Fugazi

Interesting! Some other snippets from the original article: https://www.rocksverige.se/intervju-tuomas-holopainen-fran-nightwish/ When you get older, do you think you´ll ever sit down and write a book? Tuomas: Never say never, but I really don´t think so. There´s already two books written about us and I have a personal feeling that people already know much more than I would like to. I mean, my all time biggest musical hero, Vangelis, died a few weeks ago (May 17) and I know absolutely nothing about him. Nobody knows about his personal life and I just love that feeling and that aura of mystery. I wish we had the same, but that´s impossible to bring back. [...] You have stuff like the last David Bowie album that no one knew about and I think Beyonce did a surprise release of an album. Would that be possible for Nightwish, to do a thing like that? Secretly record something and just release it out of the blue? Tuomas: I can definitely see that happen. Not the next one since I just told you. (laughs) Would the label be ok with a thing like that or would that be a problem? Tuomas: It depends on the label. We don´t have a label at the moment, so let´s see where we are then. 😮 So wait... Nightwish aren't signed with Nuclear Blast any longer?

Wow that's a candid interview... good stuff. A duet with Tarja? That would definitely set the fandom on fire, and a good and bad way! 😁

I must have missed it, there's an official source for the Deichbrand show as well! 🤘 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsRoh0dhN-8

The anniversary show in September will now be streamed for all to enjoy! -- for a fee. This is a good move IMO, once-in-a-lifetime shows like this should be available to a majority of fans. Lacuna Coil's unique '119 Show' was released as a DVD, a live stream is available even quicker so no complains from me here. https://epicastream.com/

There are at least 2 options currently available to re-watch the Deichbrand concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7b-QeAVvEc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf6SLHlZslg

Pre-orders are now open for Charlotte Wessels' second solo album/compilation 'Tales From Six Feet Under, Volume II'. Last year's album is also available on CD for the first time (as a double CD including Volumes I and II). From the Napalm shop:

I have jumped on this opportunity to better get to know WT, it's not a group I follow closely but I like what I've heard from them and I enjoyed their virtual live performance. The new edition CDs are available separately as well.

LACUNA COIL To Release 'Comalies XX' Album Featuring 'Deconstructed And Transported' Versions Of Original Songs https://www.sonicperspectives.com/news/lacuna-coil-to-release-comalies-xx-album/ July 16, 2022 Back in 2002, Italian heavy rockers LACUNA COIL released an album which is now undeniably an anthem-laden millennial classic that established them as a band with the stamina to go the distance. Now, 20 years later, the current lineup of LACUNA COIL decided to revisit the songs, but not to just re-record them as they were but deconstruct and transport them into 2022. This is not a reboot or a spin-off or anything like that, says LACUNA COIL vocalist Cristina Scabbia. We just wanted to give these songs a 2022 dress and see how this guy or girl who was born 20 years ago would still look fucking slick in 2022. Due on October 14, Comalies XX features the following track listing: CD 1: Swamped XX Heaven's A Lie XX Daylight Dancer XX Humane XX Self Deception XX Aeon XX Tight Rope XX The Ghost Woman And The Hunter XX Unspoken XX Entwined XX The Prophet Said XX Angel's Punishment XX Comalies XX CD 2: Swamped Heaven's A Lie Daylight Dancer Humane Self Deception Aeon Tight Rope The Ghost Woman And The Hunter Unspoken Entwined The Prophet Said Angel's Punishment Comalies ----- Here's a taster: Compare to the original: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR-B5cjToL0

A new video from Within Temptation, and a re-release of their previous albums: https://www.within-temptation.com/collections/new/products/2022-expanded-wt-edition-bundle The WT 2022 special editions on CD: - The first 250 numbered copies of the WT 2022 expanded edition CDs are exclusively sold at our brand new WT Music Store. - Every album is wrapped in a high-quality, luxury slipcase with new artwork. - The track lists are enriched with exclusive bonus tracks.

