Endless Forms Most Beautiful

Endless Forms Most Beautiful is the eighth album, on which NIGHTWISH welcomed new vocalist Floor Jansen and took the beauty of nature, science and the universe as its theme. It was made with the lineup of Tuomas Holopainen (keyboards), Emppu Vuorinen (guitar), Marco Hietala (bass/vocals), session drummer Kai Hahto, and newly full member Troy Donockley (pipes). Lyrics inspired by the writings of Darwin and Dawkins run through the solemn playing. The magnificent opening of "Shudder Before the Beautiful," the approachable melody of "Élan" and the great cathedral of the twenty-four-minute "The Greatest Show on Earth" show a new height for the band. Narration by biologist Richard Dawkins was introduced too. Jansen's overwhelming vocal power brought new stability to the band, and this record vividly captured a NIGHTWISH still evolving even after a change of singer.