Finnish/Swedish symphonic metallers Nightwish are in "the deepest countryside of Finland" working on material for their new studio album, which they will begin to record on October 15 for a late 2011 release.
Commented keyboardist/mainman Tuomas Holopainen: "The first week is almost through and we're off to a fantastic start. Jukka [Nevalainen, drums], Emppu [Vuorine, guitar] and me have five songs rehearsed so far. Marco [Hietala, bass/vocals] joined the camp last night after a couple of festival shows he did with Tarot.
"We'll start putting the low ends into those songs later today and maybe try out tune #6.
"The first song put together ended up having one of the best choruses we've ever had and a classic Nightwish-y c-part of heavy guitars, a massive string riff and everything louder than anything and everybody playing with full force at the same time.
"Trademark stuff.
"Song # 2 is a twisted marriage of Van Halen, Pantera and madhouse vocals. And Quentin Tarantino guitars in the bridge. We weren't overly bananas over this one after the demo I made alone, but now it's finally coming alive.
"In between the distorted racket, we sat down with Emppu to complete one acoustic piece. A nice journey back to the roots! Sounds like a Moomin Valley Christmas carol.
"Then another song back to the roots. Everyone's surprise favorite at the moment. I dug up my inner Paradise Lost / My Dying Bride fanboy and this funeral march is the result.
"Music for the last song rehearsed so far is written by Marco. A wonderfully catchy track with the chorus repeated five times(!!). Must be some sort of a record for us. Nice acoustic themes and a d-part which doesn't quite still fit in.
"We'll enter The Haunted Mansion tomorrow."
Check out 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.
[Source: Blabbermouth, Nightwish]
