in the bleakest    of times there is hope. The voyage ends safely on familiar waters. <b>The sound    of Nightwish reborn is ever-strong. Unfaltering.</b> <br><br>
 
Now, one and a half year  past the release of “Dark Passion Play” and    several Platinum as well as Gold Awards, number 1 chart positions, the band    has captured some impressions on DVD from all around the world being on tour    for nearly the same time playing hundreds of shows all over the globe. The    first live document of the Anette Olzon – era not only features an    exhaustive tour documentary on DVD, but also an excellent best-of set on    CD in deluxe sound quality! <br><br>
 
The band will extend their successful world tour    and go on to a second leg covering key parts of Europe early 2009! <br><br>
 
DVD: (49:52) 16:9 PAL / 2.0 Stereo / DVD-5 / region free <br><br>
 
- Documentary (Dark Passion Play World Tour) <br><br>

- Video Clips: <br><br>
 
- Amaranth <br>
 
- Bye Bye Beautiful <br>
 
- The Islander<br>