TARJA: Circus Life (MELODIC METAL): review / opinion to read on Music Waves

Unless we consider the nonetheless excellent “Dark Christmas” as such, which would be a mistake, no album containing new compositions by Tarja has been released since “In The Raw” in 2019. And “Circus Life,” which we are lucky enough to discover in 2025, will not change the situation, as it is a live album recorded in 2020 in Bucharest, Romania, during the tour supporting her latest studio album. Nevertheless, it would be dishonest to turn up our noses despite this frustration. Indeed, for the concerts in question, the voice of Finland pulled out all the stops. Judge for yourself: 16 musicians, 18 tracks, and several editions available. We will limit ourselves to the audio version for this presentation, but we encourage you to purchase the DVD/Blu-ray of this show, which was performed on a stage in the center of the venue with the audience overlooking the performers from the stands.

We will spare you the detailed presentation of all the artists surrounding Tarja Turunen, representing a dozen different nationalities. Nevertheless, we would like to highlight the presence of three guitarists and two bassists, including Rafael Bittencourt (Angra), Alex Scholpp (Sinner), and Doug Wimbish (Living Colour), who reinforce the power of the riffs, especially when two keyboardists, a drummer, a percussionist, and a string quartet join in. To complete the ensemble, three backing singers support the diva, including her brother (Toni Turunen) and our compatriot Clémentine Delauney (Visions Of Atlantis, ex-Whyzdom). And as the legend from North Karelia likes to showcase her fellow musicians, each of the backing singers has the honor of performing a duet with her, a privilege also granted to Alex Scholpp. As for the monumental and spellbinding “Naiad,” each singer performs their own solo part.

Regarding the tracks featured, each studio album is represented by four songs, except for “My Winter Storm” (2007), which only has two excerpts, and “The Brightest Void” (2016), which is completely ignored. The diva wanted to keep the raw recording of the show, without any editing, in order to maintain its authenticity. Beyond the fact that the honesty of this approach is to her credit, it also proves the professionalism of the Finnish singer and her team, as everything seems to flow smoothly without any noticeable hiccups. The atmosphere is both melancholic and theatrical, with some Dante-esque versions such as the colossal and diabolical “Demons In You,” “Victim Of Ritual” playing with the audience, and the majestic and poignant “Innocence.” As for “Shadow Play,” it closes out an hour and 45 minutes of timeless music with its eight grandiose and orgasmic minutes.

There is no question of sinking into frustration upon discovering this live album, a testament to the identity of an artist whose talent is matched only by her integrity and respect for a loyal audience that is entirely devoted to her cause. Dazzling and captivating, “Circus Life” once again demonstrates Tarja's artistic freedom, as well as her charisma and passion for her art and her audience. Fans cannot miss this new essential in the genre, while those who are not yet familiar with the Finnish icon's work have the opportunity here to discover the artist in all her splendor. - Official website

TARJA

CIRCUS LIFE

EAR MUSIC

MELODIC METAL