NIGHTWISH have checked in with an update on bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala's recent activities:

Marco appears as The Rival on the new album from AYREON titled The Theory Of Everything. The man himself says: "When Arjen (Lucassen) asked me if I was interested in doing a role on his latest Ayreon concept album, I immediately said yes. It´s great that someone still does independent prog, rock and metal albums of quality totally out of the mainstream. I have, and I´ve been listening to previous albums of Ayreon myself a lot!"

Marco has also been a long time member of RASKASTA JOULUA project in Finland. There´s plenty of other familiar faces from Finnish metal scene in the project also. They are starting their shows in Finland within two weeks. Here´s the new video, 'Tulkoon Joulu' ('Let Christmas Come'):

‘Enkelikello’ - Antti Railio (CELESTY)

‘Heinillä’ härkien kaukalon - Ville Tuomi and Kimmo Blom (STRATOVARIUS)

‘Mielenrauhaa’ Jarkko Ahola (TERÄSBETONI) and Pasi Rantanen (THUNDERSTONE)

‘Pieni Rumpali’ - JP Leppäluoto (HARMAJA, ex-NORTH KINGS, CHARON), Marco Hietala (NIGHTWISH, TAROT), Tony Kakko (SONATA ARCTICA), Jarkko Ahola (Teräsbetoni, Northern Kings)

‘Tonttu’ - JP Leppäluoto

‘Arkihuolesi Kaikki Heitä’ - Antony Parviainen (ex-MACHINE MEN)

‘Julen är här’ - Elize Ryd (AMARANTHE), Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica)

‘Sylvian Joululaulu’ (Antony Parviainen)

‘Nisse-Polkka’ - Ville Tuomi (LENINGRAD COWBOYS, ex-AMORPHIS), Ilja Jalkanen (KIUAS)

‘Valkea Joulu 2013’ - Jarkko Ahola, Pasi Rantanen (THUNDERSTONE)

‘Jouluksi Kotiin’ - Tony Kakko

‘Me Käymme Joulun Viettohon’ - Tommi Salmela (Tarot), Ilja Jalkanen

‘Varpunen Jouluaamuna’ - Marco Hietala

The ensemble will also be hitting the road in Europe starting November 15th.

For more info and tour dates visit Facebook.