The List of Nightwish Albums in Order of Release Date

Nightwish Albums in Order: Formed in 1996 as a Finnish symphonic metal band, Nightwish has swept the globe with the unique approach found only within the integration of their overpowering metal riffs and orchestral portions.

They have passed a long way as they’ve issued a discography containing some really impressive and solid works, starting from the very first album Angels Fall First in 1997. Next the more noticed were the following albums: Oceanborn (1998), Wishmaster (2000), that put them really firm in the global symphonic metal scene. Of course, international success came with the 2004 album Once, continuing with new vocalists after Tarja Turunen left the band at Dark Passion Play (2007) and then Imaginaerum (2011). Growing in every aspect, Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015) and Human. :II: Nature. (2020) are the latest facts in Nightwish’s musical evolution.

With the tenth studio album Yesterwynde (2024), the end is not in sight for Nightwish. It’s a real journey through the album history of Nightwish in chronological order, one that takes you through the agony, the struggle, and the eventual resilience that’s propelled them to become one of the most successful Finnish acts in history. So, if you are a die heart fan of Nightwish Albums then check out here we have list of Nightwish albums in order of release so far.

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1. Angels Fall First (1997)

Tracklist:

1. Elvenpath
2. Beauty and the Beast
3. The Carpenter
4. Astral Romance
5. Angels Fall First
6. Tutankhamen
7. Nymphomaniac Fantasia
8. Know Why the Nightingale Sings
9. Lappi (Lapland): I. Erämaajärvi
10. Lappi (Lapland): II. Witchdrums
11. Lappi (Lapland): III. This Moment Is Eternity
12. Lappi (Lapland): IV. Etiäinen

The first album by Nightwish, Angels Fall First, released in 1997 marked the birth of the symphonic metal, power metal, and folk sounds that characterize the band. Initially produced in a meagre 500 copies, nowadays this CD can be sold at online auctions with a sum over $1,100. There is the early creative thinking of Tuomas Holopainen, who basically wrote most material during his conscription time in the Finnish Army. Though they would eventually look at it as more of a demo, this gave them the opportunity to express themselves in merging acoustic elements with heavier sounds. Its character is developed by the rare male vocals from Holopainen and the operatic vocals of Tarja Turunen.

2. Oceanborn (1998)

Tracklist:

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

Made in 1998, Oceanborn is the band’s second studio album and a landmark record that changed the sound of Nightwish. Coming from folk-scented roots, Oceanborn led the band toward the symphonic and toward power metal, using faster tempos and intricate guitar and keyboard harmonies and double bass drumming in tracks such as “Stargazers” or even “The Riddle.” The ambitions that Tuomas Holopainen puts into his songwriting are matched perfectly by Tarja Turunen’s powerful operatic vocals and helped make the record one of the very few defining works in the symphonic metal genre. Tracks such as “Gethsemane” and “Sleeping Sun” are very fantasy-like themes, then “Devil & the Deep Dark Ocean” featured harsh vocals and gave off a darker theme. The album gave Nightwish international platinum status.

3. Wishmaster (2000)

Tracklist:

1. She Is My Sin
2. The Kinslayer
3. Come Cover Me
4. Wanderlust
5. Two for Tragedy
6. Wishmaster
7. Bare Grace Misery
8. Crownless
9. Deep Silent Complete
10. Dead Boy’s Poem
11. FantasMic

“Wishmaster,” Nightwish’s third studio album, is 2000 and marks a significant milestone for the band in the art of Finnish symphonic metal. Powerful and extravagant, as much part of power and symphonic metal, this album peaked at No. 1 in Finland and entered charts across Europe, particularly breaking a record when it reached No. 21 in Germany. Themes for “Wishmaster” are drawn largely from fantasy literature, including The Lord of the Rings and Dragonlance. But songs like “The Kinslayer” reflect real things-going on, such as the Columbine massacre, while “FantasMic” sings Disney’s animated masterpieces. Orchestral arrangements, atmospheric melodies, and fantasy-inspired lyrics consolidated international reputation for Nightwish.

4. Century Child (2002)

Tracklist:

1. Bless the Child
2. End of All Hope
3. Dead to the World
4. Ever Dream
5. Slaying the Dreamer
6. Forever Yours
7. Ocean Soul
8. Feel for You
9. The Phantom of the Opera

The fourth studio album by the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, “Century Child” released in 2002 was a unique album as it was the first to feature the presence of an orchestra. Not to mention that it is teeming with one great double professionist, bassist and male vocalist – Marko Hietala that stayed with the band all until 2021. Among the record releases, Spinefarm Records and Century Media Records is worth mentioning, here it became double-platinum. More than 80,000 copies were sold there. The special edition arrives as a video CD of their cover of Gary Moore’s “Over the Hills and Far Away” and several bonus tracks from their 1996 demo, certainly leaving a more delved mark on the history of the album in the genre.

5. Once (2004)

Tracklist:

1. Dark Chest of Wonders
2. Wish I Had an Angel
3. Nemo
4. Planet Hell
5. Creek Mary’s Blood
6. The Siren
7. Dead Gardens
8. Romanticide
9. Ghost Love Score
10. Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan
11. Higher Than Hope

“Once” was released on June 7, 2004, as the fifth album in Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish studio discography, and their last one with lead vocalist Tarja Turunen. Since the production fee for this record was quite high, nearly €250,000, it became the most expensive Finnish album to date. More than 2.3 million copies worldwide were sold, and this album proved to be a more mature version of symphonic metal-a genre which carried on and further pushed the influences removed from previous examples within the power metal genre. Among the most notable songs of the album are “Nemo,” which happens to be its biggest hit so far, and the instrumental “Ghost Love Score,” an orchestral composition. Just recently on August 6, 2021, its re-release reminded everyone that it is one song that truly stood the test of time in metal music history.

