Oceanborn ( 1998 ) - Nightwish

1. Stargazers
2. Gethsemane
3. Devil & The Deep Dark Ocean
4. Sacrament of Wilderness
5. Passion And The Opera
6. Swanheart
7. Moondance
8. The Riddler
9. The Pharaoh Sails to Orion
10. Walking In The Air
11. Sleeping Sun
12. Nightquest

Oceanborn is Nightwish's second studio album, featuring such epic hits as Sacrament of Wilderness and Sleeping Sun. But that alone isn't the best this album has to offer.

When you hear the sudden key-filled intro of the song Stargazers you know it is going to be a good album. The first song keeps you occupied with rocking out with it. Gethsemane is another song riddled with keyboards and epic metal thoroughly keeping the album going at a fast pace. Devil & The Deep Dark Ocean is close to flawless, the song written amazingly, with power metal double kickers and ripping solos through the song, as well as a major song for Tarja Turunen. Sacrament of Wilderness is a rather calm but strong song that would be a fan favourite. Passion And The Opera is a straight out rock song with 80's epic riffs and bass through the song. Swanheart is a slow but still satisfying song, one of the few. Moondance is an instrumental that I loved before I even knew who Nightwish were. The Riddler is a fast and proves that keyboards and metal can still go together unlike ever before. The Pharaoh Sails to Orion is a personal favourite, it always has me singing along, it's just that good. Walking In The Air carries the album on for longer and keeps you interested. Sleeping Sun is amazing. It shows Tarja Turunen's true vocal ability, dead-set, in it's fullest. Nightquest is a perfect album closer, a strong and catchy song which you can listen to over and over.

Nightwish haven't so much not raised past this album, they have gone in a different direction, though Wishmaster (2000) is a good album too, Oceanborn has something a Nightwish album could ever have in that way again.

Length - 7/10
Power - 9/10
Solos - 8/10
Overall - 8/10