Nightwish - Once (2004)

Nightwish's fifth album was also the last with Tarja Turunen before she was... um... ousted from the band, in not the happiest of splits, but she finishes on a high here.
Utilising the London Philharmonic Orchestra, giving it all a more symphonic sound than ever before, this is another fine effort, even if, again, I'm not entirely sure how much I like it (I tend to be that way about all Nightwish's releases). Early songs like the knockout single "Wish I Had An Angel", with Marco Hietala's roaring voice blending with Tarja's superbly, are highlights, and "Planet Hell" is also good, but I get a bit stuck around about the middle -  I'm not sure what I think of "Creek Mary's Blood" and "The Siren". But it certainly picks up again, especially with the grandiosity of "Ghost Love Score". And Turunen herself has never sounded better.
I don't think there are many bands who  managed to blend power and symphonic metal, with touches of progressive, as well as Nightwish do, and they do it excellently here. One day, I will go through all their Tarja albums again, and try and work out how much I really do like them. I have a feeling my fondness will grow over time.

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