Former Nightwish singer Tarja announces star-studded metal album 'Frisson Noir'
Listen to the epic lead single 'At Sea'
Last updated 18th Mar 2026
Former Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen has announced the heaviest album of her career to date, ‘Frisson Noir’.
Unleashed to the world on Friday 12th June 2026 via earMUSIC, ‘Frisson Noir’ was mixed by Grammy-winning producer Neal Avron (Linkin Park, Skillet, Disturbed).
The 10-track album boasts guest appearances from artists including Tarja’s ex-Nightwish bandmate Marko Hietala, Cradle of Filth’s Dani Filth, Apocalyptica, and Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers).
As a taster for the album, Tarja has premiered the epic progressive symphonic metal single ‘At Sea’.
The cinematic 10-minute track fuses Tarja’s transcendental vocals with heavy music, sweeping orchestral arrangements and choir performances recorded in Budapest with the Budapest Art Orchestra and Budapest Art Choir, conducted by Gyorgy Gulyas Nagy.
Watch Tarja’s ‘At Sea’ lyric video:
A description of Tarja’s ‘Frisson Noir’ reads: ‘(The album) reflects Tarja’s ongoing dialogue between cinematic orchestration, classical heritage, and the power and intensity of contemporary metal. The album moves between intimate piano passages, dramatic orchestral textures, and powerful guitar-driven moments.
‘At the centre of the soundscape is Tarja’s distinctive voice, moving effortlessly between fragile emotional expression and operatic power. Around it, orchestral arrangements, choirs, and layered instrumentation create a cinematic world that constantly shifts between darkness and light, exploring deeply human themes such as fear, beauty, nostalgia, resilience, defiance, transformation, identity, disappearance, independence, trust, and perseverance.’
Tarja’s ‘Frisson Noir’ is available to pre-order on various formats, including Collector’s Boxset, CD Digipak, Black 2LP Gatefold and Ltd. Purple 2LP Gatefold and signed editions, RIGHT HERE.
Following the album’s release, Tarja will embark on a European tour throughout September and October 2026. No UK dates have been confirmed.
Tarja Turunen founded Nightwish with Tuomas Holopainen and Emppu Vuorinen in 1996, and she fronted the band for their first five studio albums.
Nightwish’s 2004 Tarja-era track ‘Ghost Love Score’ was voted the 126th Greatest Rock Song of All Time by Planet Rock listeners in January 2026.
Tarja’s ‘Frisson Noir’ track-listing:
Frisson Noir
The Eternal Return
Leap Of Faith (feat. Marko Hietala)
At Sea (feat. Mervi Myllyoja & Niklas Pokki)
Blaze Forever
The Trace Outlives (feat. Sayo Komada)
Tango (feat. Apocalyptica)
Anemoia (feat. Julián Bedmar & Valter Freitas)
I Don't Care (feat. Dani Filth)
Against The Odds (feat. Chad Smith)