Artist : Tarja

Album : In The Raw

Release Date : 30-08-2019

Added : 26-10-2019

Already 14 years that 'Tarja' left 'Nightwish' and 12 years that 'My Winter Storm' had been released with the first tube 'I Walk Alone' and, for each new album, we always wonders if it will be same level as the previous one. For me, 'In The Raw' which is 5th studio album (if I only count the symphonic metal albums) is still above the previous ones because, despite having declared that it is heavier than 'The Shadow Self ', shows, for me, even more all facets of this artist apart. Of course, and this from the first two titles, we are embedded in very direct metal with extraordinary energy with 'Dead Promises', which offers us a beautiful duet between the two powerful voices of 'Tarja' and 'Bjorn Strid' with highlight of guitar riffs, then, 'Goodbye Stranger', which is the kind of title that makes a whole public jump up and where the two voices of 'Tarja' and 'Christina Scabia' from 'Lacuna Coil' (see their latest live album here) blend beautifully. With 'Tears in Rain', we are more in the register of melodic hits than the singer could compose in the past with alternations between powerful parts (the rhythm section of 'Timm Schreiner' is a marvel) and others calmer. It is then with 'Railroads' that the symphonic side moving away from the metal is put forward with the use of strings, in the form of a mid-tempo in which 'Tarja' also excels, then' You and I 'which is far from saturated guitar riffs, is a new ballad of an emotional intensity comparable to what she could do in her album 'From Spirits and Ghosts' (see below). With 'The Golden Chamber : Awaken / Loputon Yö / Alchemy' we stay in this epitome of emotion in a soft cinematographic medley that gives us the opportunity to hear him sing in his native language : sublime !! Then, 'Spirit of the Sea' (this is the story of the disappearance of the Argentine submarine "ARA San Juan" in 2017) is still a great moment that takes us in a slow procession with its breaks between power and serenity , then, it is the turn of another master piece of the album, 'Silent Masquarade', which is a new magical duet between 'Tarja' and 'Tommy Karevik', singer of 'Kamelot' (see their latest album here) who has a slow and powerful chorus that hits you in the guts and accelerates to the end and falls back into a quiet piano finale where the voice of 'Thomas Karevik' poses some sentences. After so much emotion, I'm almost disappointed with 'Serene', which appears more classic but which, if it was part of a progressive metal album from another band, would certainly make a remarkable title, and the last composition 'Shadow Play' makes me a great impression with the feeling that 'Tarja' wanted to put a condensed patchwork of styles that she master perfectly in these seven astonishing minutes. In summary, as you will have understood, this last album of 'Tarja' is still for me a total success that shows all the extent of her talent that does not stop at the only symphonic metal and 'In The Raw' should undoubtedly be well received by all her fans and beyond by all lovers of symphonic metal who also appreciate compositions far away of metal style...
Previous myprogmusic reviews of 'Tarja' albums :

2018 - Tarja - Act II (Live)
2017 - From Spirits and Ghosts (Score for a Dark Christmas)
2016 - The Shadow Self
2015 - 'Luna Park Ride' + 'Ave Maria - Outdoors'

Line Up / Musicians

Tarja Turunen (Vocal), Alex Scholpp (Guitar), Christian Kretschmar (Keybords), Kevin Chown (Bass), Max Lilja (Cello), Timm Schreiner (Drums)+ Guests : Bjorn Strid (Vocal), Cristina Scabbia (Vocal), Tommy Karevik (Vocal)