The Podcast and the Pendulum

In our second episode, we're chatting to Xandria vocalist and Nightwish superfan Ambre Vourvahis! It's also a good time to share my experience seeing Tarja live as we discuss the difficult Oceanborn sessions and ponder whether it's odd for her to still be performing Nightwish songs in her solo sets.  Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum Preorder Nightwish On Track - Every Album, Every Song by Simon McMurdo https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Check out Xandria's site for tour dates and the new album: https://www.xandria.de/  Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Special Guest: Ambre Vourvahis Fan Jury: Dan Kumar, Chaz Paice and Renata Cervantes Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

Not one but two new episodes, we are celebrating after all! 2023 will see the release of my first book and it's all about Nightwish!! It's also time to delve into the waters of Deep Silent Complete and this silly host never quite realised the oceanic undertones - d'oh! Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum Preorder Nightwish On Track - Every Album, Every Song by Simon McMurdo https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Fan Jury: Dan Kumar, Chaz Paice and Renata Cervantes Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

We waited for it and it finally happened! The Human. :||: Nature. tour is journeying around the globe and I'm here to spill all the details of the set at Wembley. Huge spoilers for the tour, stage show and setlist so be warned... Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro & Outro music - Orphanage Airlines

Off The Elvenpath looks at projects and bands on the peripheries of the Nightwish universe. Today we look at Tarja's book Singing In My Blood and discuss nine things that I learnt from reading it! Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro & Outro music - Orphanage Airlines, Lebosqui's A Walk/Paseo

Who's there knocking at my window with that owl? Phew! Sorry for the delay, hopefully this episode's epic tune (and thematic staple) makes up for it. We'll be flitting through the entire catalogue for references to the titular Dead Boy and maybe even get a nice silver lining to end our season on. Dead boy's alive, y'all! Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Fan Jury: Joana Gato, JP Drudi-Fourès and Pieter Sterckx Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

Wayfarer! Heartlander! It's time for us to delve into a song that was booted off its parent album, but was it justified? JP is also taking us through some of the rarest items in his beloved Nightwish collection and Chantal talks us through her new album Eye of the Storm (and makes some time to gush about Nightwish ofcourse!) Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Special Guest: Chantal (https://chantalsmusic.bandcamp.com/) Fan Jury: Joana Gato, JP Drudi-Fourès and Pieter Sterckx Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

The mightiest glow-up in Nightwish history? Perhaps. Astral Romance gets us chatting male guest vocalists and pondering whether we might see more now Marko has left us... We also have a fantastic chat with fellow Nightwish fanatics Shield of Wings who just released their epic album Unfinished! Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Special Guest: Shield of Wings (https://shieldofwings.com) Fan Jury: Joana Gato, JP Drudi-Fourès and Pieter Sterckx Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

For Marc Brueland and the Brueland family. Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Fan Jury: Joana Gato, JP Drudi-Fourès and Pieter Sterckx Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

Are you ready for ascension, my child? This week we're diving deep into Tuomas' idea of utopia. Is it nostalgic? Ofcourse. A return to innocence? You bet. Did it feature on a live DVD recorded at their massive final show of the Dark Passion Play tour? Sadly not. We're also joined by the wonderful Elina Siirala who has two things of note to share - an album coming out on Friday (Antares by Angel Nation) and a certain cousin who you may have heard of. Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Elina Siirala of Angel Nation (https://www.angelnationofficial.com/) and Leaves' Eyes (https://www.leaveseyes.de/) Fan Jury: Joana Gato, JP Drudi-Fourès and Pieter Sterckx Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

You're gonna want to open up this dark chest of wonders as we're going deep into the Once remaster (eek!), the best live set openers and which songs epitomise the phrase 'fan favourite'! Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Fan Jury: Joana Gato, JP Drudi-Fourès and Pieter Sterckx Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

