Nightwish defies genres and can perhaps best be described as symphonic metal with some progressive touches. Tuomas Holopainen and Emppu Vuorinen of Nightwish onstage in Tokyo. They have a pleasant problem choosing songs for their set lists. The back catalogue of songs from the band’s eight studio albums is terrific. They also have the songs to match their performance skills. They have the talent, the experience and the love of the music they play. The six-piece unit (four Finns, one Englishman and a Dutchwoman) are real pros and deliver every time. The band celebrates two decades of touring and recording this year and it shows. During the almost two-hour set we get more than a handful of songs from the new album, proving that it is one of the band’s best albums.
They open strongly with “Shudder Before The Beautiful” from the latest album. And, oh yes, they live up to the expectations and give us a magnificent concert presenting the best parts of the new album “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” as well as crowd favourites from the band’s career. The expectations on Nightwish’s return to Japan, where they have a loyal following of fans, are sky high as they ride into town for a gig in Roppongi. Marco Hietala and Kai Hahto of Nightwish onstage in Tokyo. They gave us a great masterclass in how symphonic metal should be done. On Tuesday 19 th April, Finnish symphonic metal giants Nightwish returned to Tokyo as part of the Asian leg of their “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” world tour.