NIGHTWISH drummer Kai Hahto hinted that the band may not be hitting the stage for the next couple of years
In a recent interview with Chaoszine promoting his solo concert in Helsinki on February 3, the 50-year-old Finnish musician discussed NIGHTWISH‘s touring prospects. He plans to showcase songs from various bands he has been a part of, such as NIGHTWISH, WINTERSUN, SWALLOW THE SUN, and AURI.
Asked if he plans on playing more solo shows in the future or if the Helsinki gig will be a one-off, Kai said: “I have been thinking about it, but let’s play this upcoming show first and then see if there is demand for me to play more. We will most likely be filming the show to check it out ourselves afterward to see how it went. If it [goes] well, I could play a couple more during this year.
“It would be nice, as the next NIGHTWISH album comes out later this year, to play maybe a couple of new songs from that album live as well because, at the moment, it looks like there won’t be any new NIGHTWISH shows in the next two or three years.”
In a surprising move in April 2023, NIGHTWISH declared their hiatus from live performances, revealing no plans for touring in support of their upcoming studio album, tentatively scheduled for a late 2024 release.
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 well being 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.”
The album preceding this hiatus, “Human. :II: Nature.,” saw its release in April 2020. Following the 2015 “Endless Forms Most Beautiful,” it was a double album featuring nine tracks on the main CD and a lengthy piece divided into eight chapters on CD 2.
In August 2022, NIGHTWISH welcomed Jukka Koskinen (WINTERSUN) as an official band member. Koskinen, who had been a session musician with NIGHTWISH for the previous year, made his live debut with the band in May 2021 during two interactive experiences.
Singer Floor Jansen shared positive news in November 2022, announcing her successful recovery from breast cancer after undergoing surgery to remove a tumor. In a personal update, it was revealed that Floor and SABATON drummer Hannes Van Dahl welcomed their second child, a daughter named Lucy, in October. The couple already has a six-year-old daughter named Freja, born on March 15, 2017.
NIGHTWISH is a Finnish symphonic metal band formed in Kitee, Finland, in 1996. The band was founded by keyboardist and songwriter Tuomas Holopainen, guitarist Emppu Vuorinen, and vocalist Tarja Turunen. NIGHTWISH‘s initial lineup also included bassist Sami Vänskä and drummer Jukka Nevalainen.
The band gained early recognition with their debut album, “Angels Fall First,” released in 1997. However, it was their second album, “Oceanborn” (1998), that marked a significant breakthrough for NIGHTWISH, establishing them as a prominent force in the symphonic metal genre. Tarja Turunen‘s operatic vocals, combined with Tuomas Holopainen‘s orchestral compositions, became the band’s trademark sound.
Over the years, NIGHTWISH released several successful albums, including “Wishmaster” (2000), “Century Child” (2002), and “Once” (2004). “Once” featured the hit single “Nemo,” which further propelled the band’s international success. However, in 2005, Tarja Turunen was dismissed from the band, leading to a period of transition.
Anette Olzon replaced Turunen as the lead vocalist, and the band released “Dark Passion Play” in 2007. The album marked a new era for NIGHTWISH and received positive reviews. In 2011, Anette Olzon left the band, and Floor Jansen joined as the new lead vocalist. The subsequent album, “Imaginaerum” (2011), showcased NIGHTWISH‘s continued evolution and experimentation.
Jukka Nevalainen, the original drummer, had to step back from the band in 2014 due to health issues, and Kai Hahto became the band’s permanent drummer. The album “Endless Forms Most Beautiful” (2015) featured Floor Jansen‘s first studio recordings with the band.
NIGHTWISH continued to tour extensively and released successful albums, including “Decades” (2018), a compilation celebrating their two-decade-long career. In April 2020, they released “Human. :II: Nature.,” a double album exploring themes of humanity and nature.
The band faced another significant change in 2021 when bassist Marko Hietala announced his departure, but NIGHTWISH continued with new additions to their lineup.
Despite occasional challenges and lineup changes, NIGHTWISH remains a prominent and influential force in the symphonic metal genre, known for their elaborate compositions, powerful vocals, and captivating live performances.
