Nightwish – Made In Hong Kong (And In Various Other Places)

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After Dark Passion Play, the first album with new vocalist Annete Olzon, and the accompanying tour, proved a commerical success, a live document from the tour was obviously felt necessary. Unfortunately, where fans were getting so used to very comprehensive live releases, often including multiple DVDs and CDs, this one is found to be rather lacking. Indeed there is no DVD of the recorded live material. The bonus DVD contains music videos previously available on various singles, and a documentary. The CD contains just eight live songs, all of which are from Dark Passion Play, the two non-album b-sides from the album’s singles, and an exclusive demo of Cadence of Her Last Breath, also from Dark Passion Play. The release is listed under the ‘Singles/MCDs’ section of the band’s official website, but at full album price, it really doesn’t contain anything immensely worthwhile apart from the non-album b-sides. There aren’t even any live versions of songs from older albums, which would be much more interesting to hear with a new singer than only-slightly different versions of the songs from the recent album. This feels like a rushed release to capitalise on the popularity of the studio album and the tour, with another leg of the tour approaching, and needed to be far more comprehensive.

Written by Andy Lye
More: Female-fronted, Gothic, Live Albums, Quick.Play Reviews, Nightwish