Anette Olzon, Former lead singer for the internationally acclaimed symphonic metal band Nightwish, has landed an apocalyptic symphonic metal release that is everything that faith-based metal should be: bold, heavy, and uplifting. Born into a musical family, Anette grew up around music, even going on tour with her Mom’s band as a child. Her path of musicianship led to various gigs including singing in Alyson Avenue, but the most fortuitous gig was lead vocalist for Nightwish in 2007. Over the following five years, she recorded two albums and performed around the world, building an international fanbase.
In 2012, Nightwish and Anette parted ways and she turned her musical attention towards a solo career. Her first outing was “Shine,” a an empowering pop-infused album released in 2014. It would be another 7 years before a new solo album would be released due to other projects and training to be a registered nurse (remember, most musicians have a day job). In 2021, “Strong” was released, a heavier release signaled by her collaborations with Swedish multi-instrumentalist Magnus Karlsson. Three years later we have “Rapture” which is even heavier and darker but also oriented towards her Christian faith.
Symphonic metal seems to lean more symphony and less metal these days. This release bucks that trend, shifting towards metal while keeping the grandiose trappings. Chunky guitar riffs, flying solos and speedy tempos make the metal side of this release quite satisfying. As the leading composer and multi-instrumentalist, Magnus’ work on guitars and synthesizers layers a dark and heavy stage for Anette. Her performances are accessible with singable melodies and disciplined execution, which are accented by Johan Husgafvel’s harsh vocals.
Let’s start with the lyrics. Anette has a track record for positive messages in her music, but it never yet crossed into the source of that positive impact, namely Jesus Christ. This album does that by being apocalyptic in the most uplifting way. At times she comes across like a street preacher, calling for repentance in “Heed the Call” and “Requiem.” At others, it is a call for us to take a collective stand against evil and be the light in the world such as in “Take a Stand” and “We Search for Peace.” There is some fire and brimstone to the album in “Day of Wrath,” but is balanced with God’s love and providence in the lone ballad “Hear My Song.”
With such heavy subjects, the music needs to match. Luckily, Magnus lays down the perfect setting. There is a solid heavy guitar riffing in each song that pushes the songs forward with some nice symphonic accents along the way. There aren’t a lot of symphonic interludes or lead guitar work as the typical lead guitar space often is filled with the dual vocalists, but there is choice guitar solo work that makes appropriate use of neoclassical techniques. The song structures are rather standard, but with great dynamic variability across the songs, which make them fun to listen to, but hard to differentiate. Apart from the two speedier tracks in “Take a Stand” and “Cast Evil Out” and the lone ballad, the vocal melodies and lyrics are the keys to telling songs apart.
A solo singer’s album should emphasize the soloist’s voice, and this album does that beautifully. Anette’s voice is meant for metal. Her timbre and passion matches the muscle of metal better than most female lead singers, particularly in the symphonic metal space. The vocal melodies have a classical feel with exacting rhythm and pitch that give a more reasoned exposition to her lyrics over an emotional plea. Her voice stays in a very pleasing range with a couple of pushes to her upper register that comes across as cool and confident in delivery. Her voice is not just lyrical delivery, but a versatile instrument in various other choirs and vocal accents. The easiest example is the Lord’s Prayer in “Heed the Call.” The only complaint on this release is that some of the repetitions of the melodies feel too repetitive, but not unlike some moments from Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Although there may have been controversy on her departure from that band, “Rapture” shows clearly that she has the chops as a top-tier metal singer thanks to an all-star support headed by Magnus. The heavier, darker tones play well with the subject matter while still having a positive message to hold on to faith, hope, and love during these dark times. This is a great release for metalheads who are suspicious of female-fronted symphonic metal bands as this release has great bones of steel.
Rating: 9.0/10
Written by Sean Bailey
Tracklist
1 – Heed the Call
2 – Rapture
3 – Day of Wrath
4 – Requiem
5 – Arise
6 – Take a Stand
7 – Cast Evil Out
8 – Greedy World
9 – Hear My Song
10 – Head Up High
11 – We Search For Peace
Anette Olzon is:
Anette Olzon – vocals
Johan Husgafvel – harsh vocals
Anders Kollerfors – drums
Magnus Karlsson – guitars, bass, and keyboards
Release Date: May 10, 2024
Record Label: Frontiers Records
Discography:
Shine (2014)
Vintersjäl / Cold Outside – EP (2017)
Strong (2021)
Rapture (2024)
Social Media: Facebook | Instagram | Spotify
Video for ‘Rapture’
Video for ‘Hear My Song’