Is End of an Era a good place to start with Nightwish?

Yes, End of an Era is recommended as a starting point for new Nightwish listeners. A sweeping orchestral journey intertwines with heavy guitar riffs, creating a hauntingly majestic atmosphere that defines Nightwish's symphonic metal sound. Released on June 1, 2006, 'End of an Era' marked a significant point in Nightwish's career as it was their final album featuring lead vocalist Tarja Turunen. This album came after the commercially successful 'Once' and showcased a blend of operatic vocals with cinematic arrangements, solidifying their place in the power metal genre while also setting the stage for future stylistic shifts.

Who is End of an Era for?

End of an Era works well if you're into dynamic journey with emotional peaks, immersive theatrical listening experience and epic soundscapes for reflection.

How many songs are on End of an Era?

End of an Era has 18 tracks, running approximately 103 minutes.

Released 20 years ago

End of an Era

Nightwish · 2006

103 min · 18 tracks · power metal

A sweeping orchestral journey intertwines with heavy guitar riffs, creating a hauntingly majestic atmosphere that defines Nightwish's symphonic metal sound.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Red Warrior / Dark Chest of Wonders Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
→
Ghost Love Score — This epic track combines lush orchestration with powerful vocals, showcasing the band’s ability to blend storytelling and musical complexity, making it a fan favorite.
→
Nemo — With its haunting melodies and introspective lyrics, 'Nemo' exemplifies Nightwish's signature sound, encapsulating themes of loss and longing that resonate deeply.
→
Ever Dream — 'Ever Dream' features an ethereal quality that highlights Tarja's vocal prowess, blending beautifully with orchestral elements to create a dreamlike atmosphere.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

61 /100

Treeline

Higher than 71% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong compositions and distinctive sound but has some pacing issues due to its length.

What we noticed

The album opens with a powerful orchestral introduction that seamlessly transitions into heavy guitar riffs, establishing its symphonic metal identity.
The last three tracks slow the tempo significantly, allowing for a reflective conclusion that contrasts with the earlier intensity.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 8/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. 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

dynamic journey with emotional peaks
immersive theatrical listening experience
epic soundscapes for reflection
powerful vocals that captivate attention
wave-like pacing with dramatic shifts

Maybe skip if you

seekers of instant gratification
prefer short, standalone tracks

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Breakthrough — This album marked a key transition with the departure of Tarja Turunen, elevating their profile.
Themes: operatic grandeur· farewell to Tarja· symphonic storytelling
Career context: Released on June 1, 2006, 'End of an Era' marked a significant point in Nightwish's career as it was their final album featuring lead vocalist Tarja Turunen. This album came after the commercially successful 'Once' and showcased a blend of operatic vocals with cinematic arrangements, solidifying their place in the power metal genre while also setting the stage for future stylistic shifts.
Stylistic neighbors: Within Temptation· Epica· Therion