Our Nightwish series continues as we dive into the Oceanborn and Wishmaster era of the band.

In this episode, we explore how the band’s sound developed across these two releases, with sharper songwriting, more ambitious arrangements, and Tarja’s vocals taking on an even bigger role. We cover the story behind both albums, talk through their influence within the symphonic metal scene, and, of course, highlight and dissect my hidden gems from each release - those tracks that do not get the spotlight they deserve.

Keep an eye out for future episodes in this series, where we’ll continue the journey through Nightwish’s discography and uncover hidden gems on iconic albums like Once and Dark Passion Play.

For any requests for future episodes, please email RandM.HiddenGems.Podcast@gmail.com

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It’s the start of a new series on Rock & Metal’s Hidden Gems — and this time we’re deep-diving into Finland’s biggest metal band: Nightwish.

In this first episode, we trace the band’s beginnings, from Tuomas Holopainen’s campfire vision to their formation and early rise. We talk about Nightwish’s influence on the metal world — especially their impact on women in the genre — and, of course, we break down the debut album Angels Fall First, exploring the band’s initial sound while highlighting and dissecting the hidden gems on this release.

Keep an eye out for future episodes in this series, where we’ll continue the journey through Nightwish’s discography and uncover hidden gems on iconic albums like Once and Dark Passion Play.

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Rock & Metal’s Hidden Gems continues its deep dive into one of the most inventive bands in modern music as we conclude our two-part spotlight on the Diablo Swing Orchestra.

In episode 2, we explore the band’s bold evolution — from their shift in vocal style from operatic grandeur to jazz-infused flair, to the ways their sound continued to expand and defy genre boundaries. We take an in-depth look at their three most recent albums, examining how the Diablo Swing Orchestra refined their identity while remaining fearless in experimentation, composition, and storytelling.

This episode completes the journey through the band’s career so far, highlighting how Diablo Swing Orchestra have continued to innovate, challenge expectations, and solidify their status as one of metal’s most underrated, imaginative and unique acts.

Looking ahead, our next series will take a deep dive into a major rock or metal band’s career discography, uncovering and dissecting the hidden gem tracks from each album. If there’s a band you’d love us to cover, send your suggestions to randm.hiddengems.podcast@gmail.com and help shape future episodes.

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