NIGHTWISH Goes Behind-the-Scenes with 'Yesterwynde' Doc; VIDEO

NIGHTWISH, the masters of symphonic bombast, have dropped a 45-minute documentary that peels back the layers of their latest opus, “Yesterwynde.” Released on September 20, this album wraps up the trilogy that kicked off with “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” in 2015. The documentary, directed by Ville Lipiäinen, traces the evolution of Tuomas Holopainen’s musical vision—from hotel-room demos during the “Human. :II: Nature.” tour to orchestral recordings at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Sweat, drama, and probably too much caffeine? It’s all there.

Troy Donockley, the band’s multi-instrumentalist sage, describes the record cryptically: “‘Yesterwynde’ is full of secrets. If the stars align, maybe you’ll uncover a few answers.” Thanks, Troy, for that fortune cookie wisdom.

Tuomas, not one for brevity, shared his creative journey: “This album consumed three and a half years of my life. I couldn’t let go. It became my obsession and sanctuary.” Every detail—compositions, lyrics, videos, even the damn cover art—got more scrutiny than ever before. The payoff? A sound that somehow manages to twist their established formula into something fresh. According to Tuomas, “Yesterwynde captures the essence of NIGHTWISH while exploring new moods and textures.” Translation: it’s big, it’s dramatic, and it’ll take you a few listens to figure out what the hell’s going on.

Lyrically, “Yesterwynde” dives headfirst into the heavy stuff: memory, mortality, time, and human connection. “One line sums it up for me,” says Tuomas: “We are because of a million loves.” A poetic nod to the miracle of existence—or a stark reminder that one missed cave bear attack and poof, we’re all dust. As for the album title, he explains, “Yesterwynde conveys a feeling no human language can express. We had to make up a word for it.” Alright, Tolkien.

And then there’s Floor Jansen. Fresh off giving birth to her second child, the powerhouse vocalist strolled into her home studio and crushed all her recordings in six days flat. “We booked twelve days, but she wrapped up early,” recalls Tuomas. “Her preparedness was… extreme.” If you’re wondering whether the band slacked off anywhere else—don’t. The album was mastered seven times. Yes, seven. Because clearly, six wasn’t neurotic enough.

Fans have called “Yesterwynde” everything from NIGHTWISH’s heaviest and most ominous record to their most progressive outing yet. The band doesn’t seem to care what you label it, as long as you’re paying attention. And if you’re puzzled by any of the compositions? Tuomas suggests a closer look at the lyrics. How helpful.

Here’s the kicker: no world tour. Cue collective gasps. The band made the call for personal reasons but reassures fans that their deal with Nuclear Blast Records still has plenty of albums in the pipeline.

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

And in case you’ve been living under a rock, here’s some context: NIGHTWISH brought Jukka Koskinen (of WINTERSUN fame) into the fold last year. Meanwhile, Floor Jansen made headlines in 2022 by announcing she was cancer-free after a grueling battle with breast cancer.

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