The certainty of quality that never fades – review of Marko Hietala’s upcoming album “Roses from the Deep”

The heavy metal world is full of interesting artists, personalities and bands, but there are certain people that leave a mark (pun intended) whatever they do. I’m talking about the extraordinary Marko Hietala! Singer, composer, bass player, and more, this Finnish thespian has proven over the years to be capable of almost anything. And he’s ready to reclaim back his throne of command with his upcoming record “Roses from the Deep”.

If you’ve already enjoyed the singles “Left on Mars” (with Tarja), “Frankenstein’s Wife” and “Impatient Zero“, you’re going to love even more the rest of the tracks. If you haven’t enjoyed them instead, the same applies, because “Roses from the Deep” is full of intense songs that reveal the versatility of the artist. Marko, as I said, can sing and can do so many different things, but in my opinion, it’s in the ballads that his talent and his voice truly shine at their best.

The beautiful duet with Tuomas Wäinölä on “Two Soldiers” or the title track “Roses from the Deep” highlight his depth and expressivity. But if you prefer his metal side, don’t worry, he has everything squared out: the mesmerizing suite “Dragon Must Die” (which is the fifth track just like the suite on his previous album “Pyre of the Black Heart”) will leave you speechless. At least, that’s what happened to me!

Hietala sings in English for the whole album except for “Tammikuu” (which means January) and this is another point that goes in his favour to seal the grandiosity of the record. As a true professional, he is providing us with a high-quality product, with mixing, mastering and production done flawlessly. His band is also one of the best that you can find nowadays: with Wäinölä on guitars, Vili Ollila and Bob Engstrand on keyboards and Anssi Nykänen on drums, the recipe for success is complete.

Whether you prefer him solo, with Nightwish, Tarot, Northern Kings or anywhere else, it’s just impossible to overlook this man’s talent and art. I strongly suggest giving this album a spin, because it’s truly a journey within his creativity, his passion and his commitment to the music.

Tracklist:

1. Frankenstein’s Wife
2. Left on Mars
3. Proud Whore
4. Two Soldiers
5. Dragon Must Die
6. The Devil You Know
7. Rebel of the North
8. Impatient Zero
9. Tammikuu
10. Roses from the Deep