Finnish / Dutch / British symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH have finished recording the vocals for their new album, due in the spring of 2015 via Nuclear Blast. The CD is the first to feature Dutch vocalist Floor Jansen following the abrupt departure of the band's lead singer of five years, Anette Olzon.

Says the band: "We're getting closer to the end of these magical recording sessions…
But this milestone in its process was celebrated with as much joy as the recording itself!"

As previously reported, longtime NIGHTWISH drummer Jukka Nevalainen is sitting out the recording sessions for the group's new CD due to health issues; Kai Hahto (WINTERSUN, SWALLOW THE SUN, TREES OF ETERNITY) has replaced him.

Asked in an interview with Sweden's Metalshrine what Floor Jansen will bring to the next NIGHTWISH album, keyboardist and main composer Tuomas Holopainen> said: "She [will] bring a lot of interpretations, some arrangements and positive energy for sure, but she [will] not [be] included in the songwriting process. She told me that the first time around, she has [her side project] REVAMP and Marco [Hietala, bass/vocals] and I will do just fine for now."

Speaking to Germany's EMP Rock Invasion at the end of last year, Floor stated about the songwriting process for the next NIGHTWISH album: "I think it's more like it's always been. So Tuomas is gonna start writing. And how it's gonna evolve later on, we'll see. But I don't feel the necessity of me being an active songwriting member, because the music is so good. It's about the songs and the music that goes first and not about my ego wanting to join like that. But if I can participate or add something with my creative input, of course I would love that. Of course, I have creative energy in me that needs to come out one way or another, but that's where REVAMP comes in."

Regarding whether she has any fears that, due to the band's troubled history with lead vocalists, her time with NIGHTWISH will not last very long, Floor told Finland's Radio Rock: "No. And whether this is in NIGHTWISH or in anything with anyone in everyone's lives, what guarantees do you have? So it's just about what you make of it and with the chemistry that you believe in. And I believe in the chemistry that we have today, 'cause it's been very strong since the beginning and grew to be better throughout the months. It's still a very recent thing. But what feels good now, that's where you should go from, and that's what I do."

Finnish / Dutch / British symphonic metallers NIGHTWISH will release a new single, "Élan", on February 13, 2015 via Nuclear Blast. The track is taken from the band's upcoming album, which is due in the spring.

Commented NIGHTWISH keyboardist and songwriter Tuomas Holopainen: "'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.' This beautiful quote from my hero Uncle Walt [Walt Whitman] 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" track listing:

CD:

01. Élan (album version)
02. Élan (radio edit)
03. Élan (alternate version)
04. Sagan (non-album bonus track)

Vinyl:

Side A:

01. Élan (album version)
02. Élan (radio edit)

Side B

01. Élan (alternate version)
02. Sagan (non-album bonus track)

Right before the peaceful days of Christmas, Finland-based symphonic metal members of NIGHTWISH want to share some important news with everyone. On March 27th (EU), 30th (UK)
and 31st (US), the long expected new studio album will be released,
entitled »Endless Forms Most Beautiful«.

"There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers,
having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that,
whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of
gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and
most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.”
- Charles Darwin, »The Origin Of Species«

“This classic quote is where it all began. We set sail for the ultimate
journey in March 2015, join us!”, adds Tuomas Holopainen secretly.
The detailed cover-artwork 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)
Download
Pre-order your copy here: http://smarturl.it/NIGHTWISH-Endless

CD 5 (remix)

01. Shudder Before The Beautiful (feat Daft Punk)
02. Weak Fantasy (DJ tranxene goah remix)
03. Élan (single version)
04. Yours Is An Empty Hope (Robert Miles remix)
05. Our Decades In the Sun (special guest: Maitre Gims)
06. Endless Forms Most Beautiful (Bontempi re-orchestration)
07. Alpenglow (feat La fouine)
08. The Eyes Of Sharbat Gula (Bollywood variation)
09. The Greatest Show On Earth (David Guetta remix)