TARJA TURUNEN – Frisson Noir – review – symphonic metal

TARJA TURUNEN – Frisson Noir – review
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Shocking really. This is only the sixth rock album from Tarja, in 19 years. Yes, there’s the classical albums, and the live albums, and the Christmas albums, and the re-released live albums, and the Christmas compendiums, and the best of, but it’s been seven years since the last proper record.

Word on the street (for the street talks of little else) is that this is the heaviest Tarja album to date. Is it? Early days but I still reckon “In The Raw” edges it, heavywise. But it is heavy. I always enjoy it when artists get darker and heavier as time goes on. Defying the natural order of things.

I’ve got the vinyl version and I do have to mention how magnificent the design work is. Spectacular. But, to the music. Well, it’s chock full of special guests. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. Here, probably the former. So look out for Marko Hietala, Dani Filth, Niklas Pokki, Mervi Myllyoja, Sayo Komada, Apocalyptica, Julián Bedmar, Valter Freitas, and Chad Smith. The latter, resurrected from 2016, means I’ve, yet again, broken my life long vow never to have anything RHCP in the house.

Obviously, I was looking forward to the Marko track the most. But unlike his ‘Life On Mars’, this one felt a little flat. But it’s one of the few songs that does, as there are some magnificent tunes on offer here. Some folks having been giving ‘At Sea’ some high praise. But they’re wrong. It’s utterly magnificent. You can’t praise this prog metal hybrid enough. Might be the best Tarja song. Can’t confirm so early in the game. But could be. I mean, listen to that piano. Glorious.

Much to my surprise, given my antipathy towards him, the Dani Filth collab (see, kids, I know what it is), ‘I Don’t Care’ is extremely enjoyable and, along with the cello / flamenco guitar enhanced ‘Anemoia’, definitely one of the album highlights. And if you really, really want heavy, then take a listen to ‘Blaze Forever’. That’s metal, that is. Shame the record ends with ‘Against The Odds’, a song resurrected from 2016, and one that should have stayed there. But I know how to lift the arm from the record player.

Was it worth the wait? Dinna be a daftie. No record’s worth that kind of wait. Is it the best Tarja album? It’s up there and, given time, might be the best. It’s certainly full of excellent arrangements, superior songs, and even if Tarja has dropped her range slightly, there is no doubting she is one of the finest singers to grace our presence.

You can buy it in many, many formats, from many, many places, including the Evil Empire.