I'm late on this, but Marko speaks about depression and leaving Nightwish. Marko Hietala’s return to Nightwish seems uncertain: “I’m not waiting for a call back” https://chaoszine.net/marko-hietalas-return-to-nightwish-seems-uncertain-im-not-waiting-for-a-call-back/ Samuel Järvinen - 15.7.2022 A big change took place in the ranks of Finnish metal giants Nightwish at the beginning of 2021, when the band’s longtime singer-bassist Marko Hietala announced that he was leaving the band. Hietala joined the band in 2002 and played on every album since “Century Child”. Now Iltalehti has published an interview with Hietala. In the interview, Hietala says that he went through a dark period in his life, which included depression, insomnia and anxiety. “Sometimes I thought I would walk from my backyard to the icy lake and just disappear,” Hietala tells Iltalehti. Hietala says that the cancelled tours during the pandemic of 2020 brought peace to his life, which the musician was no longer ready to give up when it was time for Nightwish to prepare to go on tour again. “My head had gone to the point where I could no longer bear the thought of having to go out into the world for a month or a month and a half with the same conditions and troubles,” Hietala recalls. Hietala was also asked in the interview about a possible return to Nightwish. However, Hietala does not believe that he will be seen as a full-time member of the band again. “I’m not waiting for a call back or a meeting invitation. For many years, I would get pissed off practically every day at some point. Black thoughts would pop up as soon as there was an empty moment. Even though the gang knows there’s depression and medication and therapy, I can’t help being tired. I saw leaving as necessary for both me and them.” Hietala has not kept in touch with Nightwish since his departure or followed the activities of his former band. --- The original article is behind a paywall. https://www.iltalehti.fi/viihdeuutiset/a/18014cf0-6dc3-4fe9-9c11-3b32714cbb11

Also, I missed the release of more of the AFAS live videos, remember those? 😁 Qué Se Siente - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWYslCKY5XA Bridle Passion - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qFqwFeiu-k Let It Go - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5AoEBNE2s4

A new collaboration:

https://eyesoremerch.com/pre-order-avantasia-a-paranormal-evening-with-the-moonflower-society-2lp-moonstone-coloured-vinyl-release-date-21st-october-2022/ Darkness descends over the hall, the curtain rises. Dear audience, welcome to the wondrous otherworld of Avantasia! With his ninth album, 'A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society', Tobias Sammet invites you to join him on an enchanted journey into his own version of reality, which is full of fantastic events and encounters. It is a captivating, deeply magical universe that Tobias Sammet has built over the past two decades. Since his debut 'The Metal Opera' (2001), the Peter Pan of international rock and metal has romped between metal, classical and rock, beguiling the biggest festivals around the world with his traveling circus and working with the greatest voices in the metal world including Alice Cooper and Scorpions’ Klaus Meine. The reward for his passionate work and years on the road: number one in the German album charts for the latest record 'Moonglow' (2019), more than three million albums sold, over 250 million streams, sold-out world tours, and a fan base that listens to him live and in front of the home speakers with excitement and enthusiasm. Sometimes Tobias Sammet, also renowned for being singer, producer and songwriter in Edguy, cannot quite believe it all himself. "My whole life is based on childish ideas and dreams, which amazingly I still get away with," he says incredulously. "Even after 30 years, music is my favourite, biggest, only hobby. And the fact that I can make a living from it fills me with deep gratitude." But of course he also does a lot for it. The construction of a new studio, for example - an investment that proves to be a pandemic stroke of luck in 2020: In his new realm, Sammet could indulge in his art while ignoring the world outside. "I was faced with more time than ever before," he looks back. "So I was paying as much attention to details and little things as I had in my early years. On the last records, I outsourced certain things to my producer Sascha Paeth, mostly just to save time. However, now I didn't have to save time. There hasn't been a record that sounded so much like me." Tinkering with sounds for nights, writing parts for his duet partners, arranging and singing the choirs himself - on "A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society" Sammet is not only impresario, conductor and musician, he also handles a majority of the vocals, and presents himself at the top of his game. The project, which used to be particularly famous for its changing guest singers, has long since become a band, a family. "We even have a joint WhatsApp group where there's always something going on," Sammet grins. “We are a conspiratorial bunch, a gang." On "A Paranormal Evening with the Moonflower Society" a lot of old acquaintances duel with Tobias Sammet in the vocal department: Eric Martin, Michael Kiske, Ronnie Atkins, Geoff Tate or Bob Catley, for example. "I wanted a classic Avantasia album, so of course I relied on people who accompany Avantasia for a long time. They are also part of this band, thus there is no need to change that all of a sudden." Still, of course, there are still voices he has always wanted to work with. On his new album, the contributions from Floor Jansen and Ralf Scheepers make him particulay happy. He had intended the power ballad ‘Misplaced Among the Angels’ for the Nighwish vocalist. “The song was ready and she could well imagine to sing it but was not sure if it would fit her tone”, Sammet details. So, he quickly wrote the rocking, symphonic "Kill The Pain Away" for their duet. “The rest was a matter of days and after she had finished nailing this track, she was more comfortable with “Misplaced Among the Angels”, too, and sang it without further ado. And delivered like a beast!"

