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28. NIGHTWISH Meet Anette. Not just the "new Tarja". ( horns.gif )

SUSHI PATROL Delphi Showpalast, Hamburg 28.09.07

KKKK (=excellent)

FINNISH METAL SUPERSTARS MAKE A LOW-KEY RETURN IN DEUTSCHLAND

If the fact that every single punter who's braved the pissing rain to queue for Sushi Patrol's debut German gig is wearing a Nightwish shirt isn't enough, then surely their merch, backdrop and the sight of members of the Finnish opera-metal quintet milling around backstage can't hide the truth from even the slowest-witted among us: Sushi Patrol are, in fact, Nightwish. And patently, they're fooled nobody.

In Germany, Nightwish sell-out ice hockey arenas and aircraft hangers as a matter of routine. So the opportunity to see them as a secret show in a club that holds less than 700 people - only their second live show in two years - is something no fan worth their salt would want to miss.

Free of the pyrotechnic bells and whistles of their large stage-show, it's impossible not to be bowled over by quite how much atmosphere they create without the need for bangs and flashes, as their dramatic flurries of thunderous, operatic metal fill the room and turn it into somewhere far more elegant and enchanting than a dark rock venue on a wet Friday night. Two years away from the stage hasn't rusted their mechanism one bit; the band look thrilled - relieved, even - to be back, while Dark Chest Of Wonders, Wishmaster and Bless The Child bristle with new-found energy.

But more than seeing Nightwish back, tonight what everyone is really here for is a glimpse of new singer Anette Olzon. As the subject of much speculation ever since Tarja Turunen was dismissed from the Nightwish ranks, this is a momentous occasion for Olzon as well as the fans as she demonstrates, effortlessly, that she's more than capable of filling Turunen's shoes. Already a proven talent on record, it's live where she really comes into her own. Where Tarja Turunen seemed at times like a spectacular voice playing with a band, Olzon is very much a metal frontwoman. Blessed with a set of pipes that could charm even the coldest heart, she's certainly got the sort of chops Nightwish's music needs, but she isn't afraid to rock out, never once missing a single impeccably delivered note.

As wondrous as some moments are tonight, your mind is always looking forward to the future, and seeing them somewhere bigger, showing us once again what they can really do. For now, it's simply great to have them back, where for a while it looked as though we might lose one of the most spectacular bands in modern metal.

How was it for you?
TUOMAS HOLOPAINEN (KEYBOARDS) SAYS:
"I feel as though a huge boulder has been lifted off my chest! The release of the album and these first couple of shows have been the hardest part of the last two years, it's what it's all been working towards, and it's an enormous feeling of relief to finally have the record out and to be playing shows again. It's great being onstage with Anette, and I'm really glad to be back playing live again."

LADY IN WAITING

GET TO KNOW NEW NIGHTWISH FRONTWOMAN ANETTE OLZON

After a turbulent couple of years that saw Nightwish very publicly sack Tarja Turunen, the symphonic metallers have returned to business as usual with their new frontwoman, Swedish native Anette Olzon.

Sitting in front of a mirror in a London photo studio, she's a clam presence, sipping from a bottle of water and laughing with her new bandmates as if she'd been with them since the start. Yet just a year ago she was a Swedish housewife going through the daily routine of taking her young son to school and earning a crust singing in a cover band, dreaming of the rock stardom that's about to become a reality.

WHEN DID YOU START SINGING?
I was really only a couple of years old. My mum has told me that I was this little kid that always made up her won songs. I always liked to talk and there was always something coming out of my mouth since I was very young. I always knew that I was going to be a singer. I am this person that likes to show of. I like when I'm in the centre and I can talk to a lot of people.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST BAND?
It was this cover band, Take Cover. Everyone loved it when we did this Eric Clapton song 'Wonderful Tonight'. The guys had to protect me, always, because there were these 40-year-old guys trying to pull your skirt and touch your legs. Yucky guys! And afterwards you always had to hide behind the guys in the band because they'd be screaming, “Show your boobs!” Really classy!

WHAT SONGS WERE ON YOUR DEMO TAPE FOR NIGHTWISH?
Only one song. I went to the studio with two of my friends to record Ever Dream. It was very nice singing it. Very challenging because it's high in pitch, but it was kind of fun in the studio when I started singing it.

WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE BAND THAT MADE YOU WANT TO JOIN?
At first I didn't really think about it that much. It was mainly when I met them and saw that they were really nice and down to earth and regular people, not like big starts full of themselves, because that's something I really hate. They were kind of goofing around, and we could talk quite easily the first time, even about serious things.

DO YOU THINK YOU'LL AVOID BECOMING A ROCK STAR DIVA?
I really, really hope I will never, ever be like that. I would hate myself. And I hope someone tells me if I turn out like that!

ARE YOU WORRIED THAT THEY MIGHT DO THE SAME TO YOU AS THEY DID TO TARJA?
No, I try not to think like that since we are different people, and the guys, maybe that have changed in some ways also, and maybe they have learned about what happens. You cannot think that it will happen to you. If you're going to a job and there has been someone else before you and they talk badly about this company, you need to try it by yourself because its personal chemistry, and it depends on how we are, and we solve conflicts differently. So no, I didn't feel like that.

ARE YOU NERVOUS ABOUT FILLING HER SHOES IN FRONT OF THE FANS?
It's a huge task, and I've thought about this a lot before I even got the job, during the whole process. Because I saw the turbulence around it and I understood that it could be hell. But I try not to think too much about that. We have a good feeling and the have chosen me, that must count for something.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE WILDER SIDE OF TOURING?
We will see what happens. I will learn! I haven't been on tour with the guys so we'll see what they are like. If they're Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde, we'll see! As long as there's not like 30 groupies in the bus, because I will throw them out.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT BEING AWAY FROM HOME FOR SO LONG?
It's not worrying me at all actually, because everyone will be just fine at home. I do worry if my son will hate me when he's 15, but I have been a kid whose mother has been singing and leaving me a lot. And my son is so proud, so I think he will be even more proud if I go my own way. I just need to explain it when he's older. He's six now.

WHAT DOES HE THINK OF THE BAND?
He loves it, he's totally wild if I play the album. He screams and runs around! He's started to play the drums now, he's got a little kit. He's going to be a rock star too!

WHAT'S THE WEIRDEST THING TO GET USED TO SO FAR?
The media in Finland. This was in the first days. They were outside my house, walking round and asking my neighbours about me and my son and my family. They were taking pictures of me and my car and my cat and putting it in the tabloids. They were even putting out my address and directions how to get there! I really thought, “What have I got myself into?” After that I said in all the interviews that my personal life is private. They have respected it now. I was really angry.

HOW DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL ABOUT THE IDEA OF BEING FAMOUS?
That's something that I need to deal with, but I really hope that I'll be able to walk the streets and be able to do the things I've always done.

ANETTE OLZON REVEALS HER THREE BEST PERSONALITY TRAITS...

I'M OUTGOING
I am the person that goes into a room and always looks people in the eye. I've always been very social. I'm not scared of meeting new people. I'm the opposite!

I'M INTUITIVE
I like to get to know people deeply. People can feel awkward, and I can sense it. I can sense negative feelings, like if I go into a room where people don't get along, feel really uncomfortable.

I'M REALISTIC
I think we will have really bad days as well as good days. I think the best thing is just to walk away and go to your room. Maybe be quiet that day.

NIGHTWISH'S ALBUM DARK PASSION PLAY IS OUT NOW.