Album Review: Tarja – In The Raw

Throughout the past decade or so, former Nightwish singer Tarja Turunen has maintained a packed recording schedule and a broad musical approach, alternating between the worlds of metal, classical and Christmas albums.

In The Raw boasts some of Turunen's heaviest solo material yet, without skimping on the orchestral flourishes that enamoured her to fans initially. The Finnish soprano's vocal talents are really beyond reproach. That said, at times she needs to exhibit a little more charisma as a rock musician, which is apparent here. Also, the pacing of this record – the movement between heavier material, operatic moments and balladry – can be a little jarring, a tad uneven. A few generic heavy riffs also let the side down.

That's not to suggest the overall results are without merit. Tears In Rain deploys truly memorable hooks, while The Golden Chamber is appropriately dramatic. The high-profile collaborations also elicit excitement. Soilwork's Björn "Speed" Strid infuses slick singing into Dead Promises, a little growling also providing a welcome point of difference and complementing the hefty riffage. The stripped-back Goodbye Stranger offers incisive melodies and is a dream union for many fans, Turunen exhibits neat chemistry with Lacuna Coil's Cristina Scabbia. Perhaps the most effective of the guest spots though is Kamelot's Tommy Karevik on Silent Masquerade – the duo's voices gel well on this grandiose affair, which infuses piano and spoken word passages to help create a cinematic feel. 

This record doesn't always hit the mark, but Nightwish fans who perhaps haven't checked in with Turunen since her contentious departure will find something to sink their teeth into here.