Fugazi

You might like this guy then... "No Pause Reactions - No Breaks, No BS" 🤣 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_wMqRYF8fQ

https://www.instagram.com/p/CWYRTw9Kyl_/ EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT!!! 🔔 We FINALLY have a date set for our FIRST SINGLE!!! 🥳 "The Bell" will be released on December 8th! Prepare yourself to enter a wintery wood, all silent but for the inevitable tolling of the bell... ❄️🌲🔔 Also:

A new interview with Floor, about her early career this time. https://www.loudersound.com/features/nightwishs-floor-jansen-quashes-after-forever-reunion-its-good-to-leave-things-in-the-past Nightwish's Floor Jansen quashes After Forever reunion: "It’s good to leave things in the past" By Eleanor Goodman (Metal Hammer) Nightwish's Floor Jansen looks back on a youth spent indulging in cigarettes and symphonic metal with After Forever and collaborating with Within Temptation's Sharon Den Adel Future Nightwish singer Floor Jansen was already well on the way to becoming a symphonic metal star when she first made waves with Dutch group After Forever. The band's vocalist from 1997 to their eventual dissolution in 2009, Jansen played an enormous role in getting After Forever's name out to the masses with her powerhouse vocals lending a sense of scale and bombast to the band's already powerful mix of gothic, progressive and death metal elements. Hammer caught up with Jansen to discuss her years in After Forever, their debut album Prisoner Of Desire and if she feels a reunion could ever be on the cards... You joined After Forever when you were only 16. Did you already know that this was what you wanted to do? “No. Think of a bunch of teenagers that wanted to play music, and think before the internet. I liked metal. And I wanted to sing in a metal band. That was my ambition; I used to play guitar and write my own acoustic songs, then I played at parties of friends. And one day when I did that, somebody said, ‘I know a bunch of guys that have a metal band, and they are looking for a female background singer’, and that was After Forever. And so that’s how I joined.” What were those early days like? “We had this old-fashioned tape recorder in the middle of the room, so if we had an idea, we’d record it on that, and the rest we’d just remember. For the first I don’t know how many years, the thing was; if I can remember my vocal lines, they’re good. If I can’t, they weren’t worth it! That is how the songs came to be. We rehearsed twice a week – we were absolutely serious.” How did you feel, going into the studio to record your debut album, Prison Of Desire? “I remember feeling aware that I didn’t really know what I was doing, and at the same time, really sure of our band. I think we had teenage cockiness, which we needed. They had this tiny room, which was 10 square metres with bunk beds, where we all slept. And I still smoked. I smoked for a couple of years, heavy tobacco even. That really feels like another life!” Your voice still sounds great! “The smoking wouldn’t have affected me so fast, but the lack of technique was something else. I had never had a vocal lesson in my life, not then, and not even when we started recording [2001’s follow-up album] Decipher. So everything was done on a feeling of how you do it, and to try to imitate others and create my own sound. I have had flute lessons for many years, and I think that helped me get the breathing techniques. I’m naturally gifted with talent – I have my parents to thank for that, I suppose!” What was it like recording the song Beyond Me, with Within Temptation’s Sharon den Adel? “Exciting. Because I really looked up to Within Temptation in those days. They were the big brother. They came directly after The Gathering, with [1997’s] Enter, their first album. And I remember thinking that was really cool. Sharon is a few years older than me, which nowadays doesn’t really matter anymore. But when you’re a young teenager, it does impress.” Is there any chance at all of After Forever reuniting? “No, not as far as I’m concerned. I’m very content with where I am. It’s good to leave things in the past. Many After Forever albums have been re-released, unfortunately without my consent. But now the latest [self-titled] album will be re-released next year and all members were involved, which is a huge difference. So that’s something I can heart-warmingly recommend to fans or nostalgics. Something’s coming.” A 15th-Anniversary reissue of 'After Forever' is expected in 2022

I thought it was because they're in separate locations and syncing the music after every pause would be a pain. But it's okay, they're entertaining and it's all that matters!

Ha right, I hadn't noticed! 😁 And Floor flubbed the lyrics at the beginning of Dark Chest Of Wonders, but she laughed it away and carried on. 😄

Yes, they're adorable! I only wish their setup would allow them to pause and comment during the songs instead of only at the end.

This will be starting in a few minutes, for those interested. 🙂 It does appear to be an English presentation. I will be posting a few screen captures later when I'm home, I don't know if this will be available for rewatch. Edit: Yes it is, time stamp 6:18:00 in the stream above.

A new festival date in Finland just announced, Rock Fest on June 2, 2022. 🤘

Ok there are now YouTube recordings of all the songs, so I have updated the links above and the playlist where you can get a good feel of the whole show. Lovely show and lots of energy despite the fragmented touring that must be difficult to deal with. Can't wait for recordings with proper audio! 🔥

It's actually the Oslo Royal Palace, and they use a new image for each show! Look here for pics from some of the earlier shows. So in the USA they will probably show some famous local landmarks, if they use the screens of course.

