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© 2006 - present, Sabrina

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Like a movie without pictures

The new Nightwish album Dark Passion Play is ready. Tuomas Holopainen is waiting for the album to go on sale and especially the moment when the band gets on stage.

Nightwish songwriter and keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen is waiting for the release date of the new album with at least same amount of interest as the band's most enthusiastic fans. Time runs slow when you are waiting for something.

The varied new album with its celtic influences, big background orchestras and vast choirs is like a movie without pictures. You can still hear the old Nightwish on the album. It hasn't gone anywhere. It's still the basis for the new album.

- Come release date, come. The fuss around the album is absolutely huge at the moment, says Tuomas Holopainen about a month before the release date.

The album is now completely finished. On sale it goes in the end of September. The final mix where the vocals of the new singer Anette olzon were lifted a bit was done before midsummer.

- The instruments were left a bit too strong compared to the vocals in the first mix, tells Holopainen.

Like so often in the recording business nowadays songs from the new album leaked to the internet despite all the precautions.

- It's of course a shame when albums get leaked but we are not going to release the album earlier because of this. Besides this new, better mix hasn't leaked, tells Holopainen.

The fear of stoning every time

Dark Passion Play is the most expensive Finnish rockalbum ever. The album, which was recorded in London in the famous Abbey Road studios, cost about half a million euros.

About 150 people participated in making of the album. There are 66 musicians in the orchestra. Altogether there are 120 visiting musicians plus the technical staff.

- Listing the names took four pages of the booklet, says Holopainen.

Holopainen's own favorites from the album are the massive The Poet and the Pendulum and meadows of Heaven.

- At least at the moment I think that they are among the best on the album.

Despite the change of vocalist the waiting for the new album and the coming gigs has been the same as before.

- I don't have any stress nor am I panicking.

Except...

- Always after a new album I have this feeling. I'm wondering if we are going to get stones thrown at us while on stage. The feeling is the same every time we move to a new albumera although the band invests more and more in every new album.

- Everyone in the band is very self-critical, ambitious and perfectionist. Sense of style is what unites us. We aren't necessarily world's most talented musicians but that sense of style shines through our playing, says Holopainen.

"I'm nervous for Anette"

A week ago Nightwish started rehearsing in Emppu Vuorinen's studio in Kerava for the coming tour. Urge to get on stage is huge.

- I'm happy that I could keep my live condition up with Kotiteollisuus.

Playing live is exciting but to some extent Holopainen experiences also frightening feelings especially before the first gigs. Holopainen predicts that the first gigs of the tour are going to be a tough experience for the whole band.

- The audience is going to be full of people who are going to watch Anette carefully. They are going to judge the way she sings the old songs, take a look at the socks she's wearing and notice every move she makes on stage.

- I have to admit that I'm nervous about the reaction between Anette and the audience. I hope they won't pull the carpet out from under her feet straight away. I hope for understanding and politeness towards the new vocalist. If tomatoes come flying to the stage they can be directed towards the drummer. Jukka (Nevalainen) is vegetarian, Tuomas Holopainen says and laughs.

Anette is studying Finnish

At least the band's Scandinavian gigs have evoked a lot of interest. However, the tour starts from the USA in October. Holopainen has high expectations for the gigs in the US.

- At least there's potential in that country. Anything can happen in there. We might come rumbling down or then we might rise to the big league. We are going to go there open-mindedly.

- In every case there seems to be pulse in there. The record company in there is very excited. Their goal is to get gold for this album.

Nightwish is on a tough three-week training period and they are preparing mentally for the coming tour.

- Anette has been training like crazy for months, especially our old songs, says Holopainen.

The band is going to perform many of its old songs although Anette has replaced the former singer Tarja Turunen. The band has rehearsed 17 songs for the tour, seven of which are from the new album.

- Phantom of the Opera is likely to be left out of the setlist. It doesn't really suit Anette and it is so profiled to Tarja. Almost all the other songs are possible. Anette can even sing Kuolema tekee taiteilijan.

- It's a song we won't take into our setlist straight away although it would be quite nice to perform it at some point.

Meadows of Heaven, last song of the album and Holopainen's favorite, won't be heard on gigs either.

- No, unless we get to perform with the gospel choir that sings on the album.

Anette Olzon is studying Finnish with enthusiasm. She has gotten herself different language courses to help her with her studies.

- Anette speaks Finnish quite good already and understands the language. You can't say anything behind her back anymore. She understands everything.

Holopainen hasn't spent all his summer doing music related things. He had a two week holiday which he spent in Kitee in his new house and in his summer cottage.

- It was magnificent. I could charge my batteries. I furnished my home and went swimming in warm, 22 degree water, tells Tuomas Holopainen.