Former NIGHTWISH soprano Tarja Turunen has announced "Frisson Noir", described as the heaviest album of her solo career, due June 12 via earMUSIC. The album features a staggering roster of guest collaborators that spans the breadth of heavy music and beyond.
Dani Filth of CRADLE OF FILTH brings his signature vocal extremity to one track, while Finnish cello metal quartet APOCALYPTICA contribute their distinctive instrumentation to another. Perhaps most intriguingly, Marko Hietala — Turunen's former NIGHTWISH bandmate who departed the group in 2021 — reunites with her on record for the first time since their shared tenure in the band. Rounding out the guest list is RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS drummer Chad Smith, adding an unexpected rhythmic dimension to the proceedings.
The album's ten tracks were mixed by Grammy-winning producer Neal Avron, whose credits include LINKIN PARK, DISTURBED, and FALL OUT BOY. His involvement suggests a polished, radio-ready production that nonetheless retains the heaviness Turunen has promised.
The lead single "At Sea" has already been released, offering a first glimpse of the album's direction — a track that marries Turunen's operatic vocal power with dense, driving instrumentation that leans harder into metal than much of her recent output.
To support the release, Turunen has announced the "Frisson" live tour, launching September 30 in Berlin and spanning multiple European territories. The tour will give fans a chance to hear the new material alongside selections from her extensive solo catalog and, inevitably, the NIGHTWISH classics that made her a household name in symphonic metal. "Frisson Noir" looks set to be a defining statement in Turunen's post-NIGHTWISH career.