Only Heavy Metal

All the drum tracks are recorded!

I usually find recording sessions stressful and just want to have them done as fast as possible, but this time it was all different. The whole session was extremely relaxed and we didn't hurry at all. We took the time to try some different approaches to some of the songs and didn't make any compromises. As one of the pictures shows, Tuomas literally whipped the very best out of me. But I'm sure he did it with love...

Songs have again a massive variety and mood changes from lunatic circus to a hazy jazz club. It was a great challenge to try to get the right touch to each of the songs, but my "humble" opinion is that we nailed it. Today we finished the session by recording witch drum to the starter of the album and by playing brushes to a classy ballad in the spirit of David Lynch. Drums were recorded to ten songs all together and it couldn't have been any better - perfect location, great guys around to work with and some excellent music to be created.

Now it's time to raise my glass and say "cheers" to the guys. It's Emppu`s turn to give his contribution to the album and I'm sure you'll hear something of him soon.

Yours,

Jukka

Emppu, guitar, huge pike and more...

Hi, gang, it’s been a while. I guess it’s my time to write about what’s going on in the studio.

The summer Rock Camp is now behind us, and we’ve been busy listening to demos. Jukka even managed to complete his drum parts for the album. Right on… There was such a nice vibe at the summer camp that this time I’m going to try a different approach to recording my stuff. Last time it was more like working nine to five, busting my ass in the studio, but this time I took the recording equipment home and will try to maintain that laid-back, jamming feeling I had during the whole summer, when we were rehearsing and demoing the songs with the guys. In a way, I guess I have succeeded -- I have now been laying down rhythm tracks for a week, and as a bonus, I caught a 5,14-kg (11.3 lb) pike !

Anyway, Tuomas and Mikko Karmila (Koo-Mikko the Comedian) were here a while ago. We messed around with the amps for a day, trying different sounds, and I’ve now completed about half of the rhythm tracks. It’s hard to say whether my job is 30% or 5% done, because if old signs hold true, the guitar parts just keep on increasing. Meaning that just when you’re about to pop open that bottle of champagne, you realize that, damn, this and that part still need something. In other words, having learnt something from previous sessions, I’ll keep the champagne on ice at least for another six months.

That’s about it for the moment. I’ll try to snap a few pics from the session at some point, so later, folks -- rock on!

Written by Emppu on November 9, 2010

The year is coming to an end and we`re all getting ready for a hell of a rollercoaster ride of 2011! This past year has been a very fruitful one, if also a mind-filling one, from writing the songs for the album to come, rehearsing them in the memorable summer camp in Röskö, recording the demo, recording the actual album (drums, guitars and basses already done), and planning the year ahead. The summer was also blessed with the births of two new members for the Nightwish family, Jukka`s daughter Lara and Anette`s son Nemo. A most unforgettably wonderful summer!

In late January 2011 we will reveal near future plans of the band and some visions to come. I hope it will make all of you as thrilled as it has made us! Like good ole` Pinhead said: "We have such sights to show you..."

I wish everybody a peaceful, magic-filled Yuletide and an inspiring year 2011!

Tuomas

Update from the studio

Emppu is nearly done with his guitar recordings, having done 4 comp tracks to all the songs plus half of all the leads. (The solos and acoustics are best left to record AFTER the orchestral and choir sessions). Marco is also finished with his bass recordings so now we basically just wait for Pip and Tuomas to get the orchestral arrangements sorted out for the London sessions in February.

It`s coming together, slowly but surely, going into such monumental and uncharted spheres that it`s hard to keep our pantyhoses on. Stay tuned!

Written by Nightwish on December 29, 2010

Studio-update from Marco

Good evening ladies and not so gentle men!

At the moment I have most of the bass tracks for the new album recorded. I started already a few weeks back, but I've been taking my time with the recordings. It's the luxury of having your own equipment and a former job as studio engineer. For now I've been taking it pretty easy for the last two weeks. The holiday season and all that goes with it, you know...

Right now I'm collecting my inner plutonium for the critical mass again. I always do that before recording something. After all we're not a pop band, and these songs need some really serious explosives. Too bad you can't hear them yet...

I just had to twist the knife here. I'm a sadist also. The songs are really good by the way...

Of course we all would like to see this project finished, released and out for all the world to hear. The success we've been blessed or cursed with is demanding in its own ways. Everything has to be planned in long term. All the parts of releasing albums, videos and tours have to match carefully when you get to this stage of things.

And so we all get fed up with the waiting. Try to be patient and we'll do our best to reward you later on.

And so we come to this: I hope you all had a nice holiday time. Also all of those people who don't really care about that stuff. It's a new year 2011. Let's make it a good one!

Always with respect!
Marco.

Written by Marco on January 5, 2011

01.02.2011 - A very precious start of the year to everybody!

In the excitement of Yuletide magic I wrote there would be secrets revealed at the end of January. There are big things happening within and around the Nightwish camp but the Big Boys and Bosses just sent me an ultimatum to keep my mouth shut for a couple more months, or I would wake up with a horse`s head in my bed.

I truly am very sorry about needing to keep future plans and sights still in secrecy. The purpose is not to annoy anybody or cause a carefully planned hype over the matter. Due to the changes in the schedule things will be revealed later during the spring.

The recordings continue, I`m off to E-Major Studios next weekend to put together all the files for the orchestral and choir sessions in London. I`m in daily contact with Mr. Pip Williams, going over the arrangements and new ideas for the songs. The demos he has sent me sound simply otherworldly! Beautiful, twisted, tribal and cinematic stuff. And with a theme album coming up, the mood changes seem to be more present than ever before.
Yup, it still is the Burton-Gaiman-Dali - amusement park we are about to enter.

More coming up once the mobsters grant me permission,

Tuomas

Con esta gente contando tol proceso del disco se me está haciendo eterna la espera