Nightwish is a band from Finland that plays mostly symphonic metal. Tuomas Holopainen, Empuu Vuorien, and Tarja Turunen started Nightwish in 1996. They recorded a three-song demo, originally to be acoustic. Later they traded the acoustic sound for an electric guitar; Jukka Nevalainen later joined the band to play percussion.

In 1997 the first album was released, a seven track album called “Angels fall first”. Nightwish was then signed to Spinefarm Records, and they later officially released the album. Nightwish gained a bassist Sami Vänskä and recorded a second album “Oceanborn”. The album reached number five on the album charts, and the single “Sacrament of Wilderness” hit the top of the singles chart. Later Nightwish recorded the song “Sleeping sun” and added it to later “Oceanborn” albums as a hidden track.

In 2000 the band entered the Finnish Eurovision Song Contest with “Sleepwalker” and claimed second place. Later that year the released the album “Wishmaster”

2001 saw the release of the EP “Over the hills and far away”. Also the DVD “From wishes to Eternity was released. Sami Vänskä was asked to leave the band, and was replaced by Marco Hientala.

In 2002 the album “Century child” was released. This album showcased the vocals of both Turunen and Hientala, which made for a very nice collaboration, and also the album featured an orchestra. “Century child made it immediately to the top of the charts.

In 2003 the band took some time off and there were rumors about a break-up caused by Turunen’s marriage. Then this was put aside when in 2004 Nightwish released their fifth album “Once”. This album also featured an orchestra as “Century child” on most of the songs. “Once” had great success and was the album that started the market for Nightwish in the US, extending the North American fan base of the band.

“Highest Hopes” a best-of compilation was released in 2005, and had several tracks from all the different albums, as well as a remake of Sleeping sun, and a cover of Pink Floyd’s “High Hopes”. Later that year, with much sadness, Tarja Turunen left the band. The members giving her a letter explaining why, supposedly due to her views about the band and the money. Nightwish is still searching for a new vocalist to take her place.

Despite the confusion followed by Turunen's departure from Nightwish. The band released the Dvd "End of an Era" Which had immediate success going gold in Finland the day it was released. The Dvd had the live footage of the bands last show with Turunen which took place at the Iceerena in Helsinki.

In May 2007 Nightwish released their new single, Eva. Along with it the idenitiy of their new singer Anette Olzon.