Nightwish Family Tree

Metal Family Tree

This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.

We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.

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Nightwish is a hugely important band being that they are the kick starters of the Symphonic metal movement. Since they’ve began there has been a surge of symphonic bands with female vocals some more original and some more derivative but most inspired by Nightwish. At the heart of Nightwish is Tuomas Holopainen. The composer and key-keyboardist has been writing the vast majority of Nightwish music with little exceptions. Other members have co-written more often on recent albums but there are few songs not written by Tuomas. His influences are most important in shaping the band but we will also look at other members.

 

Howard Blake

Howard Blake composer/pianist has hundreds of pieces he’s written. Tuomas said that “Walking in the Air” is his favorite piece of music ever written. Nightwish covered this song on Oceanborn.

Howard Blake composer/pianist has hundreds of pieces he’s written. Tuomas said that “Walking in the Air” is his favorite piece of music ever written. Nightwish covered this song on Oceanborn.

The Fathers of heavy metal, Black Sabbath. Not surprising bassist Marco names Geezer as one of his biggest influences. He considers Dio one his favorite singers and names the Heaven & Hell album as a favorite of his.

The Fathers of heavy metal, Black Sabbath. Not surprising bassist Marco names Geezer as one of his biggest influences. He considers Dio one his favorite singers and names the Heaven & Hell album as a favorite of his.

Vangelis

Vangelis has composed for many films probably his most recognizable piece being “Chariots of Fire”. He is one of Tuamas’s three biggest influences.

Vangelis has composed for many films probably his most recognizable piece being “Chariots of Fire”. He is one of Tuamas’s three biggest influences.

Mike Oldfield

Mike Oldfield has written a lot of different styles. Tuomas said some of his stuff is the best stuff out there where other stuff… not so much. He’s a big fan of the Musical Spheres album.

Mike Oldfield has written a lot of different styles. Tuomas said some of his stuff is the best stuff out there where other stuff… not so much. He’s a big fan of the Musical Spheres album.

James Newton Howard

James Newton Howard started as a session player working with many famous pop/rock musicians. He is best known as a film score composer. Tuomas named him as one of his three biggest influences.

James Newton Howard started as a session player working with many famous pop/rock musicians. He is best known as a film score composer. Tuomas named him as one of his three biggest influences.

Rainbow is the band where Dio first got known as well as where Ritchie Blackmore’s neo-classical style first had prominence. Marco considers Dio one of his favorite vocalists as well as Bob Daisley one of his favorite bassists. Both being on his fav…

Rainbow is the band where Dio first got known as well as where Ritchie Blackmore’s neo-classical style first had prominence. Marco considers Dio one of his favorite vocalists as well as Bob Daisley one of his favorite bassists. Both being on his favorite Rainbow album Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll

The metal gods, Judas Priest. Maro considers Halford one of his favorite vocalists and Painkiller one of his favorite albums.

The metal gods, Judas Priest. Maro considers Halford one of his favorite vocalists and Painkiller one of his favorite albums.

Yngwie Malmsteen is worshiped by many for his neo-classical shredding and has inspired many guitar players over the years. Emppu names The Seventh Sign as one of his favorite albums.

Yngwie Malmsteen is worshiped by many for his neo-classical shredding and has inspired many guitar players over the years. Emppu names The Seventh Sign as one of his favorite albums.

Trevor Jones

Trevor Jones as a film score composer perhaps best known for his work for Last of the Mohicans. Tuomas is a fan.

Trevor Jones as a film score composer perhaps best known for his work for Last of the Mohicans. Tuomas is a fan.

Steve Vai is considered a god among many guitar players. Empu names his Sex & & Religion album among his favorites.

Steve Vai is considered a god among many guitar players. Empu names his Sex & & Religion album among his favorites.

The Fathers of thrash metal also brought a lot of new people to heavy metal when their self titled black album blew up. Seeing Metallica when he was 15 first introduced Tuomas to Metal. Emppu and Jukka named the black album as one of their favorite …

The Fathers of thrash metal also brought a lot of new people to heavy metal when their self titled black album blew up. Seeing Metallica when he was 15 first introduced Tuomas to Metal. Emppu and Jukka named the black album as one of their favorite albums.

Hans Zimmer

Hans Zimmer is one of the most well known film score composers. Tuomas named him as one of his three biggest influences.

Hans Zimmer is one of the most well known film score composers. Tuomas named him as one of his three biggest influences.

One of the most well known modern composers, Danny Elfman is maybe best known for his film scores to many Tim Burton movies. Tuomas considers him among his favorite composers.

