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

(Nuclear Blast / Roadrunner)

Rating: 8.0

Ah yes, just as I remember it! After successive tours accompanying the Finns across the American southwest and to China, this brings back fond memories (even if the accompanying DVD deals primarily with South America).

The most glaring problem with eight live cuts comprising Made In Hong Kong (which was also recorded at four European dates and the UK), apart from its brevity, is reliance on Dark Passion Play material exclusively. OK, this is a record company-promoted idea, founder/keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen already on record about his distaste for live stop-gaps.

Fans really want to hear new singer Anette Olzon on songs prior to her arrival. After this extensive tour, finding out which numbers she can handle, undoubtedly THAT platter will see the light of day.

In the meantime, here are the highly orchestral enhanced tracks, plus a pair of once rare (but now multiple-issued elsewhere) studio bonuses, “Escapist” and “While Your Lips Are Still Red”.

Actually, that final track is an instrumental (as is the Celtic-flavoured “Last Of The Wilds”) Holopainen penned for a domestic film and interestingly enough, both have been added to the live set, as well as those particular Dark Passion Play selections missing here (apart from “Master Passion Greed” which he’s sworn will never be performed live, due to its vindictive nature towards ousted dive Tarja Turunen).

This two disc compilation (also contains aforementioned DVD footage and trio of promo videos) is a keepsake for the final (non-bootleg) live rendition of “Bye Bye Beautiful”, the more playful jape at Turunen having been retired from concerts.

Olzon’s accent is thick on the purposeful, dramatic-effected opening bars of “Sahara” but no abnormalities elsewhere, in fact her English speaking is better than most natives. “The Islander” sees bassist Marco Hietala, who backs Olzon, get his vocal spotlight.

The CD booklet contains a four-page montage of colour photos.