Today, NIGHTWISH finalized the mixing and mastering of their upcoming tenth studio album, slated for a potential release in late 2024
In a recent social media post, the band shared a snapshot featuring Tuomas Holopainen, the keyboardist and primary songwriter, alongside sound engineer Tero Kinnunen, mixing engineer Mikko Karmila, and mastering engineer Mika Jussila, marking the completion of this significant milestone.
The post reads: “Our 10th album is now mixed and mastered. Thank you Tero, Mikko & Mika for more than 25 years of shared adventures, music & friendship. We made it again!”
NIGHTWISH drummer Kai Hahto recently said the band’s upcoming studio album is a “heavier” one with “new elements”.
Speaking with Laureline Tilkin of Tuonela Magazine, Hahto discussed the band’s forthcoming follow-up to 2020’s “Human. :II: Nature.” album, saying: “At least it’s not gonna be the same as ‘Human. :II: Nature.’, so… Probably, let’s say that we go back to more heavy, heavier things on the new album, but also there’s a lot of, again, new winds to blow, so to speak. So, different new elements. But, of course, it’s still NIGHTWISH, but, of course, we brought back the big symphony orchestra again to the new upcoming tenth album. Yeah, it’s gonna be exciting. And quite challenging music to play as well.”
Asked if he is “in a way happy” that he doesn’t have to play the new NIGHTWISH songs live right now, in light of the fact that the band is taking a break from touring for the foreseeable future, Kai said: “No, no, no. Totally opposite. I would love to go and play it live. But hopefully the time will come when we go back, charging the batteries first.
“Of course, it’s nice to be home with the kids and wife and dogs, but still, of course, I’ve always been a player, so I also like to play for the people. But I believe I’m not gonna be bored. So I have a lot of things in the back of my head. Even NIGHTWISH is now taking a break. So, I’m not gonna be bored.”
Back in April 2023, NIGHTWISH announced that they were not going to be playing any live shows for the foreseeable future and would be not be touring in support of their upcoming studio album.
NIGHTWISH‘s statement read as follows: “As the ‘Human :ll: Nature – World Tour’ is drawing to a close, we feel now is the time to tell you of our plans for the next phase in our journey.
“After the planned shows for June 2023 we will be ‘hanging up our spurs’ for an indeterminate time, as far as live concert performances go, and won’t be touring the next album.
“The reasons for this decision are personal, but, we all agree, vital to the wellbeing and future of the band. Be assured that we still love working together, and this decision has nothing to do with Floor‘s pregnancy or our other individual projects.
“However, an album of 12 new songs will see bright daylight in 2024, as will 3 music videos! The band is positively hyped beyond words over this new upcoming musical adventure.”
In April 2020, NIGHTWISH released “Human. :II: Nature.,” serving as the follow-up to 2015’s “Endless Forms Most Beautiful.” This double album featured nine tracks on the main CD and one extensive piece divided into eight chapters on CD 2.
August 2022 marked the announcement of Jukka Koskinen (WINTERSUN) as an official member of NIGHTWISH. Koskinen had made his live debut with the band in May 2021 during two interactive experiences, having spent the previous year touring as a session musician.
In November 2022, vocalist Floor Jansen shared the uplifting news that she was “cancer free” following surgery to remove a tumor after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
In October of this past year, Floor Jansen and SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl celebrated the arrival of their second child, a daughter named Lucy. Their family had already been blessed with a six-year-old daughter named Freja, born on March 15, 2017.