Poor 'For The Heart I Once Had', perpetually considered by many as the weakest track on Dark Passion Play - it's about time we give it the limelight it deserves! We are also joined by Dawn from Knightwish - a Tribute to Nightwish as we discuss her life as 'fake Floor'! Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Knightwish - a Tribute to Nightwish (https://www.facebook.com/KnightwishUK) Fan Jury: Joana Gato, JP Drudi-Fourès and Pieter Sterckx Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

Troy takes the lead on a song all about our role in the world, the meaning of life if you will. No biggie. We also speak to Mariangela Demurtas all about her new EP Dark Ability! BCC Info on how to support Ukraine: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-60562260 Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Mariangela Demurtas (https://mariangelademurtas.com) Fan Jury: Joana Gato, JP Drudi-Fourès and Pieter Sterckx Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

We may have our eyes on spring but I'm wallowing just a little longer in the world of winter for this week's episode all about Walking In The Air and the legacy of the film that gave us the track: The Snowman. Wrap up warm and have a listen! Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Fan Jury: Joana Gato, JP Drudi-Fourès and Peter Sterckx Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

We're back! Welcome back to The Podcast and the Pendulum and a brand new season for 2022. This week we're discussing the instrumental song with a huge backstory: The Eyes of Sharbat Gula. Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Fan Jury: Joana Gato, JP Drudi-Fourès and Peter Sterckx Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

In this special episode, we're reflecting on this weekend's virtual shows - an Evening with Nightwish in a Virtual World. Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

It's that time again, the end of another season but we are giving you a mammoth song and episode to go out on. Taking on the song that this very podcast takes its name from, every part of The Poet and the Pendulum is discussed, Liv Kristine talks about her relationship with Nightwish and there is so much more crammed in too. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss out on the next season! Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Fan Jury: Oha Cade of Valcata, Diana F, Pete Rawcliffe and Zayn Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

It's a sad time as we approach the end of this season but also because we're talking about the saddest Nightwish songs and the powerful performance on this episode's focus track, Two For Tragedy. Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Fan Jury: Oha Cade of Valcata, Diana F, Pete Rawcliffe and Zayn Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro), Wonderharp (RowHits)

The themes of Endless Forms Most Beautiful as an album run deep in the record's title track as we sing of aye-aye, pale blue arks and discuss bad single choices. Hope all you eukaryotes enjoy! Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Fan Jury: Oha Cade of Valcata, Diana F, Pete Rawcliffe and Zayn Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

The Nightwish Story experience continues this week as I venture around the virtual exhibition and Diana shares her own experience of attending in person! Elsewhere, we're discussing Oceanborn and this episode's song Devil and the Deep Dark Ocean! Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Fan Jury: Oha Cade of Valcata, Diana F, Pete Rawcliffe and Zayn Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

This week is the first of a two-part special all about the Nightwish Story exhibition, featuring a chat with the team behind the exhibit and digging deep into the band's archives for this week's song, the self-titled demo Nightwish! Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Nightwishstory Fan Jury: Oha Cade of Valcata, Diana F, Pete Rawcliffe and Zayn Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

We are talking about one of my favourite Nightwish songs this week, the impact of war told through 10th Man Down. We relive the Decades tour, asking what other songs we'd have loved to see pulled out of the archives and we also chat about Tapio Wilska, a contributor to this song and many aspects of the Nightwish story. Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Fan Jury: Oha Cade of Valcata, Diana F, Pete Rawcliffe and Zayn Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

It was the cover version that became synonymous with the band and this episode looks at how Phantom has just as much to do with the Floor era as it does with Tarja. We also hear from my musical-loving friend Ricky who gives us all we need to know about the Andrew Lloyd Webber stageshow. Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring special guest: Ricky Orr Fan Jury: Oha Cade of Valcata, Diana F, Pete Rawcliffe and Zayn Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

