Yeah, I mean, I get the context of AFF's release, I just don't think it's a good album from any point of view, pioneering as it may be. It's just a dreadfully dull record even compared with what they released right after it. Just my opinion; it's the only Nightwish album I've gone out of my way to not purchase. I mean just less than a week prior to Angels Fall First being released, Rhapsody released their debut album - October 27th vs. November 1st, 1997 - and even though Nightwish is certainly the more commercially successful band, I would argue that Legendary Tales did more for the power metal genre than Angels Fall First did and is a far more exciting record. Both bands have incredibly strong legacies, so it's whatever, but that's just my take.
As for EFMB's lyrics: religious lyrics don't necessarily bother me but I agree with Zook in that while Theocracy's don't really bug me that much, there are definitely moments that make me, as he said, roll my eyes. But in EFMB's case, I dislike it more because it seems like Nightwish ripping themselves off in places and not using Floor to her full potential; there is a formula or template that seems to be more obvious than ever on that record, for whatever reasons that might be... I'm looking forward to the next record being, as we've been saying, adventurous and bold. However I could do without that narrated bit in The Greatest Show On Earth. Not because of the subject matter, just because I feel like it drags the song dangerously close to Song of Myself territory, which imo is a song ruined by 6 minutes of unnecessary padding