Released 26 November 1998 Recorded August–October, 1998 Length 4:12 | Format CD Genre Power metal Label Spinefarm | |
Sacrament of Wilderness is the second single by Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish, released as the first single from their album Oceanborn.
Contents
The single's cover art features the Oceanborn owl with the same scroll as in the cover of Oceanborn and Wishmaster.
It reached the number-one spot in the Finnish charts during several weeks, as well as the subsequent, Walking in the Air. Both were certified with Gold Disc in Finland with more than 5,000 sold copies.
The cover of the single features the same owl as in Passion and the Opera.
Live performances
The song disappeared from Nightwish' live setlist after their World Tour of the Century, in 2003, but returned again in late 2007, sung by their new vocalist Anette Olzon but otherwise the same musically. It is one of the few songs from their first two albums that has survived live and still is performed.
Current Nightwish bassist, Marco Hietala, doesn't like this song as much as he likes some others; when asked why, he said:
Track listing
- Sacrament of Wilderness
- Burning Flames' Embrace (by Eternal Tears of Sorrow)
- The Crow and the Warrior (by Darkwoods My Betrothed)
Video
The music video is a live performance of the song at Kitee, the band's hometown, on November 13, 1998. The band members, except Sami, sported short hair in the video, released as bonus material on Nightwish's first DVD, From Wishes to Eternity, in 2001.