ROSES FROM THE DEEP (OXBLOOD VINYL) | VINYL RECORD (LP)

Marko Hietala, Oxblood Vinyl. If you've followed the global shenanigans of heavier music over the past decades, you know the name Marko Hietala. There is no doubt about it: Marko Hietala has been synonymous with quality for more than four decades. Hietala has not only shaped, but also defined the sound of harder rock, as a founding member of the heavy metal band Tarot, as an essential member of the supergroup Sinergy (next to extreme talents such as Alexi Laiho) or as one of the key figures of world's biggest symphonic metal band Nightwish. Needless to say, his thunderous bass lines and rich vocals have been echoed in the world's most famous venues, such as Wembley Arena and legendary festivals like Rock in Rio. Marko Hietala's musical and lyrical tide has not dried up and the well-received debut is getting the company it deserves. Released in February 2025, Roses from the Deep follows the adventurous path of it's predecessor, but perhaps with even greater ambition. When the upcoming album was composed and immortalized, Hietala's expressive band still included guitarist Tuomas Wäinölä, keyboardist Vili Ollila and drummer Anssi Nykänen. Roses from the Deep is all killer, no filler record. Whether it's the touching atmosphere of Two Soldiers (featuring deep-voiced J-P Leppäluoto on vocals), Tammikuu bursting with raw energy (yes, sung in Finnish), the monumentally ambitious and melodically rich title track or the single/video tune Frankenstein's Wife, the second Marko Hietala album sends serious shivers down the listener's spine. Gatefold jacket, double Oxblood vinyl.