Wow, this was a great performance, and the filming and sound was amazing. As I said earlier, this is DVD quality right there! I so hope for this to be available on YouTube later, please! 🙏

While I was away from home I got my copy of 'Legends Of Light', and it's a fine piece of work. I haven't listened to the extra CD yet (alternate takes and instrumental versions) but I think this is the most impressive and challenging of Johanna's records so far. The booklet is nicely done too, and it's weird to see a CD without any barcode/catalog number/company ID! 😁 It's a true indie endeavour!

It's on! Let's see if the setlist matches that of the last festival gigs. Seeflughafen 2022-07-23: Noise Planet Hell Tribal Élan Storytime How's the Heart? Dark Chest of Wonders I Want My Tears Back Nemo Sleeping Sun Shoemaker Last Ride of the Day Ghost Love Score The Greatest Show on Earth Ad Astra Random thoughts while the band is playing: Floor's German is still fresh in her mind! The camera work is pretty good, and the sound is amazing for a live, raw mix. I don't know if we'll get another DVD from this tour, but if not I'll be happy with this show! Band seems pretty relaxed and in a good frame of mind. Everyone's invited to Troy's hotel room after the show, just bring a bottle! 😁 Sleeping Sun is back for the summer festivals -- not a song we got in Lowell. I noticed at Hellfest that Troy is singing at the end of Sleeping Sun -- don't think that Marko did back in the day?

Don't forget the live stream from Deichbrand tonight/this afternoon! 🤘 I love festival season with all the live streams!

I can only support people having a blast watching 7 Days To The Wolves. 🤘 JW Soundworks - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhXW20ljVMI

Thanks for holding the fort during my absence! 😁 I'm currently watching the Hellfest recording, another fine performance! Indeed, great find! 👀👍

The Pinkpop stream was wiped from YouTube, but it's still available here: https://odysee.com/@jenniezelf:9/Nightwish---Pinkpop-2022-(with-Eng-Subs):b On the other hand, there are a number of fan recordings on YouTube: Landgraaf 2022-06-17: Noise Planet Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tf318759vI Tribal Élan Storytime I Want My Tears Back Nemo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRtCYQZt70Y Shoemaker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZWm1qZ1BE0 Last Ride of the Day Ghost Love Score https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDvc8bFENm8

Kai comments on the show opener 'Music': https://www.facebook.com/1611741546/videos/1207210283445405/ The intro for ”music” from where we go straight to first song ”Noise”. First 4 bars always mostly the same but then it’s improvised, so every show it’s different. Sometimes a bit risky when you don’t have ”the best day”. Time signature is 6/4… this is from Pinkpop last Friday. Cheers! My drumtech Jarkko Piipari and his iphone shot this video. Thanks!

And the full album is available now, I'll have a listen as soon as I have a chance to! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDuwJWdg4MU

EoM have released a preview of their album about to be released (June 21st). This is our first taste of the rest of the songs (3-4-7-8-10). Adrift in Eternity sounds pretty epic! TRACKLIST of this album preview video: Doorway of Night Vita Nova The Homesong’s Call Under the Grey Sky The Bell Everstrong Wings of the Dawn Adrift in Eternity Light (featuring LEAH) Rainfall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wM7OAR2sfyA

I wonder if she will film one of those... Paradiso seems like a favourite for DVDs.

More shows in the Netherlands in April 2023! After a KICK-ASS Pinkpop Festival yesterday, performing solo and with Nightwish, I am so proud and excited to announce my second solo tour in The Netherlands! Tickets are available RIGHT NOW! Get them before they're gone. April 11 - Amsterdam - Paradiso April 12 - Tilburg - Poppodium 013 April 13 - Utrecht - TivoliVredenburg April 16 - Den Haag - Paard April 17 - Groningen - Oosterpoort Thanks MOJO for making this possible!