In the Raw
Tarja Turunen · 2019
56 min · 10 tracks · classical music
A haunting blend of symphonic metal and operatic vocals, intertwining personal reflection with grand musical landscapes.
Top tracks — play these first
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Dead Promises Start here — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its powerful orchestration and evocative lyrics that explore themes of loss and longing.
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The Golden Chamber: Awaken / Loputon Yö / Alchemy — A standout composition that features intricate melodies and dynamic shifts, showcasing Turunen's vocal prowess and the album's thematic complexity.
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Spirits of the Sea — This track combines ethereal soundscapes with profound lyrical imagery, reflecting Turunen's connection to nature and spirituality in an impactful way.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong compositions and skilled execution, blending classical and metal elements effectively.
What we noticed
- The first three tracks feature a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the fourth track introduces a faster rhythm that contrasts with the preceding songs.
- The album includes orchestral arrangements that swell and recede, creating dynamic shifts in intensity throughout.
- Several tracks incorporate choral elements, layering multiple vocal lines to enhance the operatic quality of the music.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- long, immersive listening sessions
- dynamic emotional journeys
- dramatic storytelling experiences
- contemplative late-night moods
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Experimental — Features bold experimentation and emotional depth, diverging from earlier works.
- Themes
- loss and longing· spiritual connection to nature
- Career context
- In the Raw marks Tarja Turunen's fifth studio album, released after her departure from Nightwish. At this stage in her career, she had established herself as a solo artist, successfully merging classical elements with her rock roots since her debut solo album in 2007. This release showcases her evolution into a more introspective and mature artist.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nightwish· Within Temptation· Epica
Tracklist
- 1 Dead Promises Start here 5:49
- 2 Goodbye Stranger 5:10
- 3 Tears in Rain 4:28
- 4 Railroads 3:59
- 5 You and I 4:07
- 6 The Golden Chamber: Awaken / Loputon Yö / Alchemy 7:03
- 7 Spirits of the Sea 6:56
- 8 Silent Masquerade 7:20
- 9 Serene 4:40
- 10 Shadow Play 7:22
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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