Yes, despite the low quality videos it all sounds pretty good! 👍 They even snuck in a tribute to Alexi Laiho, Children Of Bodom guitarist and singer who died last year, during The Greatest Show On Earth... Let me find a picture...

Ok I have updated the setlist, it's a very complete set with pretty much everything that has been played so far on the tour. Only missing are Sleeping Sun and Alpenglow I think. Edit: Ok so far Alpenglow, Bless The Child and Pan have only been played at the virtual shows (where's that DVD? ☠️😄) Also, this is the first time She Is My Sin is played since the virtual shows. More videos coming as they're made available on YouTube. I'm building a playlist of available videos on the forum's YouTube channel. And of course the Oslo Royal Palace. 😮

😁 Well, there are no rules yet, so anything goes! Do feel free to report anything that seems inappropriate, complaints will be investigated and (self-)censorship considered accordingly. 😄

Alright, the Olso show is about to start. Let's see how it goes! 🤘 For reference, this is the Oulu setlist, I'll be tracking changes. Noise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBu2i6sDxyg Planet Hell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_UXLoUKcTA Tribal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_Xu4u2sLH0 Élan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ASgFNY86dw Storytime https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONeV3G-x6kI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_SJlHq8w3k https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xirMeEj6hWY How's the Heart? She Is My Sin https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZcUbXDm1fQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmqegYUVQ9w Harvest https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmqegYUVQ9w 7 Days to the Wolves https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmqegYUVQ9w Dark Chest of Wonders https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjpeZRG2q1I I Want My Tears Back https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jZaKyiC14g https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkoAF13CiCk Ever Dream https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZKbN0IIDVU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpMn7bIEmeo Nemo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29ZEfyUaZU4 Sleeping Sun How's the Heart? (acoustic) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHJNaM1A6Os https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5AbbdVQJhg Shoemaker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq-WGZhjSRc Last Ride of the Day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98uPfU4rl0A https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYe-bt5lsLg Ghost Love Score https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAD2sFsiweU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00XrmZIZQPw The Greatest Show on Earth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOgrKnUlj24 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbKfJU4LkfA All the Works of Nature Which Adorn the World: Ⅷ. Ad Astra https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw5_uxgt1x4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXCg2-MSiMs

Not yet, it's on its way though! I'm a bit disappointed that there will be very little Nightwish content, according to Tarja. But still it will update me on her solo career, I haven't been following her very closely.

Yeah, it's happening. YouTubers are so hungry for monetization that they're picking phonecam live recordings to react to, likely to avoid copyright bots. I have a rant coming up about both the business of YouTube reactions and the toxicity of YouTube crowds, but I'll spare you for now and save it for another day. 😉

Thanks, I got lucky guessing #4 but was it perhaps something I heard in a recent interview? 😮 Anyway, don't stress about when you get to post the answers, I'm just glad you take time to do these. 👍

Kai was giving a drum clinic at this Drummers' Association of Finland meeting. It's all in Suomi but you can hear him play How's The Heart (44:50), Harvest (58:00), Noise (1:19:40) and Tribal (1:52:35). It's awesome watching him work the drums!

I think Barry was thoroughly impressed! 😁 It's Me Barry - Ghost Love Score https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lsfZrHODZc But considering he's a "professional singer" there's very little technical commentary though. 🤔

This is intriguing and possibly of interest: https://www.matchxrhelsinki.com/ Match XR is the biggest annual XR event in the Nordics. In November 2021, it will bring the AR/VR community together for the 5th time. Held over two days in the virtual VR Pavilion Finland, the event will be streamed into AltspaceVR and on YouTube. Wednesday the 17th > Day 1 16:00 – 16:30 Making of “Nightwish – A night in a virtual world” Presentation and 10-minute Q&A by Laura Olin COO and Partner at ZOAN Edit: jump to 6:18:00

I'm late again! Not cheating though, I promise!

A few recordings from Floor guest singing at Henk Poort's shows in Amsterdam (from the 2021-11-10 gig). Vilja Lied - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUR1BwCJ1VY Dangerous Game - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nWaExgSjOE Phantom Of The Opera - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhF-wVOeGM4 Great performance of the Phantom, once again! 😲 Floor mentioned on her YouTube channel that she is recording a demo for her upcoming solo album. Also, she is still working on a proper fan club, no word on the platform though (Patreon? a custom website?).

A new single, and the album was released yesterday. It's not my cup of tea, but Johanna signs for a bit at 2:40.

Lots of news this week while I was super busy at work, with the biggest being the unfortunate postponement of the two sold-out Amsterdam shows, which is a major disappointment and a huge setback for the tour. 😔 That said, we're 24 hours away from the first show of this shortened European tour, in Oslo. I don't know if there have been more rehearsals during the forced break, but I expect identical setlists to the Finnish shows.