Marko Hietala - European Tour 2026

EUROPEAN TOUR 2026

If you've been following the global escapades of heavier music over the past decades, you know the name Marko Hietala. And if you don't, you should urgently dive down the dark rabbit hole and catch up on your homework.

There is no doubt: Marko Hietala has stood for quality for more than four decades. Hietala has not only shaped the sound of harder rock but has also defined it - as a founding member of the heavy metal band Tarot, as an essential member of the supergroup Sinergy (alongside extraordinary talents like Alexi Laiho), or as one of the key figures of the world's largest symphonic metal band, Nightwish. His thunderous bass lines and powerful vocals have echoed in the most famous venues around the world, including Wembley Arena, and at legendary festivals like Rock in Rio. Despite all his successes, new conquests are still on the horizon. Just recently, Marko Hietala played a leading role in the TV series "Vain elämää," which has captivated millions of viewers in Finland.

When it comes to an endlessly talented artist with a strong musical passion, a self-titled album is often just a matter of time. In the case of Marko Hietala, it took a while, but better late than never: his long-awaited first solo debut, Mustan sydämen rovio, finally released in spring 2019 (later reissued in English as Pyre of the Black Heart).

“At some point in 2017-18, Nightwish took a break - the first in about 20 years - and I decided to use the time for my first solo album,” Hietala recalls. “Over the years, I had many ideas, and it was time to get them out of my system. When I focused on the album, I set no limits. If the idea felt good, it was good…”

And you know what? The musical and lyrical wellspring of Marko Hietala has not run dry, and the much-praised debut is getting the worthy successor it deserves. Set to be released in February 2025, Roses from the Deep follows the adventurous path of its predecessor - perhaps even with greater ambition.

“Once again, there were no limits,” says Hietala. “My bandmates and I could just do anything!”

As the upcoming album was composed and recorded, Hietala's expressive band still consisted of guitarist Tuomas Wäinölä, keyboardist Vili Ollila, and drummer Anssi Nykänen. However, Ollila left the group after the album was completed and was replaced by Bob Engstrand (Turisas, Von Hertzen Brothers). “Let’s put it this way: Roses from the Deep could exist without my bandmates, but it would be completely different - and much less adventurous,” Hietala explains.