One of the most well known modern composers, Danny Elfman is maybe best known for his film scores to many Tim Burton movies. Tuomas considers him among his favorite composers.

Helloween are pioneers of European power metal and a huge influence on many. Emppu lists Keeper of the Seven Keys pt 1 and pt 2 among his favorite albums.

Helloween are pioneers of European power metal and a huge influence on many. Emppu lists Keeper of the Seven Keys pt 1 and pt 2 among his favorite albums.

Paradise Lost started as a Doom/death band but became a pioneer of Gothic metal. Paradise Lost was a band Tuomas was into

Paradise Lost started as a Doom/death band but became a pioneer of Gothic metal. Paradise Lost was a band Tuomas was into

Tiamat like many Gothic bands began playing Death/Doom before changing sounds. Tuomas is a big fan particularly of the album Wildhoney

Tiamat like many Gothic bands began playing Death/Doom before changing sounds. Tuomas is a big fan particularly of the album Wildhoney

Enigma is a world music/electronica band probably best known for that one hit they had in the 90’s with the Native American singing. Tuomas is a fan.

Enigma is a world music/electronica band probably best known for that one hit they had in the 90’s with the Native American singing. Tuomas is a fan.

Pantera is hugely influential and the band that kick stared the groove metal movement. Tuomas and Jukka are big fans of Vulgar Display of Power and Tuomas said the riff for “Mouth For War” is one of the greatest every written.

Pantera is hugely influential and the band that kick stared the groove metal movement. Tuomas and Jukka are big fans of Vulgar Display of Power and Tuomas said the riff for “Mouth For War” is one of the greatest every written.

My Dying Bride is one of the pioneers of gothic metal. Tuomus is a huge fan particularly of the album The Angel and the Dark River.

My Dying Bride is one of the pioneers of gothic metal. Tuomus is a huge fan particularly of the album The Angel and the Dark River.

The 3rd and the Mortal is a goth rock band with doom roots. Tuomas is a big fan of their first album.

The 3rd and the Mortal is a goth rock band with doom roots. Tuomas is a big fan of their first album.

Tuomas said he is a big fan of the whole Finnish metal scene. He says he is also a sucker for what he calls “90’s disco” talking about Aqua, DJ BoBo, and Mr President.

Marco has occasional so writing/co-writing credits since he joined in 2001 (Century Child onward). He also does backing and co lead vocals. He had three years of classical guitar, vocals, and music theory study and two more of bass at Oulunkylä Pop and Jazz Conservatory. Besides noted bands above, Marco is also a big fan of Deep Purple, Thin LIzzy, Jethro Tull, AC/DC, Tori Amos, Kansas, Pantera, Metallica, Slayer, and Danko Jones.

Tarja has no writing credits with Nightwish, but despite this it is impossible to say her style didn’t shape the sound of the band. Whitney Houston was a big influence on her when she was young. She is also a big Peter Gabriel fan. Tarja first pursued learning classical singing after hearing Sarah Brightman’s performance of “Phantom of the Opera”

Jukka Nevalainen who has been the long time drummer of Nightwish untill recently has no writing credits. With that said it’s hard to say that a drummer doesn’t change how a band feels. He names his influences as Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater and Jörg Michael of Stratovarius.

Anette has no writing credits, her style was more pop than other Nightwish singers. some of her favorites albums are from bands that include ABBA, Chisu, Kamelot, Kari Rueslåtten, and Robert Plant and Allison Krauss.

Floor brings in more rock style vocals than previous singes. Early influences include Roxette and Andrew Lloyd Webber. She then got into Skunk Anansie and The Gathering. She also mentioned being a fan of Russel Allen (Symphony X and other things)

Sami the original bassists has no writing credits.

Bands influenced by Nightwish!

As this project advances, bands will be added here… there are many!

Symphonic Metal Greats

Symphonic Metal Greats

Power / Symphonic / Progressive

Power / Symphonic / Progressive

 

Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRYME8te19E
https://www.loudersound.com/features/discs-of-doom-tuomas-holopainen-nightwish
https://web.archive.org/web/20070602000431/http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/members/facts?id=4
http://www.wingsofdarkness.net/php/profile_marco.php
https://web.archive.org/web/20070603093738/http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/members/facts?id=2
https://web.archive.org/web/20070602000413/http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/members/facts?id=3
http://www.wikimetal.com.br/interview-with-tarja-turunen/
https://web.archive.org/web/20120201131746/http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/members?id=1
https://web.archive.org/web/20120209023144/http://www.nightwish.com/en/band/members?id=3
https://crypticrock.com/interview-floor-jansen-of-revamp-nightwish/