Finally i'll be discussing Marko's departure from the band and on quite a fitting episode, a song that he wrote on and has a very prominent role in. We catchup with Pedro, the winner of the band's video contest and we also think about which era is Nightwish's 'golden era'! Instagram and Twitter: PodcastPendulum If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring special guest: Pedro Sent:   Fan Jury: Oha Cade of Valcata, Diana F, Pete Rawcliffe and Zayn Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

Let's fly back to the Once era with this bonus track and learn about the Finnish white nights. Also included is a chat with Vibeke Stene and Asgeir Mickelson about their project Veil of Secrets which released its debut album late last year. If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring special guest: Vibeke Stene and Asgeir Mickelson (Veil of Secrets) Fan Jury: Oha Cade of Valcata, Diana F, Pete Rawcliffe and Zayn (Ep 4 onwards) Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

We're kicking off season four with a song about Eugene Shoemaker's inspiring legacy and chatting to Altamullan Road, the project of Johanna Iivanainen and Johanna Kurkela (who also features on this song!) If you love the podcast and would like to, you can donate to it at https://ko-fi.com/podcastpendulum Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring special guest: Johanna Kurkela and Johanna Iivanainen (Altamullan Road) Fan Jury: Oha Cade of Valcata, Diana F, Pete Rawcliffe and Zayn (Ep 4 onwards) Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro)

Over fifty podcast listeners and Nightwish fans ranked the songs on Oceanborn and we can now reveal the results - which song came out on top? Which finished last? Did The Riddler get the justice it so vehemently deserved? Listen and find out! If you enjoyed this episode, we've also done extensive deep-dives into Oceanborn tracks including Sleeping Sun, Stargazers and Gethsemane on earlier seasons - feel free to have a listen... Created and hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Also featuring Dianne van Giersbergen of Ex-Libris (www.exlibrisband.com) Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro),  Eyes of Glory (Aakash Gandhi)

Poetry, Panels and a Passion for Whitman A mammoth season finale – see you for season 4 later this year!...

Quests and Questionable Opinions Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro),  Eyes of Glory (Aakash Gandhi), Vinyl Rewind (Tasmanian Power), Hm Huh (Ice of Doom)

Human empathy and Human. :||: Nature. Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Matthew Liu Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro),  Eyes of Glory (Aakash Gandhi), Vinyl Rewind (Tasmanian Power)

Translating, Interpreting and Shining Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Forever Still (https://www.foreverstill.dk) Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music:...

Made In Hong Kong, Vietnam, Holland and Various Other Places Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Nemesea (https://www.nemesea.com / http://twitter.com/nemesea) Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro),  Eyes of Glory (Aakash Gandhi),

Sonata Arctica and Simon Getting His Life Listening to Oha Cade Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Oha...

Wishmaster and Wishing There Were More Crownless Quotes This one goes out to Crownlessaceofspades on Instagram! Hosted and created by...

Biography T and the Tarja Split (Again) Lots of old drama in this episode which I was pondering whether to go into so proceed with caution... Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Oha Cade of Valcata (http://www.valcata.com, http://www.valcata.bandcamp.com ) Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro),  Eyes of Glory (Aakash Gandhi),

Kalevala and Clambering Through The World of Fantasy! Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro),  Eyes of Glory (Aakash Gandhi), Tada Fanfare (Plasterbrain)

Off The Elvenpath looks at projects and bands on the peripheries of the Nightwish universe. Today we look at Tuomas' solo venture: (Music Inspired By) The Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Alan Reid (https://www.alansongreid.com) Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro & Outro music - Orphanage Airlines, Lebosqui's A Walk/Paseo

Lockdown, Language and Lanvall from Edenbridge Welcome back to Season 3 of The Podcast and the Pendulum! Enjoy! Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring Lanvall from Edenbridge (https://www.edenbridge.org) Artwork by Matt Foulkes Music: Orphanage Airlines (Intro),  Eyes of Glory (Aakash Gandhi)

