NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marco Hietala (a.k.a. Marko Hietala) has signed with Nuclear Blast for the release of the English version of his solo album, "Pyre Of The Black Heart". The effort, which was issued in Finland this past May under the title "Mustan Sydämen Rovio", will arrive on January 24. Hietala describes the style of the LP as "hard prog", but to give his fans a first impression of what the new album is going to be like, he's also revealed the first single and video, "Stones". In regards to the goal behind his solo album, Hietala comments: "Well, let's put it this way: NIGHTWISH is without any doubt my main band, and thanks to income from that direction, I don't have to be that commercially aware... What I mean is that when I was coming up with the ideas for this solo record, I was able to do simply anything without limits. So if I had a goal, it was to not have any kind of limits, but to prepare an unpredictable, spontaneous, adventurous, ferocious and intimate solo record. And now when I listen to the final album, I can say with my hand on my heart that I — or rather us — pulled it off... The record is a really diverse musical roller coaster ride that takes eager listeners into a world of strong emotions and deep feelings!" Hietala went on to honor his skillful bandmates, saying: "Even if 'Pyre Of The Black Heart' is definitely my solo album, I didn't compose everything on my own. When the songwriting process was really in full swing, I kept sending all the ideas to my long-time collaborators Tuomas Wäinölä [guitar] and Vili Ollila [keyboards], and this ingenious two-some came up with great additions and arrangements, one after another. Drummer Anssi Nykänen — who is simply a wizard behind his set — completed the lineup like no other." The track listing reads as follows: 01. Stones 02. The Voice Of My Father 03. Star, Sand And Shadow 04. Dead God's Son 05. For You 06. I Am The Way 07. Runner Of The Railways 08. Death March For Freedom 09. I Dream 10. Truth Shall Set You Free Shortly after the album release, there will be a European Marko Hietala solo tour. "Come February... We simply can't wait to get out on the road!" he says. "It will be amazing to perform these solo songs for all those multinational friends of my music. I strongly recommend coming out to see my band during this run, titled 'Tour Of The Black Heart', as this will be my first and last European solo tour in a long time — or ever!" Tour dates: Feb. 02 - DE - Hamburg - Markthalle Feb. 04 - DE - Frankfurt - Batschkapp Feb. 06 - DE - Munich - Backstage Feb. 07 - DE - Leipzig - der ANKER Feb. 08 - PL - Wroclaw - Centrum Koncertowe A2 Feb. 09 - CZ - Prague - Roxy Feb. 11 - HU - Budapest - Barba Negra Feb. 13 - DE - Stuttgart - Im Wizemann Feb. 14 - CH - Pratteln -c Z7 Feb. 16 - DE - Oberhausen - Turbinenhalle Feb. 17 - NL - Amsterdam - Melkweg Feb. 18 – FR - Paris - La Machine du Moulin Rouge
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