Making Of New Album - Episode 9:Mixing And Mastering

29.12.2014.

     It's time for the release the ninth album trailer! In this episode mixing engineer Mikko Karmila, as well as mastering engineer Mika Jussila give an insight into their work on »Endless Forms Most Beautiful«. 

     Tuomas commented: “I guess mixing an album can be compared to editing a movie. We have to arrange the clips into a dramatic arc and find a good balance.” 

Endless Forms Most Beautiful - Comes To Life!

22.12.2014.

     Nightwish wishes you a MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!
And to make this special time of year even more magical they have some amazing news to share with you!

     On March 27th (EU), 30th (UK) and 31st (US), the long expected new studio album will be released!!! And the title is:

Endless Forms Most Beautiful

     Hope you have a wonderful, heartwarming and loving Yuletide and that these last days of 2014 are lived in peace and happiness. Can't wait to share this new album with you 2015! As the Fins say: Onnelista Uutta Vuotta!!!

     Before the end of this message and close computer for a little while they like to share some more information about 'Endless Forms Most Beautiful':

     "There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.”
- Charles Darwin, »The Origin Of Species«

     “This classic quote is where it all began. We set sail for the ultimate journey in March 2015, join us!”, adds Tuomas Holopainen secretly.

     The detailed cover-artwork was created by longtime collaborator Toxic Angel. 
»Endless Forms Most Beautiful« features eleven new songs and will be released in different formats:

Standard CD 
Digibook (incl. instrumental CD)
2LP (vinyl in gatefold) in different colours 
Earbook (incl. instrumental and orchestral CD)
Earbook (deluxe version incl. bonus vinyl)
Download

     »Endless Forms Most Beautiful« will be the first NIGHTWISH studio album to feature Dutch vocalist Floor Jansen. Longtime drummer Jukka Nevalainen will sit out on the recording sessions due to health issues; Kai Hahto (WINTERSUN a.o.) will replace him.

The Mix Of New Album Is Finished

16.12.2014. 

     The mix of our new album is finished! These hard working guys are ready for a deserved Christmas break after mixing every note on this challenging epos! Give it up for Tuomas, Mikko Karmilla and Tero Kinnunen!!!

Élan - First Single Announced!!!

8.12.2014.

EXCITING NEWS!

     Nightwish announce the release of their first single called Élan, which will be out on February 13, 2015 via Nuclear Blast!

     “Oh, while I live to be the ruler of life, Not a slave
To meet life as a powerful conqueror, and nothing exterior to me will ever take command of me.”
- Walt Whitman

     Commented NIGHTWISH keyboardist and songwriter Tuomas Holopainen: “This beautiful quote from my hero Uncle Walt was the starting point for writing 'Élan'. The underlying theme of the song is nothing less than the meaning of life, which can be something different for all of us. It´s important to surrender yourself to the occasional 'free fall' and not to fear the path less travelled by. 'Élan' is a wonderful teaser for the full-length album, giving out a little taste, but revealing very little of the actual Journey of Grandeur to come…”

‘Élan’ tracklisting:

CD:
1. Élan (Album Version)
2. Élan (Radio Edit)
3. Élan (Alternate Version)
4. Sagan (Non-album Bonus Track)

Making Of New Album - Episode 8:London

5.12.2014.

     In this episode the band is visiting the rainy city of London to record the choir, orchestral parts and percussions for their new album at Angel Studios.

     Commented NIGHTWISH keyboard player and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen: "This must be the sixth or seventh time we’re working with these people. We’ve realized what they can do during these years. So it’s really not a surprise anymore but it hasn’t ceased to amaze me. The level of professionalism is just unbelievable. But even more importantly, they clearly like what they’re doing. The guys we’ve worked with for over 10 years are still up for it."

     Added session-drummer Kai Hahto: "The professionalism is amazing. We were recording ethnic percussion yesterday. Some of the guys had played on Star Wars movies – and done Hans Zimmer soundtracks. I thought of myself as a humppa drummer. It was pretty amazing. They know their prima vista. You give them the notation, and they’ll nail it in no time."

Making Of New Album - Episode 7:Almost There

12.11.2014.

     Get ready for the release of our seventh album trailer. In this episode we recap the summer and recording main parts of the new album at our summer camp.

     Commented keyboard player and main songwriter Tuomas Holopainen: "We are actually ahead of our schedule. Incredibly, Floor has sung about two songs a day. Marco cut the final bass parts in 1.5 days and Emppudid the rhythm guitars in a week. I think it was because everything was so well-rehearsed this time. We’ve tried to work more like a band."

     Added vocalist Floor Jansen: "Tuomas challenged me, using everything I have to offer. High, low, soft, whatever, but definitely lower stuff and very soft and intimate things. Something that more by coincidence was something that I kind of missed doing. Something I haven’t explored much and Tuomas wrote parts where I have to use this completely, where I have to go into it entirely. I’m very happy with what came out there."