Trail of Tears and Translation Tribulations. Last episode of season 2 everyone! Thanks for listening, i'll be back in a month or so with more. Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss the next episode. Hosted and created by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring Kiki Vu Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro/Outro music by Tristan Lohengrin (Metal Introduction) Background music by Silent Partner (Grass) and Aakash Gandhi (Eyes of Glory)

Serious Drumathons, Songs of Ocean Souls and Stephen King (again). Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Eemi Fagerlund (check out Eemi's Twitch, including the Nightwish drumathon, at https://www.twitch.tv/eemikun) Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro/Outro music by Tristan Lohengrin (Metal Introduction) Background music by Silent Partner (Grass) and Aakash Gandhi (Eyes of Glory)

Fans from around the world respond to Human :||: Nature; first thoughts, expectations, favourite songs and the lowdown on All The Works Of Nature Which Adorn The World. Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Amy (US), Daniel & Peter (UK), Enzo (Argentina), Madeline (France), Leticia (Brazil), Christian & Yuri (Germany), Sami (Finland) and written contributions from Dan (Chile), Josh (US) & ShudderBeforeTheNightwish. Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro/Outro music by Tristan Lohengrin (Metal Introduction) Background music by Aakash Gandhi (Eyes of Glory).

Runescape, Religion and Risking Detention for Nightwish Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Alan Jay Podcast Cover by...

Carl Sagan, Cosmos and No Corona!! Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Matthew Liu and 'The Pale Blue Dot' read by Carl Sagan Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro/Outro music by Tristan Lohengrin (Metal Introduction) Background music by Silent Partner (Grass), Aakash Gandhi (Eyes of Glory) and Wonder Harp (RowHits)

Single art, flop films and err...Kelly Clarkson Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Angj Brooks Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro/Outro music by Tristan Lohengrin (Metal Introduction) Background music by Silent Partner (Grass) and Aakash Gandhi (Eyes of Glory)

EPs, Confusing Videos and Sam Hardwick Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Sam Hardwick (http://hardwick.fi) Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro/Outro music by Tristan Lohengrin (Metal Introduction) Background music by Silent Partner (Grass) and Aakash Gandhi (Eyes of Glory)

Loss, the early days and tribute acts. Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Carys (http://www.carysmusic.com / http://www.lightwish.co.uk) Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro/Outro music by Tristan Lohengrin (Metal Introduction) Background music by Silent Partner (Grass) and Aakash Gandhi (Eyes of Glory)

Off The Elvenpath looks at projects and bands on the peripheries of the Nightwish universe. And apparently, announcements and predictions for their new album... Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro & Outro music by Tristan Lohengrin (Metal Introduction) Background by bdesclee (Quiet Suburb Atmosphere) & lebosqui (A Walk/Paseo)

Thoreau, Troy and Tim's Portraits Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Tim Tronckoe (http://www.timtronckoe.com / http://www.facebook.com/TimTronckoePhotography) Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro/Outro music by Tristan Lohengrin (Metal Introduction) Background music by Silent Partner (Grass) and Aakash Gandhi (Eyes of Glory)

Sami Vanska, Oceanborn Revisited and Influencing The Next Generation Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Silentium (https://www.facebook.com/silentiumofficial) Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro/Outro music by Tristan Lohengrin (Metal Introduction) Background music by Silent Partner (Grass) and Aakash Gandhi (Eyes of Glory)

The director of Imaginaerum, The Islander and Noise. Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring Stobe Harju (http://www.twitter.com/stobeharju and http://www.instagram.com/stobeharju) Podcast...

Technology, Black Mirror and Human :||: Nature  Created & Hosted by Simon Edward McMurdo Featuring: Silentium (https://www.facebook.com/silentiumofficial) Podcast Cover by Matt Foulkes Intro/Outro music by Tristan Lohengrin (Metal Introduction) Background music by Silent Partner (Grass) and Aakash Gandhi (Eyes of Glory)