MARKO HIETALA: Roses From The Deep (MELODIC METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

While “Pyre Of The Black Heart” was a collection of tracks written several years ago, Marko Hietala is back with an album of new material. This seems to prove that the Finnish Gandalf has come to terms with his departure from Nightwish, and intends to continue occupying the metal scene away from the combo led by Tuomas Holopainen. The bassist-singer regularly has to battle his inner demons. This is what prompted him to leave the symphonic metal legend after more than twenty years of loyal service. With this new opus, he seems to have tamed his torments and put them to artistic use.

And while “Roses From The Deep” is full of metaphors in its lyrics, revealing the sources of inspiration he has sought from the depths of his troubled mind, it is also no slouch when it comes to nods to his past. The most obvious is the duet with Tarja Turunen on the powerful, orchestral and catchy 'Left On Mars'. The days of the sibylline lyrics of 'Bye Bye Beautiful' sounding like a settling of scores after the ousting of Finland's voice by her Nightwish compatriots seem a long way off. On the semi-acoustic ballad 'Two Soldiers', the reference to their 'Dead Boy's Poem' is also obvious, with its recited passage within a fine, delicate and haunting piece.

This last term alone could sum up the whole of this achievement, whose variety finds its coherence in numerous recurring points across all the tracks. For although each track has its own identity, they all feature riffs and choruses that harpoon the listener's cortex without the slightest desire to get rid of them. Tributes to hard and metal legends are as discreet as they are obvious, and it's hard not to think of Alice Cooper ('Frankenstein's Wife'), Led Zeppelin ('Left On Mars', 'Roses From The Deep'), or even Black Sabbath and Dio on the monumental, epic 'Dragon Must Die' with its progressive ambitions. While it's impossible to reveal all the treasures contained in this work, we'd like to note the country-bluegrass flavour of 'The Devil You Know', with its massive chorus expressing the struggle against inner demons, or the telluric finale of 'Impatient Zero'.

Marko Hietala is superbly supported by the three members of his band, and Tuomas Wäinölä's performance is particularly noteworthy. Already spotted with Kotipelto or alongside Ari Koivunen, the guitarist's devastating riffs and luminous, gleaming solos are in abundance here. All of which contributes to the complete success of “Roses From The Deep”, a clear contender for the title of melodic metal album of the year. Respectful of the genre's roots but with a resolutely modern sound, varied but highly coherent, dealing with deep suffering without being depressing, this opus is a reminder of just how endearing its author is, as much as a complete and talented artist. - Official website

MARKO HIETALA

ROSES FROM THE DEEP

NUCLEAR BLAST

MELODIC METAL