Finnish singer-songwriter Tarja Turunen has made her special, previously limited-release album “Extra Raw” available for digital download and streaming.

The album was initially only available as an exclusive bonus CD and acts as a companion piece to her fifth studio album “In The Raw” which was released last year. Turunen treats us to reworked versions of seven tracks from the full 2019 album, which received universal praise from fans and critics alike for its honesty and openness. This release lets everyone hear these wonderfully imaginative new versions of songs we already know and love, offering fans a rare and special treat. 

Turunen’s career began with fronting symphonic metal band Nightwish from 1996 to 2005. The band was initially imagined by her former classmate Tuomas Holopainen as having an acoustic style, but upon hearing the massively increased power of Tarja’s voice, their music soon became metal. Turunen’s lyric soprano vocals have become the stuff of symphonic metal legend, with her angelic, operatic voice quickly establishing itself as Nightwish’s trademark. Following her departure from the band in 2005, she embarked on a successful solo career, releasing five albums, performing at classical and metal shows, and collaborating with many other artists on a wide variety of projects. 

Her albums have consistently achieved solid chart ratings and the acclaim of fans and critics. Over the years we have been awed by Turunen’s three octave vocal range, flawless resonance, and ability to effortless shift styles between classical and metal. Technically a soprano, the singer has demonstrated no loss of power or majesty when singing in the lower mezzo-soprano range. She seems able to perfectly match her vocal style with any kind of music, from the softest orchestral ballads, to the raw power of heavy metal.

“Extra Raw” shows us even more of the flexibility and adaptability of the classically trained soprano’s voice. Her vocals soar over the dramatic orchestral backing and forceful guitars, giving us the sense of being taken on a fantastic journey up to the clouds and into her very soul. The lyrics are so honest, we get the sense that she is holding nothing back, giving listeners an incredibly privileged gift. The album is the perfect accompaniment to “In The Raw,” and now that it is available to all on digital release, it is a gift we can all enjoy.

The download is available here

 symphonic metal      singer-songwriter 

Author: Harley Houghton

Harley Houghton is a writer and blogger, based in Melbourne, Australia. Her passions include music, especially metal, gaming and comics. Check out her blog www.harleysmadhouse.com and follow her on Twitter.