Label: earMUSIC Genre: Heavy Metal Release Date: June 12th, 2026
Line Up: Vocals & Piano: Tarja Turunen Guitars: Alex Scholpp, Julian Barrett, Roland Boeffgen Bass: Doug Wimbish, Kevin Chown, Pit Barrett Drums & Percussion: Fernando Scarcella, Alex Menichini Keyboards & Programming: Christian Sasmi-Kretschmar, Bart Hendrickson, Guillermo De Medio, Jim Dooley
Symphonic & Choral Personnel Orchestra: Budapest Art Orchestra Choir: Budapest Art Choir Conductor: Gyorgy Gulyas Nagy Orchestrations & Music Preparation:
Tracklist: “Frisson Noir” “The Eternal Return” “Leap Of Faith (Feat. Marko Hietala) “At Sea” (Feat. Mervi Myllyoja + Niklas Pokki) “Blaze Forever” “The Trace Outlives” (Feat. Sayo Komada) “Tango” (Feat. Apocalyptica) “Anemoia” (Feat. Julián Bedmar + Valter Freitas) “I Don’t Care” (Feat. Dani Filth) “Against The Odds” (Feat. Chad Smith)
Take note of that genre tag. The Queen of symphonic metal is back, and this time she’s reached deep into the metal arsenal to deliver something with more force than prime Mike Tyson. Make no mistake, the symphonic elements remain, and Tarja’s voice is as commanding as it’s ever been. Her band — the unit she’s placed so much faith in — have once again built their performances around the central pillars of her sound, but this time around they’ve gone straight for the throat.
What you get are sprawling ten-minute compositions sitting alongside tighter, harder-hitting metal tracks, some of which feature the most unlikely guest appearances. The end product is a record that shatters expectations and stands as one of the finest solo releases Tarja Turunen has put her name to.
As we’ve explored previously, Tarja has ventured into classical, electronic and rock territory in recent years. ‘Frisson Noir,’ which translates to ‘Dark Shiver,’ captures that involuntary physical response you get when music truly connects — that rush of passion that stops you in your tracks. Any dedicated music fan knows the feeling with the artists they love, and the same holds true for the performers themselves. That’s the experience Tarja set out to deliver here, and she nails it.
The lead single is ‘At Sea,’ a bold ten-minute epic that the label took a gamble on releasing. It covers every facet of what this album represents and might be the single best summary of the record as a whole. For those who need their symphonic fix, it also features the Budapest Art Orchestra and Choir.
Beyond that, the passion and the shivers come from some inspired guest choices. Want heavy? Dani Filth steps up to the plate. Fancy some heavy cello work? Apocalyptica are in the mix. And before you laugh at the idea of heavy cello, go and listen to those guys tearing through Metallica’s catalogue — then we’ll talk. Need more firepower behind the kit? Chad Smith handles that. All outstanding additions, every one of them. But the guest spot everyone’s been waiting for is Marko Hietala, returning the favour after Tarja appeared on his album. On ‘Leap of Faith,’ the two deliver a performance that leaves you imagining what a full collaborative record between them might sound like.
This is, in my view, Tarja returning to what she does best. Her band are firing on all cylinders, and the guest appearances are the icing on what was already a very impressive cake. And then there’s Marko… Living the dream!