Mixing Has Begun

29.10.2014.

     THE MIXING OF THE ALBUM HAS BEGUN. 
TWO DOWN, 10 TO GO !

Making Of New Album - Episode 6:New Hometown

24.10.2014.

     Today we put up the sixth album trailer. In the new episode vocalist Floor Jansen describes her first impressions after moving from the Netherlands to the east of Finland. Find out what her thoughts on sauna, salmiakki, the new language and her new fellow men are.

Richard Dawkins As Special Guest On Upcoming Album!

15.10.2014.

     " A FINE DAY IN OXFORD RECORDING PROFESSOR RICHARD DAWKINS FOR THE UPCOMING ALBUM "

Choirs Recording

14.10.2014.

     More cherries on the pie! More magical arrangements played by fantastic talents or sang by the most amazing voices!!! On the first picture you the our Kaitsu with the percussionists and in picture two you see them in action. The third pictures shows us with the kids who's voices will give you the best goosebumps in the world  And in picture 4 you see the adult version of goosebump voices, the Metro Voices. In the 5th and last picture you see a happy and proud Tuomas and Floor with solo violin and fiddle player Dermot Crehan.

Orchestra Recording

8.10.2014.

     The icing on the cake! Recording the orchestra in the Angel Studio's with Pip Williams in London.

     Floor Jansen about this experience: "this was the first time I witnessed the recording of an orchestra and it was so enchanting! I was stunned by the professionalism of the players, the conductor, the studio engineers and by the amazing arrangements Pip made again. To hear it all come together is amazing, goosebumps all the way through!!!" - at Angel Studios.

Making Of New Album - Episode 5:More Campers

1.10.2014.

     Commented Troy Donockley upon his arrival at the NIGHTWISH Summer Camp in July, the hottest time of summer (Uilleann pipes, low whistles, vocals): "It’s hard to describe, the peace, the stillness, the geology, the biology of the place. And a strange insect on your hand. I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s a wondrous place."

      Added vocalist Floor Jansen: "I am very sensitive about environment. Don’t put me in the middle of a city and maybe super shiny, fantastic studio and keep me inspired for weeks. But a place like this does. I love nature and I love calm. We can work for hours and then you can relax."

Troy's Work Done

30.9.2014.

     Troy was the last band member to record in our wonderful camp before ending it last weekend. He will continue later on in Helsinki but a part of his recordings are done and he sends you these words and this picture: "And now, the new Nightwish album has some weird and wonderful 'fanfret Cumbrian Bouzouki' in its Forcefield. Here's the photographic evidence...."

End Of Summer Camp

28.9.2014.

     We packed up the summer camp….and we feel the blues of saying goodbye to this beautiful place we called 'home' for the last three month! But onwards to the last recordings, the mix, the master….onwards to 2015!!! 

Vocals Are Recorded!

26.09.2014.

     VOX done! Marco and Floor finished their vocal recording!!! We're getting closer to the end of these magical recording sessions…

     But this milestone in its process was celebrated with as much joy as the recording itself!

Making Of New Album - Episode 4:The Beginning Of The Nightwish Summer Camp

11.9.2014.

     NIGHTWISH are currently working on their new album with producer Tero "TeeCee" Kinnunen. The yet-untitled creation will be the first NIGHTWISH studio-record to feature Dutch vocalist Floor Jansen. Longtime drummer Jukka Nevalainen will sit out on the recording sessions due to health issues; Kai Hahto (WINTERSUN u.a.) will replace him. It’s set for a release in spring 2015 via Nuclear Blast.

     Commented drummer Jukka Nevalainen on the first actual band rehearsal: "You have to remember that the last time we played together was about 11 months ago. It’s been quite a while. So, all things considered out initial stabs were pretty OK."

     Added guitarist Emppu Vuorinen: "You start to get into the songs when you rehearse them. We played a heavier tune, and it did get me moshing a bit. I don’t know if it has something to do with age – but the need to show off has diminished even more. It’s more like you want to do justice to the song and not strut your stuff."

Rhythm And Lead Guitars Are Now Recorded!

6.9.2014.

     The recording of the album is going great!!! Today we can announce that all rhythm- and lead guitars are now recorded! Missing just a couple of solos, to be recorded after the vocals (hard to shred with that mutant right hand, anyway…). Truly fantastic job, Emppu!
On to keyboards and vocals next. 

Nothing goes without minor bumps (second picture)
When computers (and the engineer`s nerves…) fail…:-)

Bass Done

1.9.2014.

Marco finished the bass recordings! His words along with this picture:
" A triumphant Ace of bass after recording the last song of the album! "
Onwards again!!!

Drums Done

24.8.2014.

 

The drum recordings are done and it all sounds fantastic! Onwards!

Making Of New Album - Episode 3:Inside His Head

20.8.2014.

