(Ear Music)
Total Time: 51:16
TARJA Worldwide the most recognized female voice in the Symphonic Metal scene. The metal soprano singer has made a brilliant career on NIGHTWISH’s side. Her talent and work has influenced, like no other, new bands and gave birth to a new idiom in the Symphonic female fronted Metal. Since 2006 TARJA TURUNEN has been asked to walk the path of glory and fame again, on her own this time. Since then, she has released a total of seven works, equal in number, with her “rival” awe, NIGHTWISH.
From one release to another, it was expected to adopt her own style, mainly thanks to her unique ethereal voice. Musically, TARJA effortlessly interprets “personal” melodic Symphonic Progressive Metal stories.
Starting with “Dead Promises”, which is a duet with SOILWORK’s Bjorn Strid and the Night Flight Orchestra (though the video doesn’t have its vocals), it is raising the song to stone-like heights. Listening to the record so far and reaching the third track “Tears In Rain” which is the album’s hit, I found that her personal work is more likeable than NIGHTWISH’s, because it is more direct, with better heavy tunes and it is relatively stripped of “loaded” pompous compositions.
The Finnish soprano with the theatricality of her voice on “The Railroads” track, travels you to a world taken from an alternative script of “Alice in Wonderland” by Tim Burton. In addition, songs like “You And I” till “Silent Masquerade” with the intense accompaniment of the piano (played by KAMELOT’s Tommy Karevik), create images of comfortable sofas, lit fireplaces, heavy winter and generally “cozy” situations as well as music for emotional or platonic lovers.
In short, I would say that “In The Raw” is a release that takes itself seriously with restrained interpretations, pure instrumental production rather than crystalline and plastic with the risk of becoming “cheesy”. What I’ll say might be brazen, but it reminiscent of GATHERING’s latest prog-psychedelic work. After all, this “savage” energy is missing once again, fact that we might all need to see in TARJA’s face and voice! As a result, the album is mellow but calm. Fans of TARJA’s music will be absolutely delighted, the others might move on and me, standing in one corner alone, I’ll regret not having seen her this summer playing live in Chania’s Rock Festival…
Rating: 6,5
Nikos Mathiopoulos
Related Link: TARJA TURUNEN – Official Page
