Decades: Live in Buenos Aires cover

Decades: Live in Buenos Aires

Nightwish · 2019

253 min · 42 tracks · power metal

A sweeping live spectacle that captures Nightwish's orchestral power metal prowess against the vibrant backdrop of Buenos Aires.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Wish I Had an Angel Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
  • →
    Ghost Love Score — This track encapsulates the band's theatricality and emotional depth, featuring soaring vocals and complex arrangements that exemplify their signature sound.
  • →
    The Greatest Show on Earth — As a nearly 17-minute epic, this song showcases Nightwish's ambition and storytelling prowess, weaving intricate musical themes together in a powerful crescendo.
  • →
    Nemo — This track stands out for its catchy melody and poignant lyrics, serving as a fan favorite that bridges the band’s earlier work with their later style.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100
Treeline
Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

A well-executed live album that captures Nightwish's orchestral metal sound but lacks a tightly cohesive structure.

What we noticed

  • The album features a dynamic setlist that spans the band's entire career, with tracks arranged to build momentum and engage the audience.
  • Several songs incorporate orchestral elements and choral backing, enhancing the live experience and creating a rich soundscape.
Composition 25% of the score
7/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
7/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
5/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • grand orchestral peaks and valleys
  • dynamic journey through nostalgia
  • immersive live performance energy
  • emotional reflections on past
  • epic storytelling in each track

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer short, standalone tracks
  • seeking immediate gratification

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Fan Favorite — Celebrates two decades of music, resonating strongly with dedicated fans.
Themes
Buenos Aires spectacle· two-decade evolution· operatic storytelling
Career context
By 2019, Nightwish had reached a significant point in their career with 'Decades: Live in Buenos Aires', marking their first live album since 2013. This release celebrated their 20th anniversary and showcased a mix of classic tracks alongside newer material, emphasizing their evolution and enduring popularity in the symphonic metal genre.
Stylistic neighbors
Within Temptation· Epica· Therion
New to Nightwish? Find your way in →

Tracklist

Disc 1

  • 1 Swanheart 2:50
  • 2 End of All Hope 4:01
  • 3 Wish I Had an Angel Start here 4:20
  • 4 10th Man Down 5:28
  • 5 Come Cover Me 5:48
  • 6 Gethsemane 5:42
  • 7 Élan 4:27
  • 8 Sacrament of Wilderness 4:23
  • 9 Deep Silent Complete 4:20
  • 10 Dead Boy’s Poem 6:50
  • 11 Elvenjig 2:50
  • 12 Elvenpath 5:55
  • 13 I Want My Tears Back 5:25

Disc 2

  • 1 Amaranth 4:41
  • 2 The Carpenter 6:07
  • 3 The Kinslayer 4:17
  • 4 Devil & the Deep Dark Ocean 4:56
  • 5 Nemo 4:54
  • 6 Slaying the Dreamer 5:12
  • 7 The Greatest Show on Earth 16:59
  • 8 Ghost Love Score 11:55

Disc 3

  • 1 Swanheart 7:29
  • 2 End of All Hope 4:00
  • 3 Wish I Had an Angel Start here 4:19
  • 4 10th Man Down 5:28
  • 5 Come Cover Me 5:51
  • 6 Gethsemane 5:57
  • 7 Élan 4:32
  • 8 Sacrament of Wilderness 4:24
  • 9 Deep Silent Complete 4:20
  • 10 Dead Boy’s Poem 6:51
  • 11 Elvenjig 2:52
  • 12 Elvenpath 6:12
  • 13 I Want My Tears Back 5:28
  • 14 Amaranth 4:26
  • 15 The Carpenter 6:34
  • 16 The Kinslayer 4:23
  • 17 Devil & the Deep Dark Ocean 5:36
  • 18 Nemo 5:06
  • 19 Slaying the Dreamer 5:13
  • 20 The Greatest Show on Earth 17:17
  • 21 Ghost Love Score 15:23

What to play next

Human. :II: Nature.
Listen next

Human. :II: Nature.

2020

Continues the orchestral and thematic elements while introducing fresh sounds.
Decades
Go back to

Decades

2018

Sets the stage with a retrospective feel leading into new explorations.
Full Nightwish discography Where to start with Nightwish Artists like Nightwish
power metal symphonic metal

If this landed

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Imaginations from the Other Side

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Features epic narratives and a blend of orchestral and heavy metal sounds, akin to operatic storytelling.

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata