NIGHTWISH To Begin Recording New Album In October

Keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen of Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH has issued the following update:

"Almost exactly four years ago we gathered into an idyllic place in the small village of Sävi to rehearse and arrange what would later be called 'Dark Passion Play'. It was such glorious and inspiring times that we decided to do something similar with the upcoming NIGHTWISH album called ...........

"So again we are here in the deepest countryside of Finland beginning to create a follower for 'Dark Passion Play'. It's just us guys for now; Anette [Olzon, vocals] will join the camp a bit later.

"We arrived yesterday and the reunion was celebrated with some water-skiing, bbq and Quilmes. I foresee the same trinity taking place more or less on a daily basis.

"We just got the equipment and PA set up with the help of our legendary engineer/co-producer TeeCee Kinnunen and probably will start working with the songs in a couple of days.

"This campsite is so amazing we'll let that sauna of a rehearsal room wait in silence for a while, and just concentrate on chilling out and catching up. And raising the official NIGHTWISH camp flag high into the pole.

"I have 12 songs completed now, but am still working with some lyrics.

"It's been an immensely fruitful songwriting process, as well as very consuming and ponderous. But I feel more satisfied with the stuff than ever before. Don't know if it's a good sign or bad.

"To me, the album sounds like a rollercoaster ride in a theme park designed by Neil Gaiman, Tim Burton and Salvador Dali. That's the best way I can put it at this point.

"Like before, we will record a demo once the songs are arranged, to listen to and to perfect the material, and to give to Mr. Pip Williams so he can start with the orchestration process.

"The actual enter-the-studio-date is set for October 15th. Again, the London orchestra and choir will be there, as well as Mr. Troy Donockley playing a slightly bigger part this time. And loads of new elements 'n' twists we haven't tried before!"

Check out the first pictures from NIGHTWISH's 2010 summer camp at this location.

NIGHTWISH manager Ewo Pohjola of King Foo Entertainment Ltd told Finland's MTV3 that singer Anette Olzon's surprise revelation that she is expecting her second child (with rumored boyfriend, bassist Johan Husgafvel of the Swedish metal band PAIN) will not affect the band's plan to begin recording its new studio album.

In an interview with the Finnish web site Rytmi.com, Olzon stated about NIGHTWISH's current recording plans, "I do have to go as soon as possible to Finland for rehearsals with the [NIGHTWISH] boys after I have delivered my child and then we'll stay there for a couple of weeks working with the new songs. After that the album will start to be recorded but since we always record all the instruments, orchestra and choirs before I go in and do my vocals, I don't have any big pressure to do anything in the fall. I will, of course, go and visit the recordings when it feels OK to do so, but otherwise my recordings aren't gonna be happening until 2011."

Regarding how she will handle touring with NIGHTWISH while tending to a newborn child at home, Olzon said, "It will work out just fine.

"We have all decided that the last world tour was to intense in the planning and we will take it a bit easier this time. Planning is everything, and I have a great father to my baby who will take care of her/him when the day comes and I also have a nanny who can come with me if that is needed at some points.

"I don't stress over these things 'cause I know everything is gonna be just fine.

"The last tour was so hard and still it worked out with my son being at home."

NIGHTWISH played a special homecoming show in September 2009 at the sold-out, 11,000-capacity Hartwall Arena in Helsinki to mark the end of the band's colossal "Dark Passion Play" two-year world tour.

NIGHTWISH is not expected to play any more shows until the release of the band's next studio album.