Frisson Noir is the tenth studio album and sixth heavy metal album by the Finnish singer Tarja Turunen and has been described by the singer as being the “heaviest record of her career”, as her return to the metal genre with the album’s concept described as the following: The word frisson describes the moment when music sends a shiver through the body. It is the instant when sound stops being just sound and becomes emotion, memory, and physical sensation. Frisson Noir was created around this idea.
The album begins with `Intro` which is the sound of a bell being tapped or rung as in a temple and in Eastern practices signals the start or end of a meditation session, helping to clear the mind and focus. A mental reset allowing a receptive response to what will follow. This brief preliminary initiation melds into title track `Frisson Noir` with its swirling piano keys prior to Tarja`s dreamy vocals shared atop a heavy pounding rhythmic pulsing beat which becomes an almost cinematic sound. It takes a kind of reflective time out in the latter section before the pulsing beat returns and leads us along and out.
`The Eternal Return` has a delightful driving beat but halts two thirds of the way through for Tarja and an accompanying piano to share a spiritual or gospel like segment before returning to its former churning metal beat. There`s a kind of orchestrated opening to `Leap Of Faith` which has former Nightwish bassist Marko Hietala adding his talents. A song that enjoys a heavy enticing foot tapping beat with some delightfully delicate soaring emotive vocals and a kind of vocal interplay between Tarja and Marko.
`At Sea` has Finnish violinist Mervi Myllyoja and Finnish concert pianistNiklas Pokki adding their skills to this epic which runs at over ten minutes but doesn`t feel overly long as it takes you on a musical journey full of emotion. The number is about uncertainty or facing uncertainty with fear but determination. We enjoy orchestrated sections, driving rhythms, soaring vocals, questioning vocals and at times tender piano and searing string segments with vocals that towards the end exude an aching vulnerability. A stunning and uplifting musical voyage to be inhabited and enjoyed, a musical expedition or odyssey. We have in `Blaze Forever` a real blistering metal work out with guitar and bass almost competing against each other. Around the halfway mark there`s a brief surreal spoken word poetic segment before returning to its former path with vocals that nigh on ascend heavenwards. The final minute or so has a real tension and edginess about it.
`The Trace Outlives` features Japanese shamisen player Sayo Komada. The song explores the emotional space between presence and absence, pondering what remains when someone decides to disappear not just for themselves, but also for those left behind. A number full of nervous tautness that has Latin chanting and a choral arrangement. The traditional three-stringed shamisen peeks through at times throughout this fascinating composition. Finnish symphonic metal band Apocalyptica join the singer on `Tango`, a number about people passing away without leaving a legacy behind. It`s a pensive and understandably orchestrated opus that is at times quite ethereal.
`Anemoia` is a neologism that describes the feeling of nostalgia for a time or place you have never actually experienced and features both Argentinian guitarist Julián Bedmar and Portuguese cellist Valter Freitas. A little different in that it`s more acoustic and stripped back with a wistful longing not melancholic but touching. A composition that has a reflective nostalgic yearning about it. Dani Filth, the vocalist with extreme metallers Cradle of Filth joins Tarja on `I Don’t Care`. A tune that she described as a “fierce declaration of independence” that “rejects imposed expectations and confronts the illusions society creates around morality, belief and success”. We have dual but differing vocal styles that complement each other with Dani`s more guttural growls and Tarja`s sweeping vocals on this riveting slightly dark submission.
`Against The Odds` has Red Hot Chilli Peppers drummer Chad Smith hitting the skins on this cut which grows, develops, and expands and feels edgily restrained at the outset. It veers off into a cinematic expansive atmosphere with percussion that seems to guide us along. The album concludes with `Outro` a final sixty six seconds of the tapped bell or ghanta. A closing of the circle almost an emotional resolution of sorts.
I have to admit I found `Frisson Noir` completely engaging with many talented artists guesting and adding a little something to Tarja`s creation. I honestly don`t think you`ll find a better album released this year. I was lucky enough to witness Tarja on her last tour of the UK in 2023 and she was stunning. It`s a shame there isn`t a date pencilled in for the UK so far to promote this stupendous release. We can only hope she has a change of heart but in the meantime welcome back Tarja, you have been missed.
Rating 9.5/10