     The third episode of Nightwish's "Making Of" videos for the new album has been released! In this episode, we can take a peek into Tuomas' mind and learn about inspiration, the perks of getting up early, songwriting and floppy disks.

Unfortunate News From Jukka

6.8.2014.

     How to begin telling something that you wouldn't want to have to tell' although you know that the decision you made is the only (at least the only right) one you could make at the moment? I face this dilemma now, and will do my best to find the right words.

     For a number of years, I have suffered from occasional but very difficult insomnia, something that has been my unwanted companion during many of our tours, too. I’ve done my best to try to control it or at least to cope with it. Still, we don’t even really know why we need sleep, so unfortunately there’s not much information available on why some of us suffer from sleeplessness. There is no 100% cure for the problem.

     During the last month, it has become evident for me that due to my insomnia, I can’t fulfill my duties as a musician in the way that I’d want and with the precision that the music deserves. Thus I have decided to step aside from my duties as the drummer of Nightwish during the recording of the forthcoming album and the subsequent tour. I will still be involved in managing the day-to-day affairs of the band, but the dearest and the most important thing, playing, is, for the time being, not possible. Time will tell what the future holds.

     On a personal level, my decision obviously feels indescribably sad. Fortunately, looking at it with some distance, it is "just" part of the constant, inevitable ebb and flow of life. The sad things are part of it as well as the beautiful, unforgettable experiences and adventures that I’ve already had the pleasure to experience in spades. Surely, there will still be many adventures ahead, too.

     My good friend Kai Hahto will play drums on the forthcoming album. I'm extremely grateful that he didn’t hesitate for a minute when he decided to help us in this challenging situation. What comes to touring, everything is still open, but we will let you know as soon possible what the line-up will be.

     If beginning this was hard, so is ending it. So maybe I will just quote something fitting.

     “You can only lose something that you have, but you cannot losesomething that you are."

- Eckhart Tolle

     Best regards, Jukka Nevalainen / Nightwish

Making Of New Album - Episode 2:By The Lake

30. July 2014.

     In this second "making-of" episode, NIGHTWISH give an insight on the demo recordings of the songs, all done "by the lake".

     Commented keyboardist and main composer Tuomas Holopainen: "This is the third time we’ve opted to demo the songs in the wilderness. It’s proven to be a very effective arrangement."

     Added bass player and vocalist Marco Hietala: "There’s stuff that sounds excellent already and stuff that clearly needs some work still. We have such a strong belief in the end result that we know if will work like alchemy: Scheiße will turn to gold."

Making Of New Album - Episode 1:The Cabin

9. July 2014.

     Sit back and fasten your fairytale seatbelts, as of today NIGHTWISH reveal a first glimpse into their new album. The yet-untitled creation will be the first Nightwish studio-record to feature Dutch vocalist Floor Jansen. It’s set for a release in spring 2015 via Nuclear Blast.

     Enjoy the ride, as Nightwish take you on a trip to where the magic happens: Settled right in the middle of the beautiful wintery landscape of Eno, Finland, band members and sound staff gather round the long table of "the Cabin" to discuss every aspect, relevant for the making of Nightwish album #8. So far the bands’ mastermind, keyboardist and visionary composer Tuomas Holopainen and sound engineer Tero "TeeCee" Kinnunen recorded demo version of 12 songs.

     Commented Tuomas Holopainen: "From the moment I start writing the song, I have the story in my head. I have a really clear vision how the songs should sound like at this point. Of course they will chance after band rehearsals and arranging. And they should change!"

NW summer camp has begun!

7. July 2014.

     Nightwish started their summer camp - that is the first to appear in the eighth studio album of hard training and recording - the crystal, finely rural setting. To the rear have been the first successful dates. - We already got to thinking that needs a future raphite the key of whether or repeat playing each band member just what they want, laugh bassist, vocalist Marco Hietala. - Well, seriously speaking: we have really got to practice for three new songs right on track . We are, therefore, already at this stage handsomely ahead of schedule! At the moment, the camp site, are the band members of the Finnish Tuomas Holopainen, Marco Hietala, Jukka Nevalainen and Emppu Vuorinen. Joensuu just changed the singer Floor Jansen and the British multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley arrive Kitee within a couple of weeks. - We are, I hope, have received the new songs so far so good a design that they can carry their expected flavor quite the finished table! And what is the forthcoming album working title ?

Demo Update

14. May 2014.

     A big hello from Hattula, Finland. Tero ("TeeCee" Kinnunen) and I have been here for the past 2,5 weeks recording a demo of the new Nightwish songs. It has come together beautifully and we now have a total of 12 songs to work with. We are all very eager to finally get together and start the rehearsals in July. If everything goes as scheduled, we should have the ready album in our hands by the end of January 2015. It's still too early to analyze the material more closely, but the album will once again explore all the ends of the spectrum, bringing the very best out of the newcomers Floor and Troy. And stealthily the album ended up having a theme running through it. Excited beyond words now! Best wishes to you all, Tuomas.