Nightwish's appearance at the Metropolis Nightclub in Freemantle capped off what had been an astounding three days over the holiday weekend. Following up Bon Jovi and Dream Theater the Finnish quintet were going to have one hell of job matching the performances of the previous two nights but, before we get on to the headliners there was the small matter of openers Voyager to deal with.

The local outfit delivered a brand of power metal that would perhaps be more in keeping with what comes out of mainland Europe rather than from Australia however they certainly did themselves no harm at all with this performance. Powerful guitars, lilting keyboards, pounding drums and semi-operatic and melodic vocals meant that were right at home alongside the headliners. Visually as impressive as musically frontman Daniel Estrin and guitarist Simone Dow showed that they have the skills to entertain in a live environment and that's what they did with the crowd seemingly taken by the show. Highlights, well given the material wasn't familiar Cosmic Armageddon and Sober both made an impression as did closing track White Shadow taken from their second album Universe. Definitely a band worth checking out when they hot the UK to play Prog Power III in March.

I have to be honest here and say that I'm a relatively new convert to the Nightwish cause. Having never seen the band live before I was expecting something along the lines of Within Temptation meets Leaves Eyes. However with semi-new vocalist Anette Olzon in tow the band have moved on from their past. If there were any worries that the departure of previous vocal incumbent Tarja Turunen would derail the Nightwish train then a successful tour of the US and the overwhelming positive response to  new album Dark Passion Play must have come as something as a relief to all concerned. Sure the operatic vocals so prevalent in the past aren't really there any more but what Olzon brings to the table is something of a more familiar melodic rock voice and this, combined with the new material sees the band having found a new heaviness. Indeed Olzon's melodic voice is haunting at times whilst at others it is all powerful and the confidence she displays when enticing the crowd to join in with the fun is nothing short of contagious.

Behind Olzon the band are also playing with a new found confidence, delivering some of the most enticing music of recent times and basically drawing the crowd into the show.  Of course material from Dark Passion Play features heavily in the set, Bye Bye Beautiful immediately hooked people in and Amaranth showcased perfectly the strength and beauty of Olzon's vocal delivery. Elsewhere the band served up the likes of Cadence Of Her Last Breath and highlight of the show Islander which saw the band seated on a couple of high chairs and with acoustic guitars to hand, a mellow point amongst the madness and a moment that showcased another side to Nightwish.

Despite the heat inside the venue the band never stopped giving it everything for those assembled. Guitarist Emppu Vuorinen and bassist Marco Tapani Hietala put in sterling efforts and Olzon, despite having to be continually fanned down by roadie side stage kept going and dancing and imploring the crowd for more as if her life depended upon it. An so to the last song of the set, Wish You Were An Angel, which is to Nightwish what Livin' On A Prayer is to Bon Jovi. Anthemic and crowd pleasing the volume in the club was swelled ten fold as a multitude of voices drowned out the band. Sure it finished late and the last train home had come and gone but, when a show is this good it's just not possible to leave.

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