Century Child is the fourth studio album by the Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish. It was released in 2002 through Spinefarm Records in Finland, Drakkar Entertainment in the rest of Europe, Century Media Records in the US, and Toy's Factory in Japan. It is the first album which features now-former bassist and male vocalist Marko Hietala, who left the band in January 2021. It is also the first Nightwish album to feature an orchestra.
Spinefarm Records released a 2-CD special edition of the album in 2002. It includes liner art with the band members' signatures, and a Video CD containing the music video for their cover of Gary Moore's "Over the Hills and Far Away". In addition, the booklet contains an ID code that allows the owner to download the entire album and three extra tracks from the Internet for a limited time.
The album was certified double platinum in Finland with more than 60,000 sold copies,
Musical style
Century Child is the beginning of a shift in sound for the band, with a smaller emphasis on power metal previously seen in
Wishmaster and
Oceanborn, and instead focuses on deeper lyrics and more of a
film soundtrack sound, with
Century Child having a more
gothic metal and
symphonic metal sound. The album is the first of the band's discography to be recorded with a live symphony orchestra and chorus, as well as being the first to include a permanent male vocalist with the addition of
Marko Hietala, incorporating a "beauty and the beast" dynamic into the band.
In an interview with Perkele Magazine in 2002, songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen discussed the central theme of the album, which he stated was "childhood" and the "loss of innocence". When asked more about the theme, he stated:
Track listing
All lyrics are written by Tuomas Holopainen, except where noted; all music is composed by Holopainen, except where noted; all lead vocals by
Tarja Turunen, except where noted.
Personnel
Credits for
Century Child adapted from liner notes.
[(2002). " Century Child liner notes". In Century Child CD. Spinefarm.]
Nightwish
Additional musicians
-
Joensuu City Orchestra – orchestra
-
Juha Ikonen – orchestra leader
-
Riku Niemi – orchestra and choir conductor, orchestra and choir arrangements, orchestra and choir production
-
Mongo Aaltonen – orchestral percussion
-
St. Thomas Chorus of Helsinki – choir vocals
-
Hilkka Kangasniemi – choirmaster
-
Sam Hardwick – spoken words on "Bless the Child" and "Beauty of the Beast"
-
Kristiina Ilmonen – tin whistle
-
GME choir – additional noise
Production
-
Tero "TeeCee" Kinnunen – production
-
Mikko Karmila – mixing
-
Mika Jussila – mastering
-
Veijo Laine – orchestra and choir arrangements, orchestra and choir production
-
Terhi Kallio – orchestra engineering
-
Tuomas Holopainen – art direction
-
Markus Mayer – cover art
-
Spelltone – layout
-
Hilkka Kangasniemi – choirmaster
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Certifications
Bibliography
External links
