"Once" is a symphonic metal album by Finnish band Nightwish, released in 2004. It's the band's fifth studio album and stands as a landmark in their career as it represents their most commercially successful album to date. The album is also significant for its heavy use of a live orchestra, employing the full capabilities of the London Session Orchestra to achieve a rich, cinematic sound.
The overall theme of "Once" strays towards grandiose, epic soundscapes and often explores dark, fantastical themes. The orchestral elements work alongside the band's metal roots to create a unique blend of sounds, a characteristic fusion that Nightwish is widely recognized for.
The album contains several of Nightwish's best-known songs, including their biggest hit "Nemo", and other popular tracks like "Wish I Had An Angel", "Dark Chest Of Wonders", and "Ghost Love Score".
Over the years, "Once" has received critical acclaim, with reviewers extolling its audacious and successful fusion of symphony and metal. The album enjoyed immense global success and paved the way for Nightwish to become one of the defining acts in the symphonic metal genre.
