Finland-based symphonic metal act Nightwish have released Episode #9 in a series of making-of clips for their upcoming new studio album, entitled Endless Forms Most Beautiful, and out on March 27th (Europe), 30th (UK) and 31st (North America).

In this episode, mixing engineer Mikko Karmila, as well as mastering engineer Mika Jussila, give an insight into their work on Endless Forms Most Beautiful.

Tuomas Holopainen commented: “I guess mixing an album can be compared to editing a movie. We have to arrange the clips into a dramatic arc and find a good balance.”

The detailed cover-artwork for Endless Forms Most Beautiful was created by longtime collaborator Toxic Angel. Endless Forms Most Beautiful features eleven new songs and will be released in different formats.

 

 

Standard CD

Digibook (incl. instrumental CD)

2LP (vinyl in gatefold) in different colours

Earbook (incl. instrumental and orchestral CD)

Earbook (deluxe version incl. bonus vinyl)

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The first single from Endless Forms Most Beautiful is called “Élan” and it will be released on February 13th via Nuclear Blast.

 

 

Walt Whitman - “Oh, while I live to be the ruler of life, Not a slave. To meet life as a powerful conqueror, and nothing exterior to me will ever take command of me.”

Commented keyboardist and songwriter Tuomas Holopainen: “This beautiful quote from my hero Uncle Walt was the starting point for writing 'Élan'. The underlying theme of the song is nothing less than the meaning of life, which can be something different for all of us. It´s important to surrender yourself to the occasional 'free fall' and not to fear the path less travelled by. 'Élan'  is a wonderful teaser for the full-length album, giving out a little taste, but revealing very little of the actual Journey of Grandeur to come…”

“Élan” tracklisting:

CD:

“Élan” (album version)

“Élan” (radio edit)

“Élan” (alternate version)

“Sagan” (non-album bonus track)

Vinyl:

Side A:

“Élan” (album version)

“Élan” (radio edit)

Side B

“Élan” (alternate version)

“Sagan” (non-album bonus track)

Endless Forms Most Beautiful will be the first Nightwish studio album to feature Dutch vocalist Floor Jansen. Longtime drummer Jukka Nevalainen will sit out on the recording sessions due to health issues; Kai Hahto (Wintersun a.o.) will replace him. Nightwish also revealed the famed evolutionary biologist and writer, Professor Richard Dawkins as a guest on this eighth studio album.

 

 

Nightwish continue to roll out live dates for 2015. For their complete itinerary visit Nightwish.com.