6. Dark Passion Play (2007)

Tracklist:

1. The Poet and the Pendulum
2. Bye Bye Beautiful
3. Amaranth
4. Cadence of Her Last Breath
5. Master Passion Greed
6. Eva
7. Sahara
8. Whoever Brings the Night
9. For the Heart I Once Had
10. The Islander
11. Last of the Wilds
12. 7 Days to the Wolves
13. Meadows of Heaven

At this point, Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish has reached a turning point with their latest effort, “Dark Passion Play,” released on September 26, 2007. It is also the sixth studio release that marks a first: Nightwish is indeed using its first vocalist since the original singer left the band, Tarja Turunen, replaced by newcomer Anette Olzon. Recorded with a mix of orchestral elements and heavy metal influences, the album presents works like “Amaranth” and “The Poet and the Pendulum,” whose lyrics teach a lesson in darkness and hope. This album has quadruple platinum status in Finland and sold nearly 2 million copies worldwide, was termed as a critical success that revitalized the band’s musical direction and ensured that the place of this Finnish group will be permanent in the genre.

7. Imaginaerum (2011)

Tracklist:

1. Taikatalvi
2. Storytime
3. Ghost River
4. Slow, Love, Slow
5. I Want My Tears Back
6. Scaretale
7. Arabesque
8. Turn Loose the Mermaids
9. Rest Calm
10. The Crow, the Owl and the Dove
11. Last Ride of the Day
12. Song of Myself
13. Imaginaerum

Released on November 30, 2011, “Imaginaerum” is the seventh studio album from the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It is a concept album in which an old composer sits in his deathbed and reminisces about moments of his life. Produced with a movie of the same name, “Imaginaerum,” a concept-film directed by Stobe Harju, the album draws on orchestral elements, cinematic influences, and symphonic metal for a dynamic, multi-layered soundscape. It includes standout tracks like “Storytime” and “I Want My Tears Back.” This was Nightwish’s final effort with vocalist Anette Olzon and drummer Jukka Nevalainen, essentially a final scene for what would be considered an era for the band.

8. Endless Forms Most Beautiful (2015)

Tracklist:

1. Shudder Before the Beautiful
2. Weak Fantasy
3. Élan
4. Yours Is an Empty Hope
5. Our Decades in the Sun
6. My Walden
7. Endless Forms Most Beautiful
8. Edema Ruh
9. Alpenglow
10. The Eyes of Sharbat Gula
11. The Greatest Show on Earth

Out between March 25 and 31, 2015 in various countries across the globe Endless Forms Most Beautiful is Nightwish’s eighth studio album, released after a very long time and great changes within the band. With a new main vocalist – Floor Jansen, and Troy Donockley as the newest permanent member, the group has taken its first step without drummer Jukka Nevalainen, who had a break during recording and was replaced by Kai Hahto. Thematically, it draws from the parent record, Imaginaerum, which is fantasy-related, but incorporating scientific ideas from Charles Darwin and Richard Dawkins. Tracks like “Élan” and “The Greatest Show on Earth” portray lyrical depth and complexity musically that grounds the sound and idea of the band. Critics repute that the record is innovative storytelling and flexible vocals.

9. Human. :II: Nature. (2020)

Tracklist:

1. Music
2. Noise
3. Shoemaker
4. Harvest
5. Pan
6. How’s the Heart?
7. Procession
8. Tribal
9. Endlessness
10. Vista
11. The Blue
12. The Green
13. Moors
14. Aurorae
15. Quiet as the Snow
16. Anthropocene
17. Ad Astra

Human. :II: Nature. is the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish’s ninth studio album and their first double album released on April 10, 2020. It is a very important work in their discography because it marks the first double album that they have ever produced; one disc is a traditional record of Nightwish songs, and the other is orchestral compositions. The record will be the final studio album to feature bassist/vocalist Marko Hietala and debut drummer Kai Hahto as an official member. Album – With an album’s theme of light and dark and the different natures of this human existence along with imagination, it varies between modern technology to history and music. It has been critically acclaimed for its scope as it topped the album charts when first released in Finland.

10. Yesterwynde (2024)

Tracklist:

1. Yesterwynde
2. An Ocean of Strange Islands
3. The Antikythera Mechanism
4. The Day of…
5. Perfume of the Timeless
6. Sway
7. The Children of ‘Ata
8. Something Whispered Follow Me
9. Spider Silk
10. Hiraeth
11. The Weave
12. Lanternlight

“Yesterwynde” is the tenth studio album from Nightwish, out 20 September 2024 through Nuclear Blast. It’s their first record since long-time bassist Marko Hietala left the band in 2021, marking his replacement, Jukka Koskinen, on a new record. Tuomas Holopainen demoed songs in 2022 and wrote most of the album as a heavier, though not far from what people expect from Nightwish, symphonic record. Themes also seem to reflect, though musingly so, time, history, and humanism through the vast orchestral compositions and the profound context in their lyrics. The album grounds itself with singles like “Perfume of the Timeless, based on which it attains itself as the last leg in the trilogy initiated by Endless Forms Most Beautiful.