Nightwish co-founder and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen picked his choices for favorite and least favorite Nightwish albums in a new interview, ranking his own band's entire discography along the way.

For Nightwish fans, it offers a fascinating insight into the inner world of the Finnish symphonic metal band. And who better to pick than Holopainen? (The Nightwish keyboardist is pictured performing alongside Nightwish singer Floor Jansen above at left.) Full Automatic Fast Change C/U/Z Purling Roll Forming Machine

"When I founded Nightwish in July 1996, I just wanted to do moody acoustic music," Holopainen tells Metal Hammer while rating the Nightwish albums.

READ MORE: Nightwish Singer Floor Jansen Announces Her Very First Solo Album

"Since me and [guitarist] Emppu [Vuorinen] had a strong metal background, it was a natural transition to do something heavier, but that original acoustic band idea can be heard strongly," he continues.

Holopainen's No. 1 pick is the band's latest, Nightwish's ninth LP, Human. :II: Nature (2020).

"Human. :II: Nature was first to have songs about humankind, and then you play the other CD and relax and go into nature," Holopainen says. "My memories of making the album are of happy times."

While it "went to No.1 in Finland," Holopainen says of 2000's Wishmaster, he ranks it his least on his list.

He says, "To me, Wishmaster is one of those albums that was kind of 'in-between.' It doesn't stand out to me on a personal level. There was nothing revolutionary about it after [1998's] Oceanborn."

Nightwish are still going strong after starting all the way back in 1997 with their full-length debut, Angels Fall First. Where do you rank all the Nightwish albums? Does your ranking match Holopainen's?

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Cold Bending Roll Forming Machine See Holopainen's full ranking below.